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Wilfred Walter Reeves (Uncle Wilfie)Print Page 
Location
| Address: | Wharf Street, Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum, Maryborough, 4650 |
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| State: | QLD |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -25.538798 Long: 152.705503 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Art |
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| Monument Theme: | People |
| Sub-Theme: | Indigenous |
| Artist: | Warraba Weatherall (Kamilaroi Nation) |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Thursday 25th February, 2021 |
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Plaque :
The Story behind this Mural
This mural commemorates Wilfred Walter Reeves (Uncle Wilfie), the Moonie Jarl Storyteller of the Butchulla people. He enlisted in the Army in 1942, serving in the 39th Infantry Battalion where he saw service on the Kokoda Track in New Guinea. In addition to his military service, Uncle Wilfie was heavily involved in the Maryborough Writers Group publishing works in the Moonaboola Quill which was the catalyst for the publishing of ‘Legends of Moonie Jarl’ – the very first book of Aboriginal stories, authored and illustrated by Aboriginal people. These achievements were all done before he, and all Aboriginal people, were eligible to take their place as Australian citizens. He passed away in 1968 just a short time after being recognised as a citizen of the nation he went to war for. This mural seeks to afford him the recognition he deserves and is a tribute to the quiet contribution one Aboriginal man made to our freedom, his nation, his town, his tribe and his family.
