Beaconsfield War Veteran’s Long-Awaited Trip to Australian War Memorial

Beaconsfield resident and World War Two veteran, 98-year-old John McKenzie was able to fulfill a decades long dream to visit the Australian War Memorial in Canberra in late September. John’s visit was assisted with help from the Beaconsfield RSL Sub-Branch as a component of their welfare program to retired veterans.

Federal Member for Bass Bridget Archer worked with Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Barnaby Joyce and the Australian War Memorial to ensure John’s much-awaited visit to the war memorial was one to remember.

John’s son Andrew travelled with his father to Canberra for the special trip, coinciding with John’s 98th birthday, and said it was one to remember.

“It was a team effort and everyone’s hard work in the background certainly made Dad’s visit epic!” Andrew said.

The Last Post Ceremony is incredibly emotional, and everyone should experience it at least once.”

John was born in Howick Street in 1924 and trained as an apprentice electrician before he attended the Brighton Army camp in 1943 and eventually choosing to join the Royal Australian Air Force, undertaking his basic training at the Point Cook RAAF base.

Further training saw John move through various Bases/Training camps before qualifying as a Leading Air Craftsman.

After first being deployed to a Recovery and Salvage Unit at NADZAB New Guinea, he was then relocated with the unit to the LAE New Guinea before being redeployed to the 33 Squadron LAE New Guinea towards the end of WWII.

After the War, John returned to Tasmania, to continue his employment with Powells Electrical, settling in his beloved Beaconsfield. John later worked for Comalco for 30 years until retirement.

John and his late father Richard joined the Beaconsfield RSL in the early 50s where John remains a member to this day!