June 4, 2013
Doug Farmer – and his yellow Holden stationwagon – are a well-known sight around Kingaroy, but probably only a few people outside the RSL community realise just how much volunteer work this former RAAF serviceman has notched up over the years.
Most returned servicemen in town would have heard a knock on the door at some stage and found Doug on their doorstep ready to enjoy a chat.
Doug, who served at Kingaroy Airport during World War II, joined the RSL in 1944 and is a Life Member of the Kingaroy-Memerambi Sub-Branch.
He served as secretary of the sub-branch for many years.
He has also always had a special interest in supporting Legacy. For more than 20 years, he regularly manned a street stall to sell Anzac Day badges, Remembrance Day poppies and Legacy badges.
Doug officially retired from this task five years ago but can still be seen helping out “when I can”.
The former Q Rail employee was also the South Burnett’s skinniest Santa Claus for many years, handing out lollies at the Kingaroy Christmas Carnival.
In 2009, Doug was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his service to war veterans and their families, and to the community of Kingaroy.
Recently he was presented with another “thank you” gift, a framed photograph taken by southburnett.com.au after the Diggers Cup at Wondai Races on Anzac Day.
Doug represented the RSL at the trophy ceremony after the race.
Fellow RAAF veteran Barry Krosch decided to get a copy of the photo framed for Doug as a keepsake and presented it to him at the Kingaroy RSL Club last week.
“Doug has made an incredible contribution to Kingaroy and still does,” Mr Krosch said.
Doug may have retired from most of his volunteer work but he still turns up one day a week to help out at Endeavour.
PS. Russell Cook from the Burnett War Museum also made a special presentation to Doug recently … a 50th birthday card. At first puzzled, Doug quickly realised the card was for ‘Betsy” his 1963 EJ Holden. Betsy served former Kingaroy RSL president Doug Lang for many years before Doug took over responsibility for her about 22 years ago.
- Related article: Punters See Action At Wondai
