BRIAN Neve thought one medal was enough. Earlier this year he was named Goulburn’s senior of the year and proudly wore that honour on his chest to another ceremony this week.
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Hume MP Alby Schultz was handing out Australian Defence Medals on Monday, assisted by the Australian Army’s warrant officer (class 2) Detlef Jansen.
The medals are awarded to Australian Defence Force regulars and reserve personnel who have served an initial enlistment period or four years’ service, whichever is the lesser.
Mr Neve served with the Royal Australian Navy from 1952 - 58, mainly in the stores department at Nowra and at Manus Island in Papua New Guinea.
“For a boy from the bush, it was a real experience,” he said.
“I lived in a little country town near Junee so it was really something to get into the Navy and see the big world.”
Mr Neve moved to Goulburn nine years ago, having married a “local girl.”
He’s heavily involved in volunteer work at Warrigal Care and Waminda Aged Care facilities along with the Heart Foundation. His community work helped snare the senior of the year award. Jason McAndrew, who served 11 years with the Army Reserve, also added the silver medal to his collection.
The Tarago man joined the University of NSW regiment in 1990 and two years later transferred to the 1/15 Royal NSW Lancers in Parramatta. He qualified to drive M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers and operate all equipment on board, including a machine gun.
In between, he juggled a fulltime career in the Australian Customs Service, undertaking waterfront patrols around Sydney. Craving for adventure, he moved to Darwin in 1996.
While continuing his Customs role, he joined NORFORCE (the North-West Mobile Force), a surveillance unit responsible for the Northern Territory and the Kimberleys in Western Australia.
He told the Post he worked with many indigenous soldiers in Darwin and Arnhem Land and came to appreciate their skills.
Here he qualified as a patrolman, undertaking coastal surveillance. Mr McAndrew discharged from the Army in 2001 after moving to Perth with his new wife.
In 2007 he moved to a 100-acre property at Tarago, where his wife breeds highland ponies and plans are afoot to grow truffles one day.
He works with the Border Protection Command in Canberra. Mr McAndrew said receiving the medal was an honour.
“It’s recognition of the time and effort I put in,” he told the Post.
Mr Schultz said recipients had the option of receiving the medal from their MP. The Australian Defence Force provided personnel to assist with the presentation in these cases.
“It’s a great buzz because it doesn’t matter whether they’re past or current serving members, they’ve made a significant contribution to the defence of this country,” he said.
Goulburn RSL sub branch president Gordon Wade and secretary Rod Maclean were also on hand for the ceremony.
