Gunnedah Day VIEW Club members welcomed former national serviceman John Lyle as guest speaker at their ANZAC Day themed luncheon meeting last week.
Conscripted in 1966, John Lyle was deployed for 10 months with the 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (4RAR) in Malaysia and today he considers Anzac Day as the most important day on the Australian calendar.
“We come together to honour the courage and sacrifice that so many men and women have made in serving this country,” he said.
“This year is the 110-year anniversary of Gallipoli and 80 years since the end of World War II.
“In my own family, both my father and Susan’s father served in WWII and my mother’s brother was listed as missing in action off Sumatra – my grandmother never accepted the reality that he would not return.”
Reflecting on the involvement of women in the process of war, Mr Lyle spoke about Sister Vivian Bullwinkel, an Australian Army nursing sister who was the only survivor of the massacre by the Japanese on Radji Beach, Banka Island, in which 21 nurses were killed on February 16, 1942,
after the sinking of the SS Vyner Brooke. She was held at Pelambang prisoner-of-war camp for three-and-a-half years later giving evidence of the massacre at a war crimes trial in Tokyo.
Mr Lyle spoke about a visit by Sister Vivian Bullwinkel to Gunnedah as the official guest at a service in 1960 in Eighth Division Memorial Avenue.
Mr Lyle also spoke about the role played by women nurses in Vietnam, both Australian and US nurses whose contribution was only recognised recently.
The role of women as code breakers and factory workers and other essential services were also mentioned by Mr Lyle
“It is amazing how much women were involved in doing during the war years,” he said.
Mr Lyle also touched on the Gallipoli landing, the carnage of the Western Front and other world conflicts, where hundreds of thousands of civilians were killed. “Unfortunately, nothing has changed,” he said.
“Perhaps the saddest for many my age, especially Vietnam veterans was the lack of support and respect when we returned. The consequences, of course, being suicide and mental health problems.
“My mind wanders back over so many incidents, particularly the civilians and servicemen putting their lives back together.”
Rosemary Sinclair offered a vote of thanks to John Lyle and presented him with a certificate of appreciation.
Held at the Railway Hotel, the function room was decorated with flags and Anzac place mats, with Anzac biscuits made by Debbie Harkins for the members treated to and chocolates donated by Lyn Hills.
“John was very impressed with what we had done,” president Joan Harwood said.
“We are very grateful to him for being our guest speaker – the 25 members present never made a sound. They were silent listening to his story.”
The members voted at the meeting to take on another Learning for Life student, which brings the club’s student numbers sponsored through The Smith Family charity to five.
New member Heather George was presented with her VIEW badge at the luncheon meeting and Chris Mirow received her Day VIEW badge. Four members travelled to Tamworth for the Peel Evening VIEW Club’s 35th birthday celebration recently.
“We also had a wonderful morning tea at Oak Tree. It was so well attended with 41 men and women enjoying the gathering,” Joan said.
Club members were also represented on Anzac Day, with Joan Harwood and treasurer Trish Conway laying a wreath at the cenotaph.
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