Salute to Service - Charcoal and Conte Crayon on Paper

This artwork shows the Australian Defence Force ensign, uniting Army, Navy, and Air Force into a single symbol of strength and shared identity. The eagle, anchor, and swords are balanced with a boomerang.

The boomerang carries deep meaning: Indigenous artwork by current serving indigenous soldier Talithia Fischer, flowing blue lines represent Australia’s rivers and surrounding ocean, while yarning circles at each end embody connection and conversation. Three dotted circles at its base reflect the unity of all Australians, honoured through the colours of the national, Aboriginal, and Torres Strait Islander flags.

Salute to Service is both tribute and thank you, recognising all who have served and those who continue to serve today.

This artwork, Salute to Service, is of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) ensign. An emblem that unites Army, Navy, and Air Force into one. At its heart, the familiar eagle, anchor, and swords with a boomerang to complete the symbol. The artwork on the boomerang, designed by serving soldier Talithia Fischer. Together, these elements create a symbol that honours both service and heritage, past and present.

At the centre of the boomerang are three dotted circles. Their colours, blue, red, white, black, green, and yellow, represent the Australian, Aboriginal, and Torres Strait Islander flags. They serve as one, linked to show the unity of the nation.

On either side of the boomerang are yarning circles, traditional symbols of connection, conversation, and knowledge sharing. In this context, they link the three flags and their histories together. Flowing across the length of the boomerang are blue patterns, representing waterways, rivers, creeks, and oceans. Just as these waterways are forever moving and changing, so too is the Defence Force, adapting to meet challenges while remaining grounded in service to the nation and its people.

This choice of imagery carries a powerful historical weight. For many years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women served in Australia’s world wars, yet were forced to hide or deny their true heritage in order to enlist. The indigenous artwork acknowledges both their sacrifice and their resilience, while celebrating the inclusive ADF we see today.

The creation of this piece was a collaborative effort with Talithia Fischer, whose heritage and service give the boomerang its depth of meaning. Talithia is a proud Nywaigi, Yidinji, Manbarra Birrigubba woman who began her Army journey in 2016 through the Army Indigenous Development Program (AIDP), supported by the Indigenous Recruitment Team. From the beginning, she embraced every opportunity the ADF offered, building lifelong friendships and pursuing both professional and personal passions, including representing the Army in rugby.
Her career has included serving on the Indigenous Recruitment Team at ADF Careers in Cairns, a role she recalls as one of the highlights of her service. There, she helped inspire others to consider careers in the Defence Force, opening doors for the next generation of Indigenous service members. Today, Talithia is posted to the 1st Recruit Training Battalion as a Recruit Instructor. In 2024, she returned to the AIDP as an instructor, an achievement she describes with pride, having come full circle to the program where her own journey began.

Through Salute to Service, both the Hugh and Talithia honour all who have served and continue to serve. It is both a tribute and a thank you.