101 Years Young! Volunteer Don Hughes celebrates the life of resident Dr John Connell AM
3 August 2015: Sir William Hall Hostel volunteer Don Hughes recently published an article in RAE Corps Sappers Magazine celebrating the life of one of our oldest residents, Dr John Connell AM. Don kindly shares his article below:
101 Years Young! Dr John Connell AM: Soldier, Builder, Engineer and Inspirational Leader!
By Don Hughes
Every so often you meet an Individual who just oozes charisma, confidence and a deep love of life! Doctor of Engineering, VX81067 Major (Company Commander in the 57/60 Battalion during the New Guinea Offensives in WW2) John W. D. Connell AM is one of these people. I met this “ex builder bloke” at my new volunteer job at the Sir William Hall Hostel aged care facility next to the Repatriation Hospital in Heidelberg.
Dr John Connell had not long turned 101 years old when I first met him and yet he seemed as sprightly as a new AFL recruit! Bubbling with energy, he outlined his amazing and full life: as a soldier; engineer in the academic and professional world; a builder in the demanding commercial world, whilst also excelling in many areas of public and humanitarian endeavour along his life journey.
He was a frontline Infantry Company Commander in the 57th 60thbU Battalion (Merri Regiment at Preston & the Heidelberg Regiment, Westgarth) 15 Brigade, 3rd Division and deployed to the nasty and difficult campaigns throughout the New Guinea Offensives during the latter stages of WW2. This experience provided him a great foundation for his later professional and humanitarian pursuits.
I never realised Dr John was the Connell in “Connell Wagner” of international engineering and building fame! With offices throughout Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong Malaysia Middle East and England he undertook a few more jobs than just the odd deck or kitchen upgrade! Some of his notable Melbourne construction projects include: The Victorian Arts Centre; Eureka Tower; Etihad Stadium; The Fruit, Vegetable & Flower Market at Fisherman’s Bend (including the largest 3 pin steel arches supporting the structure in the world); rebuilding the MCG; Melbourne underground rail loop along with numerous hospital upgrades and other multi storey buildings in the CBD.
Add to this his board memberships (the Royal Zoological Gardens; Gas & Fuel Company; Austin Hospital; Ivanhoe Grammar School and the Overseas Project Commission to name a few) and you end up with a pretty capable man. Awarded a Doctor of Engineering by RMIT in 1990, he had been awarded the Kernst Medal for “Distinguished Engineering Service to Australia” by University of Melbourne in 1980 and made a “Member of the Order of Australia” in 1987.
I asked him why he never joined the RAE: he pondered deeply and said that “at the time he just wanted to fight the Enemy and thought the Infantry was the best Corps to undertake that”. Later, he realised that the RAE is also in the thick of battle and has great ability to impose maximum damage and disruption on an enemy! The Sappers are always there with the Infantry to assist in mobility!
