* July 20024 *

To mark the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in 2020, the Australian Government produced a Commemorative Medallion and Certificate of Commemoration for every living veteran of WWII.

The medallion recognises all living veterans of World War II.

A close up of the reverse of the Medallion.

The Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs states:

“While Australia can never repay the debt we owe almost one million Australians who served, this medallion and certificate are a small but meaningful way we can thank living veterans of the largest global conflict of the 20th century.”

Many members of our community received their certificates and medallions in 2020. However, we have recently discovered that some of our residents had not received one, and in 2020, it was not possible to have ceremonies due to the pandemic.

For both reasons, our Aged Care Homes held presentations for all our World War II veterans.

At Frankston South Aged Care

Eight of our Frankston South residents were presented with their certificates and medallions at a ceremony in July.

Frankston RSL President, Kevin Hillier presented Doug Smith, Doug Wicks, Bert O’Leary, John Nankervis, Phyllis Ketting-Olivier, Veronica O’Neill, Albert (Buzz) Cousins and Trevor Freeman with their certificates and medallions – pictured below.

Frankston RSL Sub-branch President, Kevin Hillier presented Doug Smith, Doug Wicks, Bert O’Leary, John Nankervis, Phyllis Ketting-Olivier, Veronica O’Neill, Albert (Buzz) Cousins and Trevor Freeman with their certificates and medallions.

Regular readers may remember the article about Doug Smith’s top secret role in World War II (Winter 2023 issue, page 8) and we’ve now discovered another secret operator…

Veronica O’Neill (née Drinkwater)

Veronica ‘Ronnie’ Drinkwater signed up to join the service during World War II and was chosen to become a decoder, secret work which she was not permitted to talk about for fifty years after her discharge in 1945.

Ronnie (pictured below with Frankston RSL Sub-branch President, Kevin Hillier) was part of the Central Bureau Intelligence Corps, set up by General MacArthur, consisting of intelligence personnel from Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and the Netherlands.

Kevin Hillier, President of Frankston South RSL Sub-branch, pictured presenting Ronnie O’Neill with her Certificate and Medallion.

It was initially located in Melbourne before moving to a large house in Brisbane in late 1942. The house was called Nyrambla, but Ronnie and her colleagues worked out of a garage in the back of the mansion, so they became known as ‘The Garage Girls’.

Ronnie’s work was recognised by the Queensland Government in 2002 with a Certificate of Recognition for World War II service. In the covering letter, Paul Lucas MP noted:

“Through your work, the Central Bureau cracked Japan’s air codes, water transport codes and later the main army code, which was an important contributor to the end of World War II.

“Our society owes a great debt of gratitude to you, not only for the lives of allied service personnel that were saved by the shortening of the war, but also for the freedoms that people like me and my family can enjoy as a result of the work and sacrifice of your generation.”

Ronnie told us she was “happy and proud to be part of the ceremony and a ‘Garage Girl’”, and her family and friends thanked us for organising this event for our veterans, noting how proud they are of their mother and her contribution to World War II.

At Brighton Aged Care

Presenting the Certificates and Medallions to our Brighton residents was Peter Corfield, Welfare Officer at Beaumaris RSL Sub-branch.

He thanked residents Betty Cooper, Marie Laurenceson, Audrey Baker and Annie Overs for their role in defending our country during World War II, and presented the Certificates and Medallions.

Resident Betty Cooper from Vasey RSL Care Brighton receives her Award.

Resident Audrey Baker from Vasey RSL Care Brighton receives her Award.

Resident Marie Laurenceson from Vasey RSL Care Brighton receives her Award.

At Brighton East Aged Care

Eight residents at Vasey RSL Care Brighton East were presented with their Certificates and Medallions in a ceremony in late June.
World War II veterans Arthur Mulford, Bill Craig, Cecil O’Brien, Harold Ristrom, Jack Smith, Marjorie Waring, Tony Barnes and Walter Bowden received their Certificates and Medallions.

Resident Jack Smith 

Resident Harold Ristrom

Resident Bill Craig 

Resident Arthur Mulford 

Resident Marjorie Waring 

Resident Cecil O’Brien 

Resident Tony Barnes 

Resident Walter Bowden 

At Bundoora Aged Care

At our Bundoora Aged Care Home, a ceremony was held for resident Henry Storey. Henry served in the Royal Australian Air Force from September 1943 to February 1946 as a flight rigger. He served many areas including the recruit centre, the schools of technical training, engineering and air armament, to name a few. He was promoted to leading aircraftsman in August 1944.

Henry was presented with his Certificate and Medallion by Watsonia RSL Sub-branch President, Bill Wyndham.

Henry receives his Award from Watsonia RSL Sub-branch President, Bill Wyndham.

Henry Storey with Residential Manager, Nicole, General Manager Veteran Services, Chris Gray, General Manager Residential Services, Corinne Lyon

Henry with Lifestyle Coordinator, Linda, Watsonia RSL Appeals Officer, Tom Johnson, Nicole, Chris, Corinne and Bill Wyndham.

We are grateful for the service of all our World War II veterans in serving our nation and protecting our freedoms. We echo the Australian Government’s appreciation for their service and sacrifice.