SERVING with the Royal Australian Engineers during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation taught Alan Richardson the importance of mateship.
As Anzac Day approaches, the City of Belmont RSL president has reflected on his time serving his country.
“I served with the engineers, doing rod and airstrip construction in the field from 1963 to 1965,” he said.
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READ NOW“It was a stressful time but I learned more about mateship, comradeship and how to work together.”
After returning to Australia, Mr Richardson was a regimental instructor at the Puckapunyal training facility in Victoria before joining the RSL in Belmont in 1967.
“Service people don’t stop serving when they return to Australia, they continue to serve through local governments, sporting clubs and other organisations,” he said.
“When I was at school, I knew teachers who had served during World War I and when I was at college I knew people who had served during World War II, so I got an idea of the past.
“I think young people are learning more about the past and finding out what happened 100 years ago in Europe.
“It was a completely different time in terms of technology and the type of warfare.”
There will be a service at the City of Belmont RSL on April 22 from 2pm and a dawn service at Forster Park on Anzac Day from 5.45am.
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