Tony Rafty OAM
Tony Rafty OAM.
Photo: Australian War Memorial
Renowned war artist correspondent Anthony (Tony) Rafty OAM was born in the Sydney suburb of Paddington, where he began his working career as a cartoonist with the sporting paper Referee before enlisting with the Commonwealth Military Forces in December 1941. Six months later he transferred to the Australian Imperial Force (AIF).
Mr Rafty brought a unique view of the Second World War and the post-Second World War period through his artwork, some of which is held by the Australian War Memorial and National Library of Australia.
Upon his discharge from the AIF, Mr Rafty re-joined The Sun newspaper, where he had previously worked, and was sent to Singapore and Borneo to cover the post-war surrender period before eventually flying to Indonesia to cover its ongoing struggle for independence.
Mr Rafty’s collection of sketches retraces his observations of Indonesia at this time and the supporting role Australia played in assisting with its freedom. He witnessed a number of historical events including the Battle of Surabaya; a battle that helped galvanise Indonesian and international support for Indonesian independence and for which Indonesian Heroes’ Day is now commemorated.
Mr Rafty’s letters written at that time reveal the sympathy he felt for the Indonesian cause and the admiration he had for his friend and Indonesia’s then emergent leader, President Soekarno.
'I wanted to meet the symbolic leader of the land. Was he old? Was he just a rebel leader of ruthless ways? Would he see us?’ Rafty wrote in a letter home soon after arriving in Indonesia.
He also befriended a number of other prominent Indonesians including fellow artists Basuki Abdullah and Affandi, many of whom are depicted in this collection.
Over the course of Mr Rafty’s career, his work has been exhibited worldwide and more than 15,000 caricatures have featured in major newspapers and magazines. In 1990 Mr Rafty received an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for his services to the media.
Mr Rafty passed away in 2015, and is remembered for his creative talent and ability to capture all situations, whether tragic or joyous, through his artwork.
