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Her familiar face in so many Goulburn ANZAC day marches will be missing from today’s commemorations.
The World War Two veteran and former Australian Ex-servicewomen’s Goulburn president passed away last Saturday in Goulburn Base Hospital, aged 89.
Ill health was the only setback that kept Mrs Casey away from the annual march and work with local service organisations.
“It was a very, very special day to her, moreso than Christmas Day or any other holiday,” daughter Judy Fowler said yesterday.
“We all knew this was Mum’s day and steer clear because she was busy doing things.”
Yesterday Goulburn RSL Sub branch president Gordon Wade paid tribute to her wealth of knowledge and fierce advocacy.
“When I first became president there were a few people I relied on and Val was one of them,” he said.
“She had a great knowledge of the organisation and she was a great supporter and mentor to me.”
Born in Sydney and educated at Mt Carmel Catholic School, Waterloo, the then Val Pountney served with the Australian Army Medical Women’s Service (AIF) from March 29, 1943 to February 14, 1945.
She was attached to the 114th Australian General Hospital unit, principally stationed at Kenmore Hospital.
It was while working as a cook here that she met her future husband, Harry Casey, a war veteran employed as an ambulance driver at the hospital.
They married in 1945 and raised eight children, many of whom embraced their parents’ legacy.
Even after her discharge and in married life, Mrs Casey took a hands on role with the RSL sub branch.
“I’ve known Val 40 to 50 years and she’s been involved in the Sub branch all that time,” Mr Wade said.
“She has been a mainstay of the organisation for many years. When she gave it up due to ill health, she was terribly missed.”
She served on the sub branch’s committee, was a member of the Ex Service Women’s Association for 45 years and president for 10 years.
Mr Wade clearly remembers Mrs Casey forming up behind the Association’s banner every ANZAC Day, making sure everyone was dressed properly and ready to step off when the march started.
Each year she also organised the wreath laying ceremony.
Aside from her advocacy, Mrs Casey was always willing to speak to school and other groups about war time and her experience.
She and Leila Granger, who passed way in 2009, were Goulburn’s two best known women’s veterans and great friends.
The Ex Service Women’s Association was disbanded just a few years ago due to lack of numbers.
Mrs Casey also had a long association with Legacy. After Harry died in 1958, Legacy helped the family in many ways.
She spent the last few months of her life in Legacy Lodge, before being admitted to Goulburn Base Hospital.
Advancing age did not stop her involvement in many organisations, including the Rosemary Club, the Australian Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association, of which she was president, and the Seniors Activity Group.
Mr Wade said Mrs Casey was a passionate advocate for veterans and was devoted to her family. She was “pleased as punch” when two her grandsons, Simon and Mark Casey and granddaughter Cathy Fowler joined the army but always relieved they returned home safely from duty.
Today Cathy will honour her grandmother by marching behind the Ex-Service Women’s Association banner with Mrs Casey’s medals. Mark and Simon Casey will also participate in the march.
The Sub branch will pay tribute to Mrs Casey at prayers of Christian burial at Sts Peter and Paul’s Cathedral at 2pm tomorrow, with interment to follow at St Patrick’s Cemetery.
Mrs Casey is survived by her children Judy, Robyn, Daniel, Catherine, Patricia, Peter, Toni, Stephen, their partners and families.
