State League ANZAC Round 2019
The Volleyball Victoria State League ANZAC Round was held last weekend on 27 April. This was an opportunity for all players, coaches, team officials and referees to acknowledge all current and former servicemen and women from the extended Victorian Volleyball community. ANZAC Day is a time of remembrance and gratitude towards all men and women of the Australian and New Zealand Army and as suchVolleyball Victoria were proud to recognize the following:
- Edward Higgins grandfather of Mazenod Volleyball Club Helen Gubbles
- Edward was part of the Light Horseman during World War 2
- Francis Byrne; father of Phantoms President Paul Byrne.
- Francis served as part of the Australian Imperial Force earning in Korea and Japan
- Gavin Oakley from Mornington Reserves Men’s is currently a Squadron Leader in the Royal Australian Air Force having previously served between 2001 to 2012 on operations in the Middle East including Iraq, Afghanistan and the South China Sea
- Hayward Ian Abell; Father in law of Gus Cirillo and Grandfather of Michael Cirillo both from Melbourne University Renegade’s Premier Men’s team
- Hayward was drafted in April 1943 before serving in New Guinea as a signaller until August 1945. Discharged from service in October 1946 Hayward was awarded the Commander in Chief’s card for Distinguished Service in the South West Pacific
- James Bevin; brother of Elizabeth Bevin from Monash University’s Division 2 Women’s team
- James was deployed to Iraq in May last year after previously serving in the Philippines
- James Edward Ernest Brodribb; great Uncle of Croydon’s Amelia Dell
- Private James Brodripp served in the 2nd Pioneer Battalion and died at the age of 26 as a prisoner of war on 1 August 1943.
- James is currently buried at the Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery in Burma
- John James Dolan; related to Michael and Sean Dolan from Western Region Volleyball Club
- John served at the historically significant Villers Bretonneux in World War 1
- Lawrence Blake; grandfather of Blair Keating from Victoria University’s Division 2 Men’s team.
- Lawrie served in Singapore during World War 2 and after being captured by the Japanese Lawrie was a prisoner of war where he laboured on the Thai-Burma railway.
- Lawrence Cooke; great grandfather of Sarah Elander from the Phantoms Division 3 Women’s team
- Lawrence joined the 21st Battalion 9th Reinforcement at just 23 years old before serving on the Western Front during World War 1 from 1916 until after the end of World War 1 in March 1919
- Ronald Wilson Murphy; great uncle of Croydon’s Catherine Gordon
- Ronald was a leading aircraftsman that served with the Australian Army before transferring to the Royal Australian Air Force
- Ronald unfortunately was killed aged 25 on 21 May 1943 and is currently buried in the Bairnsdale War Cemetery
- Scott McConnell from Eastside Hawks/Latrobe Valley is currently posted to the 1st Combat Engineers Regiment in Darwin; and
- Scott Morland from Eastside Hawks/Latrobe Valley has served in the 1st and 2nd Divisions in Ordinance Corps, parachute training and infantry
- Stacy Howard; brother of Adelaide Swift from Mornington Division 2 Women’s team
- Stacy has previously served in Afghanistan and is currently based in Townsville as a Physical Training Instructor
- Vaughan Hamilton; represented by Kilby Todd from Phantoms Reserves Women’s team
- Vaughan has served as part of the Australian Defence Force in the Soloman Islands and East Timor
Finally, we were very lucky to be joined by Ken Western who has spent an enormous 25 years serving in the Royal Australian Air Force. Ken’s son Tom plays in the Mornington Men’s Reserves team and Tom was also joined by son’s Lachie, Josh and Nate. Lachie, Josh and Nate attended the ceremony wearing the medals of their great grandfather who served in World War 2 and great great uncle who was active during World War 1
The full ANZAC Ceremony as well as the Premier Men and Women’s matches can be viewed at - youtube.com/volleyballvictoria
Last Modified on 30/04/2019 16:03
