Moorabool News The
EMAIL: news@themooraboolnews.com.au
Tuesday 9 November, 2021
Your Local News
Serving Ballan and district since 1872
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Phone 5368 1966
Remembrance Day – Thursday 11th November
LEST WE FORGET
Mr James Ginnane in the 2017 ANZAC Day parade in Bacchus Marsh. By Lachlan Ellis
Vale James Ginnane Bacchus Marsh’s last WWII veteran has sadly passed away, survived by three of his four children. James Ginnane joined the Australian Imperial Force as a linesman during the Second World War and passed away peacefully on 6 October this year. He was only 16 years old when he applied to join the military, turning 17 shortly before he was accepted. Mr Ginnane’s Statement of Service shows four separate deployments – King River in the Northern Territory, the Torres Strait Islands, Morotai in Indonesia, and Japan, from December 1942 until February 1947. One of Mr Ginnane’s sons, John, said his father was a hard worker who did his best to help everyone around him. “He wasn’t scared of work. He worked at the Lifeguard milk factory, he worked at Timbrock where they made hardwood as a painter,” Mr Ginnane told the Moorabool News.
“Mum and Dad were both very respected, they did a lot of voluntary work in their later years. Dad made friends wherever he went, I don’t think he ever had an enemy.” In Japan, Mr Ginnane volunteered to help with recovery efforts in Hiroshima after the war, joining the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF). “The Japanese were so thankful. They couldn’t believe that these people they’d been fighting were over there helping clean up. They gave each of the soldiers that were helping them a declaration of surrender written on silk,” John said. James Ginnane earned six honours: the Defence Medal, the War Medal 1939-45, the Australia Service Medal 1939-45, the Australian Service Medal 1945-75 with Clasp Japan, the Australian Defence Medal, and the Returned from Active Service Badge. In August 2020, Mr Ginnane also received the Commemorative Medallion, which marked the 75th anniversary of Japan’s surrender. He joined the Bacchus Marsh RSL on 20 March 1947, which son John says was “Dad’s second family”.
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Bruce Lawton from the Bacchus Marsh RSL said Mr Ginnane was a beloved member of the community. “He was a real gentleman, a really lovely guy. He and his wife, if they ever went anywhere in Bacchus Marsh, they went together on their mobile scooters,” he said. “If his family couldn’t find him, they’d always come here to the RSL, and he’d be here. He didn’t hold a top position in the RSL, but he was always so supportive of everything we did here. “At his funeral, they made Cherrison and I feel like part of the family.” After retiring, James and his wife Marie travelled around Australia, then arranged a trip to Gallipoli to visit the war memorials there. The Ginnane family are passionate Richmond fans – John says he “had a Richmond jumper on from the time I was born”, and the thrill of the 1967 Grand Final win he shared with his dad was one of his fondest memories. James Ginnane was 96 years old, and was a beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather, and great great grandfather.
Vol 15 No 44