Community
19 April, 2024
‘I never gave up’
VIETNAM veteran Ross Grant didn’t expect to live to see ANZAC Day 2024.
Last year he was diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer, his friends held a wake, he changed and settled his will, arranged his funeral and prepared to die.
Fortunately, the former officer (known affectionately as ‘The Major’), sought a second opinion, received lifesaving surgery and will attend ANZAC Day ceremonies in Cairns next Thursday.
The Manoora resident served with the Australian Army in Vietnam (Nui Dat), in Malaysia and in Papua New Guinea.
He joined the Defence Force as a 16-year-old apprentice in 1961, rising to the rank of major in 1988 before resigning in 1990.
But the 79-year-old’s biggest battles have been in civilian life where he has beaten three cancers in the past 10 years. First, he had prostate cancer and it was followed by lung cancer.
All invited ‘rain, hail or shine’
THE Cairns RSL Subbranch is encouraging the community to keep the ANZAC spirit alive this ANZAC Day and join the commemorative services, “rain, hail or shine” to keep our Diggers’ memory alive.
This year’s ANZAC Day commemorates Indigenous service in WWI and about 10,000 people are expected to attend the dawn service, morning march and commemorative service in honour of the brave soldiers who gave their lives for the freedom of all Australians.
The dawn service is set to begin at 5.30am, with dedicated seating for veterans while the ANZAC Day march will commence at 7.30am from Fogarty Park down to the cenotaph where the morning service will begin at 8.30am.
Cairns RSL Subbranch president Nathan Shingles said it was vital for families to keep honouring the ANZAC spirit.
“ANZAC Day remains a hugely important day for our community, especially getting young children out to pay their respects. It’s important to get that young spirit along with the community involved,” he said.
“We’re inviting the veterans and the whole Cairns community to the dawn service on Thursday, April 25. The service will commence at 5.30am with veterans encouraged to arrive at 5.15am to take part in the veterans march, starting at the Aquarius building on the Esplanade. Veterans will have dedicated seating at the cenotaph to show our appreciation.
“After the dawn service, the ANZAC Day march will begin at 7.30am with assembly at Fogarty Park starting at 6.45am, the march will proceed from Fogarty Park down the Esplanade to Minnie Street past the RSL club for those who aren’t able to attend the dawn service.”
The army will lead the dawn service with the 51st Battalion FNQ Regiment leading the march alongside Mr Shingles while the subbranch treasurer Paul Walker will be the master of ceremonies.
At the commemorative service, the St Monica’s and St Augustine’s choir will be accompanied by Cairns Brass to perform the hymns and the Australian and New Zealand anthems and the Cairns RSL Pipes and Drums band will play the bagpipes during the wreath-laying ceremony.
“Everyone’s got a connection to the Australian Defence Force and veterans one way or the other through family and friends so it’s important that we pay our respect and remember the sacrifices that our veterans continually do,” Mr Shingles said.
“Come on down rain, hail or shine, don’t let the weather hold you back it’s important because our Diggers are no longer with us, so sacrifice your morning and pay your respects.”
For further ANZAC Day information visit: https://rslqld.org/
(ANZAC Portal)
(Australian War Memorial)
Chalkie’s fierce advocacy
VIETNAM war veteran, Gordonvale RSL life member, and fierce advocate of veterans David Chalk is receiving the Medal of the Order of Australia for his unwavering support of FNQ veterans since 1990.
With a momentous announcement on Australia Day, Mr Chalk found out that he would be recognised with the Order of Australia for three decades of unyielding advocacy for veterans. The official ceremony will be held at the Cairns Convention Centre on May 25.
“It’s an honour to receive the Order of Australia,” Mr Chalk said with tears in his eyes.
“I’ve been with the Cairns RSL since 1990 and Gordonvale RSL since 1994 as a pensions officer and advocate, and even before because my father signed me up when I was still in Vietnam, and since then I’ve must’ve helped over 1000 veterans.
“Back when I started there was nothing, if you wrote a good story then a bloke got his pension but many weren’t part of the RSL because of us – Vietnam veterans. We weren’t welcomed home and so we had to convince them to join RSL.
“We’ve achieved so much but it’s still so challenging. I’ve got veterans who’ve we submitted papers for 18 months ago and they still haven’t been allocated a delegate, there’s a lot to be done.”
Mr Chalk, or ‘Chalkie’ as he’s affectionately known by fellow veterans and friends, joined the army at the age of 17 and got deployed to Vietnam at age 19 where he remained for a year from 1969 to 1970. After his return, he turned his focus to advocating for other veterans.
“I don’t regret anything, I would do it all again. The only day I’d like to count out was after my mum’s birthday August 29, 1970 when I got blown up, I was only 19,” he said.
“I’ve been working as a pensions officer for RSL longer than I was in the army and it means a lot to help veterans. When we get a pension for a bloke we jump up and down in the privacy of our office and call the veteran and say, ‘Mate, we’ve got it through’, and carry on.”
Mr Chalk said it was the biggest honour to have been nominated to receive the Medal of the Order of Australia.
“I’m very honoured, my eldest daughter is coming, she’s over the moon, my youngest daughter is coming, my wife and my mate are coming as well,” he said.
“So my message on ANZAC Day is – while you’re standing here today, remember the freedom and democracy that you have is a result of what started on April 25, 1915.
“We have continued on, we’re still Anzacs and we’ve always been respected even by the enemy, we’re all good soldiers.”
