Stories of Service

Jessie Vasey CBE OBE is known as the founder of the Australian War Widows Queensland (AWWQ), a service that supports war widows and families impacted by defence service. Watch the digital story to learn more about Mrs Vasey's inspiring legacy.

Dr. John 'Stanton' Davis Mellick served in New Guinea from 1940 to 1945. He later excelled as a pharmacist and lecturer at the University of Queensland. Dr Mellick received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2005 in recognition of his extensive lifetime achievements.

Francis Ryan Smith demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership in France, earning the Military Cross for his actions at Armentieres. Learn more about Mr Smith's exceptional wartime contributions.

Derek Smith, OAM enlisted into the Australian Army as a 16-year-old apprentice and progressed to Major over his 23 years of service. Derek deployed to Vietnam on three tours in 1966, 1969 and 1971.

It was September 1968 when 20-year-old Patrick Smythe joined a convoy heading to Ba Ria in Phuoc Tuy province, former South Vietnam, as a ‘shotgun’ – the person responsible for sitting next to and protecting the driver of the vehicle.

Vietnam Veteran Mr Trevor Shelley served for 9 years after enlisting into the Australian Army as an engineer in 1964. On Anzac Day 1966, as an 18-year-old, Trevor was deployed to Vietnam for 12 months.

It is no wonder that Vietnam Veteran Robert O’Connor became a novelist inspired by his own action-packed war service which has provided an abundance of material for a series of books.

Vietnam Veteran Mr Rodney Slater felt destined to serve Australia in the army as he grew up playing in bushland near the Enoggera Barracks.