2RAR Association Inc

VALE:
214436 SGT Leo William WALSH, OAM, JP
19 Jun 1936 - 08 Aug 2026

Service:
Korea (RAN), Malaya (2RAR Australian component), Borneo
3rd SAS Sqn (15 Jun 1966-14 Nov 1966)
6RAR South Vietnam (15 Nov 1966-14 Jun 1967 and 7 May 1969-16 May 1970)

Leo passed away peacefully at home on 8 Aug 2026.

Leo’s funeral is being held on Thursday 20 August 2026 at Mt Thompson Crematorium, East Chapel, 329 Nursery Road, Holland Park at 11 a.m.

The service will be live streamed for anyone who is unable to attend in person.

The Association wishes to thank Kim Dwyer, the wife of Leo Walsh, for the information and send our deepest sympathies to Kim, her family and Leo's veteran mates at this time.

WELFARE UPDATE:

The QLD Govt has just released their Veteran Strategy for those veterans residing in QLD. This strategy will be implemented by Veterans QLD. You can read more on this strategy at https://www.qld.gov.au/community/getting-support-health-social-issue/veterans

The website provides a central site for information to support QLD veterans and their families, including those transitioning out of service.

To locate support services in your area/region, the following website may be helpful to you

https://engage.forcenet.gov.au/

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VALE:

210031 LCpl Leon “Birdcage” Terrance AVERY
09 Jul 1943 – 29 July 2026

V2 Coy 2 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Bn South Vietnam 01 Mar 1967 – 13 May 1968
2 Pl V5 Coy 2 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Bn South Vietnam 15 May 1970 – 07 May 1971

Gavin McKenzie, Secretary, Mt Morgan RSL Sub Branch (Qld) advised:

210031 Pte Leon Avery, sadly, passed on the 29 July 2026 at the age of 83 years young.

A Commemorative Service for Vietnam Veterans Day is to be held
on Tuesday, 18 August 2026 commencing at 11.00am at the Mt Morgan RSL Subbranch, 1 Cornes Street, MT MORGAN QLD
Followed by an RSL Poppy Service for Leon at 11.30am.

Lest We Forget

VALE:

12040 Capt Kevin Geoffrey “Skinny” GRAYSON
27 Mar 1933 – 07 Aug 2026

1 RAR, Korea: 03 Apr 1952 – 18 Mar 1953
1 RAR Malayan Emergency: 08 Oct 1955 – 31 Oct 1957
3 RAR Borneo (Sarawak): 1965
2 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Bn South Vietnam – 2IC A Coy: 07 May 1967 – 13 Jun 1968
HQ AFV, South Vietnam: 04 Jun 1970 – 02 Jun 1971

Irene O’Doherty advised “Skinny” Grayson got his final posting during last night. He is now at Peace.

Funeral for Kevin “Skinny” Grayson funeral is to be held on Thursday, 20th August 2026 at 1.30 pm, at Great Northern Gardens, Tallowood Drive, Deception Bay QLD.

Livestreaming details not available at the moment

May Skinny now Rest in Peace

VALE:
12856 Pte Kevin Robert “Dasher” DEAN OAM
17 Dec 1933 – 29 Jul 2026

Service: 2 RAR, Korea 14 Jul 1953 – 31 Mar 1954, 1 RAR, Korea 01 Apr 1954 – 26 Jun 1954, 2 RAR Malayan Emergency 08 Oct 1955 – 31 Oct 1957

Kevin Robert “Dasher” Dean OAM and 2 RAR Association Life Member passed away on 29 July 2026, aged 92.

Dasher was a dedicated member of the Sandgate RSL Sub-Branch Committee from 2000. He served as Vice President from 2001 to 2003 and again from 2011 to 2015 before transferring to the Sherwood-Indooroopilly Sub-Branch. He also proudly served as President of the 2RAR Association.

REST IN PEACE “Dasher”

The funeral details are as follows:

Friday 14 August, 11 am at Albany Creek Crematorium, Lakeview Chapel followed by wake at Sandgate RSL Sub-Branch, 12 Burnett Place, Sandgate.

Funeral directors are George Hartnett Sandgate.

VALE:
1735986 Pte Neil “Ashes” BALDWIN

13 Oct 1950 – 30 Jul 2026
2 Pl A Coy, 2 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Bn
South Vietnam 02 Sep 1970 – 01 Jun 1971

Matthew Baldwin advised that his father, Neil “Ashes” Baldwin passed away peacefully in Greenslopes Hospital, Brisbane yesterday morning, 30 July 2026.

No further details are available.

Rest in Peace Ashes

Social Event: SE QLD

Veteran and Family Fun Day.
Date: 20 Sept
Time: 2-5 pm
Location: Maroochydore, QLD - Events Centre Level 1

To ensure this event remains exclusively for veterans and their families, proof of service will be required upon entry.

Free tickets can be booked online here https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1536527 or through reception at Maroochydore RSL.

Korea Veterans Day - 27 July

Today we remember all those who served in the Korean war, including some 340 who lost their lives defending South Korea from 1950–1953.

On 27 July each year we commemorate Korean Veterans Day. Today is the anniversay of the day in 1953 when an armistice was signed to end the fighting in Korea.

VALE:
3787767 Pte Graham Roger DONALD
01 May 1945 - 21 July 2026

6 RAR & 2 RAR 1967

Sadly, we have received word that Graham Roger DONALD passed away at the Knox Private Hospital in Melbourne, 21 July 2026.

Graham served with 1 ARU (4 Feb-27 Feb 1967), 6 RAR (28 Feb-28 May 1967), and then transferred to 2 RAR (29 May 1967 serving with 2 RAR until 14 August 1967).

Graham was a member of 7 Pl C Coy 2 RAR in South Vietnam 1967

The Funeral Service to Celebrate the Life of Graham will be held at the:

Upwey Belgrave RSL, 1 Mast Gully Road, Upwey, Vic
TUESDAY August 4th, 2026 commencing at 1:30pm

Live Stream: For those unable to attend, Graham's service will be livestreamed, please find below link to view the service –

https://www.vividstream.com.au/live/graham-donald
Please join with us in offering our deepest sympathy to those who will mourn the passing of a loved one.

LEST WE FORGET

Thank you to the 6 RAR Association for the information

VALE:

1732194 Pte Alan Forster OSBORNE
06 Dec 1945 -17 Jul 2026

Alan saw service in South Vietnam 1st Tour 9PL C Coy 2RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Battalion (19 May 1967- 13 Jun 1968)

Alan's funeral service will be held at 1100am on Friday, 31 July 2026, at Melaleuca Station memorial Gardens in Chinderah, NSW.

Veterans and friends of Alan are invited to attend.

Thank you to the Kingscliff RSL Subbranch for the information

Words by Alan's Pl Comd in Vietnam, Lt Barry Corse:
Please convey to ANZAC Ossie Osborne's family and friends, their ANZAC Dad was a respected, loved combat "brother", who defied death and refused surrender, with the rest of us, 26 Jan 1968, and never surrendered his "sense of humour, courage and integrity and loyalty", a proven combat ANZAC, who is remembered as "he walked tall as an equal Australian"

"We were soldiers" and he was our and my equal, my tears as I write this are ANZAC tears of respect and affection.

"His appreciative skipper"