Tea Gardens WWII veteran Roy Day receives medal from Governor-General

WORLD War Two veteran and Tea Gardens local Roy Day was honoured by the Governor-General at a special Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day ceremony held at the Australian War Memorial on Friday 15 August.

Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC met 12 World War Two veterans from across the country, and presented them each with a special Governor-General’s Commander-In-Chief medallion, to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Pacific War, and WWII as a whole.

The Governor-General and the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Matt Keogh, welcomed Second World War veterans, members of the Diplomatic Corps, guests, and visitors to the Last Post Ceremony, which marks the moment on 14 August 1945 when the Allies accepted Japan’s unconditional surrender, and the war was finally over for Australia.

“As Commander-in-Chief, it was her honour to meet each of these significant, selfless Australians ranging in ages from 98 to 103, and to thank them, on behalf of us all, for their selfless service to our country,” said a statement from the Governor-General.

Wreaths were laid by the veterans before the Governor-General, Minister Keogh, Australian War Memorial Director Matt Anderson PSM, members of the diplomatic corps, and other distinguished guests – honouring the memory of all who served in WWII and reflecting on the peace, freedoms, and opportunities they secured for the generations that followed.

Roy Day, who is a member of the Tea Gardens RSL sub-Branch and will turn 99 in October, had a chance to speak with the Governor-General, as the medallions were presented just before the 4:30pm Last Post ceremony, which is a daily event at the War Memorial, as two lines of wreaths were laid all along the pool of reflection.

“I was very fortunate to be asked to attend,” Roy told NOTA.

“They looked after him very well, including flying him from Newcastle to Canberra and back, four days in Canberra, the Air Force band playing when they landed,” Roy’s wife Lynette added.

“We were amazed he was the baby of the group. Many of the veterans were over 100, the eldest was 103.”

Roy was first called up to join the RAAF as an 18-year-old, did basic training in NSW and medical training in Victoria, and spent much of his time in Western Australia as a medical orderly, looking after returned and injured soldiers.

The Governor-General is the King’s representative in Australia.

While King Charles III is the Head of State, the Governor-General acts on his behalf and in his stead in that capacity, which includes the role of Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Defence Force.

By Thomas O’KEEFE