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Melbourne Centenary 1934-35 hand painted leather
Melbourne Centenary 1934-35 hand painted leather

Melbourne Centenary 1934-35 hand painted leather

Artist (Australian, 1910 - 2002)
Date1935
Object number00036214
NamePainting
MediumLeather, paint
DimensionsOverall: 216 x 110 x 1 mm, 10 g
ClassificationsArt
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from John B Kiley
DescriptionThis piece of leather features an Australian bush scene and was painted by Royal Australian Navy sailor John Berchmans Kiley to celebrate the Melbourne Centenary of 1935.HistoryJohn Berchmans Kiley was born on 29 January 1910 and joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1925. He began his naval service on HMAS TINGIRA, a ship for boy sailors moored at Rose Bay in Sydney, where he trained for 15 months. He went on to join HMAS SYDNEY and travelled to England, returning home on HMAS AUSTRALIA. Kiley also served in HMAS MELBOURNE, and undertook four years of training at HMAS CERBERUS studying a range of gunnery courses. Kiley reached the rank of Leading Seaman, and to his great disappointment was invalidated out of the navy around 1930 due to respiratory illness.SignificanceThis painting is part of a collection of personal effects belonging to John Berchmans Kiley.