True colours: Bert Lane is a staunch believer that the country’s flag should never change,
Camera IconTrue colours: Bert Lane is a staunch believer that the country’s flag should never change, Credit: Supplied/Marie Nirme        www.communitypix.com.au d455234

Old soldier Bert Lane awarded Medal of the Order of Australia for service in armed forces and community

Francis CurroComment News

Mr Lane served in the army for 26 years as a communicator before moving into various roles in the community.

He said he had nine trips overseas into Asia, including 13 months in Vietnam ands six months in Borneo during the Malaysian and Indonesian confrontations.

Along with his work in the Army, he was also president of the Australia Flag Association, WA branch for 16 years.

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He said there were people who would argue both sides of the story in regards to changing the flag.

“We don’t want our flag to ever change. The flag will never change while we are around,” Mr Lane said.

“A lot of people around here don’t want the flag to change but there is a considerable number who would like to change |it.

“People are very passionate about the flag, I was pretty proud. The association kept me busy.”

He said he spoke to more than 250 community groups |in his time with the assoc-|iation and was proud that the flag had remained the same.

Mr Lane joined the army when he was 21. When he left in 1981 he joined the security |industry, where he worked as a security officer at James Hardie.

When he retired, he became the president in the National Flag Association and has been involved in several other community groups.

He said spending 26 years in the army gave him a taste |for various organisations and to see the right thing was done.

Mr Lane was proud to receive the Order of Australia.

“It’s a good award,” he said.

“I have some good and some bad memories of war, but mostly good.”