The Benalla RSL has been an integral part of town for decades.
Member Delano Dube said it was at this time of year, the Benalla RSL wishes to thank the community for its continued support.
“We thought this year that we might introduce ourselves more specifically, so that the community might better appreciate the treasure of past and present service men and women connected with this district,” Mr Dube said.
“We also thank the many affiliate members who give support to complement the dwindling number of veterans in our sub-branch.”
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Mr Dube said that includes:
Anzacs with double digit numbers, which means they were among the first 100 men to join up in 1914; nurses; men who served on the Kokoda Track; desert rats; POWs; a soldier in charge of the Violet Town fuel reserves for Benalla Training Facility’s Tiger Moths; a runner carrying messages between positions under fire; and a woman so instrumental to General MacArthur’s staff that she knew of Japan’s surrender before he did.
“Many of our veterans have been airmen; a dorsal gunner on B-24 liberators; a Black Cat aviator who was later involved in exhuming and identifying fallen soldiers from mass graves; a Beaufort fitter; and the air photographer of the first sighting at the battle of Corral Sea,” he said.
“Former seafaring veterans include a Seaman present on the U.S.S. Missouri; a member of the Royal Navy who had joined as a 14-year-old midshipman, served on the Tobruk supply run and ended his career as a Lieutenant Commander before emigrating to Australia; and, with connections in very high places, was instrumental in the production of the memorials to both Weary Dunlop and Hec Waller.
“There was a radar operator aboard a sister ship to H.M.A.S Benalla, who was also a landing craft coxswain during 7 allied invasions.
“The next generation includes a career RAAF fitter involved with the first Australian jets; a Queen’s Own Cameron Highlander in Korea; a Post-war RAAF engineer reservist who eventually qualified as a pilot.
“Active in both RSL and Legacy is a US merchant officer who often sailed into Vietnamese ports.
“We have a RN Warrant Officer submariner who often acted as liaison with other allied services.
“We have a former USN senior petty officer who served on an aircraft carrier for two tours in the Mediterranean during Near East hostilities and a tour in the Tonkin Gulf before the cease-fire in ’73; he has been given permission by the US Naval Attache to lay wreaths on behalf of the US Navy, during any appropriate ceremonies.
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“Other internationals in the area include a former Greek soldier, a Marine reservist from Formosa, non-communist China.
“We have had members who have fought at each of Corral and Balmoral support bases; a member who was awarded the DMC at Long Tan; a member who suffered from Agent Orange; and a survivor who was luckily noticed twitching in his body bag.
“We can be proud to have in our midst a member wearing the distinctive blue beret of the United Nations, having served in the capacity for which Australians have always excelled – Peace Making/Keeping, in his case in Cambodia, often riding Russian helicopters.
“He was a bomb technician for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
“One of our committee members worked security, investigations and bomb search in the RAAF, where she met her husband, also on night security.
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“Our national servicemen tend to be unnecessarily modest but, though not battle tempered, they were on call, ready to do their duty.
“Among them are an aircraft armourer, and one who reinforced the decks of personnel carriers, also an MP.
“We should also mention the Citizen’s Military Force, which became the Army Reserves, one member of which served for 25 years.
“We have active serving members; a female medical submariner; several Mid-East veterans; and, though no longer local, a son of Benalla was the commanding officer of the Diving School in WA.
“All of these may well be comrades of other notables – quiet achievers hiding in obscurity; we proudly keep them all in mind this coming Anzac Day.”
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