April 22, 2020
A Kingaroy man has been recognised nationally in the 2020 RSL Anzac of the Year awards.
Kingaroy-Memerambi RSL Sub-Branch president Don Davey is one of only five Australians honoured in this year’s awards, which were announced by the Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL) this week.
The Anzac of the Year Awards are made annually to recognise the efforts and achievements of up to seven Australians who have given service to their fellow Australians and the community in a positive, selfless and compassionate manner.
The 2020 recipients are:
- Mr Don Davey, of Queensland, in recognition of his innovative leadership, compassion and devotion to provide support to veterans and the wider community in the Kingaroy region over many years
- Mr Michael Goodwin OAM, of Queensland, in recognition for his many years of dedicated leadership of the “Lest We Forget Project”, a project that encourages school students to preserve the memory of those who suffered and died for Australia while at the same time educates students about Australian war history
- Mr Geoffrey Tattersall, of South Australia, in recognition of his dedicated and unwavering commitment and service to the veteran and ex-service community of South Australia
- Ms Karen Christensen, of Victoria, in recognition of her selfless and dedicated service to the communities of the Wandong/Heathcote Junction area through various community groups and her work to ensure the service and memory of those who fought and/or died for their nation is recognised and preserved
- Mr David Scott, of Western Australia, in recognition of his exemplary work within the RSL Western Australia in community liaison, education and commemoration
The RSL National Board and members extended their congratulations to Ms Christensen and Messrs Davey, Goodwin, Tattersall, and Scott.
RSL National President Greg Melick said the award recipients exemplified the Spirit of Anzac in the community through their dedication and commitment to the benefit of others.
“They are exemplars of community service and an inspiration to all Australians,” he said.
Mr Davey – the president of the Kingaroy-Memerambi RSL Sub-Branch – is a Vietnam veteran.
He told a Vietnam Veterans Day commemoration service in Kingaroy two years ago that he was was originally refused RSL membership when he returned from active service in 1970.
“There was so much bitterness in the community about the Vietnam War that I was told it wasn’t a war at all, it was a police action,” he said at the time.
Mr Davey eventually gained RSL membership at the Geebung branch, where his brother sat on the executive.
In the late 1970s, the attitudes towards Vietnam veterans began to change with the RSL movement.
