Death & Funerals

Sadly I have to inform you that Kiwi Gibbons passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday at 1 pm, at Fairview Nursing Home, Pinjarra Hills, Brisbane.

Marco “Kiwi” Gibbons, OAM enlisted originally in New Zealand K-Force in 1953 during the Korean War. He moved to Australia in 1954 and transferred to the Australian Army in 1956. He served with 3 RAR as a Tracker during the Malayan Emergency. Kiwi went on to serve with 2 RAR on both tours of Vietnam and was Mentioned in Dispatches on each deployment. He has served in 1, 2 and 3 RAR. Kiwi Gibbons retired from the Army as an RSM.

Kiwi has a long history of voluntary involvement with associations, particularly 2 RAR, 3 RAR, RSL Queensland, RAR Association Queensland, and the RAR National Memorial Walk, where he was curator from its inception. In 2012, both Kiwi and his wife Margaret were honoured with the award of the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to veterans and their families.

Both Marco and his wife Margaret are Life Members of the Association for their dedication and support to the association over many years.

Further details will be passed on as they become available.

Sadly we have been informed by Barry (Gus) Guthrie that Pio Martin passed away from a heart attack.

No other information is currently available, but I will pass anything, including, Funeral information, on as it as it becomes available.

Please join us in offering our deepest sympathy to those who will mourn the passing of a loved one.  Another 6 RAR family member, taken too soon.

LEST WE FORGET

Allan Whelan, Secretary

It is with sadness I advise the passing of  Brian O’Sullivan a stalwart of the Corps who always displayed his willingness to mentor the younger men of the unit and our Corps with whom he worked.

To his family, comrades and friends His duty done may he now Rest in Peace and never be forgotten.

Gary King of Victor Coy NZ advised me on 31/03/2022 to advise you of the passing of 41565 J. F. Monk  2 RAR/NZ Victor Coy 1967/68 4RAR/NZ 1970/71  Borneo 1966/67  2RAR/NZ ANZAC No2 Machine Gun team 1967/64 RAR/NZ ANZAC Section 2/ic 1970/71

 Now passed Private Cremation RIP My Brother ANZAC Soldier

 Wendy M McLean (J.P.) LM

Secretary

Trader died in March 2022 aged 87 years in Victoria.

Ian served with AATTV in South Vietnam as a Capt from 17^th April 1964 – Nov 65 Revolutionary Development, CSD Danang Group, responsible for Quang Ngai Combat, Psy Ops, Civic Action Teams’ Renamed Peoples Action Teams in 1965. Coordinator national PAT program May – Nov 65, I, II and IV Corps. Ian was with HQ AFV 3 Dec 65 – 10 Dec 65 and on his second tour of duty served with 1 SAS Sqn from 27 Jan 1970 – 3 Dec 70.

 In addition to the unit citations awarded to AATTV, Ian also one of the few AATTV members awarded GSM 1962 with Clasp South Vietnam, US Air Medal for Valour (with ‘V’ Device), US Army Commendation Medal for Service, US Air Medal for Service with Cluster, South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry (with Gold Star) and South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry (with Silver Star).

Trader served on the staff of OCS from 1965 – 68.

Attended Army Staff College Queenscliff in 1971.

A well-remembered member of the staff by every officer cadet who knew him.

Rest In Peace Trader.

Sad news passed on to me today.

Onforwarded by Bob Grant;

Col Fitzgerald has crossed the bar. Col had 41 years of continuous service and attended many of our ASW (TAS in Col’s day) reunions along with his wife Hazel.

His funeral service is to be held at the Tobin Brothers Chapel, 11 Nettlefold St. Belconnen ACT at 1030 Monday 11 April 2022. Medals to be worn. Details of a wake to follow.

Onforwarded by Fred House:

Wanting to inform anyone on here who may have known or served with my Dad, POMTP Barry (Lofty) Mathers who served between Nov 1964 and November 1973.

Dad passed away on the 10th March 2022 after a very quick battle with aggressive cancer (8 days) and he is now at rest with Mum – PO Steward Judith Atkinson (now Mathers) who passed in January 2020.

So dearly loved, so sadly missed – with Barry N Judy Mathers

They have served and will not be forgotten.

Bob Mummery

Sadly we have found out from Facebook that John R. McCarthy (aka Peter N. Blair) who served with 6 RAR on the 2nd Vietnam Tour 1969/70, passed away on 14 November 2021 at the age of 89.   No other information is available.

Please join us in offering our deepest sympathy to those who will mourn the passing of a loved one.  Another 6 RAR family member, taken too soon.

LEST WE FORGET

Allan Whelan

Secretary

Morris Glenn (Morrie) Dempster, 60 years of age, passed away on 27 March 2022 from renal failure. Morrie had been unwell for many years but battled hard to be there for his family. Over the last few months, Morrie’s health had deteriorated and sadly, he passed away peacefully in Townsville with his family by his side. Morrie had a full life and achieved many things; he was a well-respected soldier achieving the rank of Sergeant in the Royal Australian Artillery, business owner of Tandy electronic store, long-distance truck driver, Race Course Operations Manager and finally a Manager of a Defence Force Training Area. Morrie had made the decision that his quality of life was more important than quantity and decided to stop dialysis in order to pass away on his terms.

Funeral details TBA. Messages of condolences can be passed to Ian Kilgour ijkilgour1@gmail.com  or SMS to 0431 696 749  who will pass to the family.

RIP Morris Glenn Dempster

Peter Bruce

I have been advised of the death of Tommy Cross on 23 March 22 following a long illness. Tommy served in 1RAR 1965-66 and in 9RAR in 1968-69. He was awarded a M.I.D. for his actions in Vietnam.

At this stage his funeral will be in Grafton on 2nd April, more detail will follow.