Death & Funerals

17 February 1948 – 19 July 2022

PTE Neville Rhodes passed on the morning of Tuesday 19 July, he had been suffering for some time.

Neville, was conscripted in January 1969, started his Recruit Training at 1 RTB Kapooka, he then transferred to 3 TB (Inf Corps Wing) for his infantry training. He joined Infantry Centre (Reo Wing) until deploying to 1 ARU Vietnam (SVN) on 3 September. On 1 October he joined 11 Platoon, D Company, 5 RAR and there served until the Battalion returned to Australia in February 1970. Neville completed his tour of SVN with 8 RAR and RTA’ed in September 1970.

No funeral details are available at this stage.

Regards,

Gary Townsend

5 RARA Membership Officer/Tiger Tales Editor

There will be an RSL Service for Roger Dikes on Friday, this week, 22^nd July at the Springvale Cemetery in Melbourne – Victoria.

Roger served in Vietnam for 375 days between 20^th December 1967 and 28^th December 1968.

Service Number  3791139 – 3rd Battalion – The Royal Australian Regiment.

Regards.

John

John C. Saunders                             

Secretary

Clayton RSL Sub-Branch Inc. & Region 2 Forum

We have just received notification of the death on 19 July of Les Cooper. Les served in Vietnam with 108 Field Battery from May to November 1967 in the position of Battery Commanders Assistant for then Major Jock Jenvey. Les also served in Singapore with 28 ANZUK Field Regiment and was well respected for his gunnery knowledge. Les was 88. There will not be a funeral service but rather a family farewell.

RIP Leslie Allan Cooper.

Peter Bruce

Obituary Resource Officer

We have received advice of the death on 17 July 2022 of Michael (Mick) Austin. He was 74. Mick served with HQ Battery 12^th Field Regiment, RAA in South Vietnam as a Bombardier from April 1968 until April 1969. Mick had fought a long battle with Glioblastoma Multiforme Grade 4 over the past 20 months. He was amazing during his treatment continuing to walk 5-7 kms each day and playing hours of table tennis at senior citizens.

RIP Michael Austin.

Peter Bruce

Obituary Resource Officer

We received advice of the death on Friday 8 July 2022 of Jimmy Clements. Jim was a career soldier and served as a gun sergeant with 106^th Battery, 4^th Field Regiment in South Vietnam from February 1970 until 1971. Jim had been suffering from Lewy Dementia for over 2 years (which is dementia with Parkinson’s type symptoms as well) and had many falls.  He fell over again a few weeks ago and sustained a head/neck injury which he never really recovered from.  He died on his own terms, refusing to eat and drink at Murdoch Hospice with his daughter by his side.  She had been staying with him overnight whilst his wife Joan would spend the days with him, so he always had someone with him.

Messages of condolences may be passed to me, and I will collate and forward to his widow Joan, daughter Joanne and son Steven.

RIP James Alex Clements.

Peter Bruce

Obituary Resource Officer

We have received advice of the death on Thursday 14 July 2022 of Andrew Opie. He was 77. Andrew graduated from Officer Cadet School Portsea in June 1965 and deployed to South Vietnam as Radar Section Commander from June 1967 until January 1967. No funeral details are available at this stage.

RIP Andrew Opie

Peter Bruce

Obituary Resource Officer

Dick passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday the 13^th July 2022, no funeral arrangements have been made at this time and will be announced in due course.

Browny (Tony Brown)

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of 42236 Victor Charles ALLEN on 9 July 2022.

Vic served in Vietnam with 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment 15/2/1971 to 16/10/1971

We extend our deepest sympathies to family, veterans and friends of the late Victor Charles ALLEN.

‘MAY HE REST IN PEACE

Lilydale Crematorium (Victoria Rd Lilydale VIC) Thursday, July 21st @11:45.
The service will be live streamed through William Matthews Funerals http://www.williammatthewsfunerals.com.au/index.htm

If you attend, please wear a touch of red.
Anne (Daughter)

We received advice of the death of Gary Gordon Navason on Sunday 10 July.

Gary served with the Detachment 131 Divisional Locating Battery in Vietnam from May 1970 until May 1971. Gary had been in Westmead Hospital. He was 73.

Funeral details are available from Pete Summers on 0428 288 155 or email [email protected]

RIP Gary Navas.

Peter Bruce

Obituary Resource Officer