 He was a member (from 1943) and chairman (1951–1956) of the Aranda Arts Council and a member of the two advisory committees also formed to protect the artists' interests.During World War II the authorities considered closing Hermannsburg on the ground that its German staff constituted a security risk.A compromise was reached, however, and in 1942 Battarbee was appointed a protector of Aborigines and Commonwealth government officer overseeing the mission.