Phil Johns
Army, Painter
Born in Fiji, Phil moved to Australia when he was in his teens. Enlisting in 2003, he began military service as a reserve Rifleman and remembers his time in the service as equal parts challenging and rewarding. Throughout his military career, Phil remained in the reserves and is currently with the Cairns based 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment (51FNQR).
During his service, Phil was deployed to East Timor with the International Stabilisation Force, worked on border protection in Australia and also had a garrison posting to Butterworth in Malaysia.
“It was like being a full-time soldier, but with the luxury of getting off at the next stop. When the regular army personnel come home, they usually turn around and go back. I feel that l’ve been quite lucky to get these short-term contracts, as a reservist.
“What I learned from these deployments is how really lucky we are, in Australia. East Timor is a country that had all of its infrastructure ripped out by its departing Indonesian rulers, yet the people seem to remain happy. We can learn from them.”
Phil had always followed some kind of artistic pursuit and, while in East Timor, he found it particularly helpful to work on preparatory sketches for the artworks he planned to complete on his return to Australia.
“My aim has always been to become a better artist,” he states, with feeling.
It was in Canberra in 2015 that Phil became acquainted with the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum (ANVAM), an organisation to which he felt immediately drawn.
“I wanted to help in any way I could. The defence force personnel need a platform dedicated to their unique narrative. ANVAM is that platform.
“As a serving member of the defence community, I’ve always felt a sense of duty toward fellow members going through periods of difficulty. Particularly if their issues are service related,” he says quietly.
As well as working on his own artwork when he can, Phil is the volunteer Exhibitions Coordinator of Crate 59, a collective art studio in Cairns in Queensland. He curates the work of fellow contemporary artists and also works with networks and local media platforms to market exhibitions. He believes he holds both a grasp of the language of art as well as an experienced eye for displaying works.
Phil also works full time as a Disability Support worker. He believes that all he has learnt from the military, ANVAM and his artistic community have helped him in this work.
“I’m really enjoying it, and I love working with the people in my caseload. I’m a kind of bridge to normality for them. I assist them with all kinds of things they find difficult.”
Phil uses music, and sometimes art, when he is working with a client and his time management has become particularly important, with his heavy caseload of clients in residential care.
“What I have learnt from ANVAM is how an arts-based program can work. I try to fit in a sense of heart when working with my clients. I saw how the arts can be helpful for veterans with PTSD and I apply the same principles here, whenever possible.”
Phil has served, continuously, for almost 20 years in the reserves. He also tries to paint each week. He juggles these two fulfilling activities in his life alongside full-time work.
“The reserves are a group of mates and it’s our time together. However, I recently felt I needed to paint and I chose to miss going to reserves, which is very unusual for me. My partner was at tennis and I had the house to myself. It was just what I needed for my art.”
“Just as I did in East Timor, I have begun making a few sketches for pieces I plan to develop further, when I get some time.”
“There are so many things I want to do! There should be a 48 hour day for people like me,” he laughs.
