Carinity celebrates veteran residents
Not-for-profit, Christian-based care organisation Carinity is honouring Anzac Day by celebrating and reflecting on the stories of its aged care community and retirement village residents who served in the Australian Defence Force.
Carinity has a number of residents impacted by conflict – from troops on the frontline, civilians confined to labour camps, prisoners of war and those who served at home, and this Anzac Day it will pay respect to the Australian defence personnel who served the nation and past and current residents of its aged care communities and retirement villages.
In Brownesholme, Queensland, aged care resident Joffre Bell – one of Australia’s oldest living World War II veterans – is preparing to celebrate his 105th birthday, which falls two days after Anzac Day.
During World War II, Mr Bell filled roles including observer, navigator and bomb aimer in missions across France, Germany and Italy as part of the Royal Australian Air Force, following in the footsteps of his father Overton Benjamin Bell who served at Gallipoli during World War I.
When the Korean War ended in 1953, Wishart Gardens retiree Alvin McHugh was called to complete National Service.
Mr McHugh was part of G Company in the 11th National Service Training Battalion before he was transferred to the Australian Army Day Corps.
Mr McHugh’s two uncles were also veterans, having fought in World War I, and he pays tribute to them every Anzac Day.
“The oldest returned injured, and the youngest was killed when he was only 19,” Mr McHugh said.
“ANZAC Day is an important day and it’s still growing in importance. It should be celebrated as the real birth of our nation.”
Jack Campbell, who is also a Carinity Wishart Gardens aged care resident, enlisted in the Australian Army in 1964 and in the 16 years spent as a career soldier he served in combat and peacekeeping roles in Singapore, Malaya, Vietnam, Guam, The Philippines, Papua New Guinea and around Australia.
Mr Campbell attained the rank of Warrant Officer and fought in the Vietnam War in the late 1960s following a peace-keeping role in Borneo.
“At that time the Vietnam War was just starting up, so we all knew when we were finished in Borneo that’s where we were heading,” he said.
“I lost quite a few of my buddies over there in Vietnam, and I remember them every ANZAC Day.
“We should never forget. Not just the minor wars but we should never forget the first and second world wars and what it was for. I think that’s terribly important.”
For Ipswich resident Doug Young, Anzac Day is a time to reflect and honor defence service veterans – including his identical twin brother Allan.
The two brothers enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1953 as teenagers, joining the air force as apprentice engine fitters to specialise in plane mechanics.
Together they completed a six-year apprenticeship in Wagga.
Mr Young went on to serve in the Vietnam War as a “jack-of-all-trades” specialising in transport operations for the Australian armed services. His roles ranged from servicing and refuelling planes, to transporting diplomats and dignitaries who were travelling in the region.
“When we arrived at a place and the V.I.P.s shot through for their meetings we used to stand guard with the aircraft,” he said.
“We loaded freight, we loaded munitions, we loaded money, we loaded people. We loaded all sorts of things.
“I became a tradesman one day and a flight attendant the next.”
Mr Young had numerous close calls in Vietnam, including almost being hit by shrapnel when his plane came under fire from enemy troops, blowing a hole in the side of the aircraft near where he was sitting.
Now living at the Carinity Colthup Manor aged care community in Ipswich, Mr Young enjoys marching and catching up with defence force mates on ANZAC Day.
Over his 50-year career Mr Young also served in Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Hong Kong, Pakistan, India and Thailand, and around Australia.
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