Four World War II veterans across the Riverland were presented with medallions last week by Member for Barker Tony Pasin commemorating the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II.
On Tuesday October 13, Mr Pasin attended the Loxton RSL Branch meeting where he presented Mr Howard Hendrick OAM with his medallion.
Between April 1942 to January 1946, Mr Hendrick served in the Royal Australian Air Force.
During his service, Mr Hendrick flew Lancaster Bombers and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and in more recent years the legion of Honour from the French Government.
Following the presentation on Tuesday, Mr Pasin joined Mr James Bennett, Mr Cyril Jacobs and Ms Beryl (Lin) Hodgens on Thursday, October 15 at Warrawee Retirement Village to present their medallions.
Mr Bennett served in the Royal Australian Air Force from 1942 to 1945 where he was stationed in Port Pirie, the Northern Territory, New Guinea and Labuan, while Mr Jacobs served in the Royal Australian Navy between 1943 and 1946 and was in the China Sea when the atomic bomb was dropped.
During her service, Ms Hodgens was part of the military training department and at the conclusion of the war continued her service with the Department of War Graves Services.
“Barker has a rich Second World War history and is proud to be the home to veterans from Australia’s greatest generation like Howard, James, Cyril and Lin who served our nation with distinction,” Mr Pasin said.
“We owe a great debt to these remarkable Australians for the free and prosperous nation we live in today.”
Mr Pasin said that while more than one million Australian men and women fought during the Second World War campaigns, 12,000 veterans who served during the Second World War are still with us today.
“Australia can never fully repay the debt we owe these amazing men and women but, to mark their service, the Federal Government is producing this Commemorative Medallion and Certificate of Commemoration for the remaining living Second World War veterans,” Mr Pasin said.
“I encourage all surviving veterans, or the families of living veterans if they haven’t already done so to apply to receive a medallion and certificate as a special thank you from a grateful nation for all they have done.”
For more information on how to apply contact Tony Pasin at Tony.Pasin.MP@aph.gov.au or 08 8724 7730.
