103 Signal Squadron Commemorative Painting

This artwork commemorates the operational history of 103 Signal Squadron from 1965–2015. It was painted to mark their 50 year anniversary by Robert Menzies, a former member of 103 Signal Squadron. Menzies painted the work on a satellite dish bought back from Afghanistan in 2014 where it was used to pick up pay-tv signals for the Australian contingent housed at Camp Baker, Kandahar.

103 Signal Squadron was formed in 1965 to set up communications in Vietnam. It conducted operations in the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy as well as supporting responses to natural disasters in Australia and operations abroad.

Menzies’ painting depicts countries that 103 Signal Squadron have been sent to on operations. It also includes images of current and former headquarter buildings, equipment, vehicles, unit emblems and symbols, key people from their history, and their mascot, a cockatoo named Bert.

The artist conducted extensive research to complete this painting. He began scoping material for the painting while on deployment to the Middle East and sourced the satellite dish during one of his trips to Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Robert Menzies uses painting as a way to cope with post-traumatic stress disorder he suffers as a result of his service.