Every Anzac and Remembrance Day, thousands of veterans are celebrated for their service and devotion to this country. For the last 50 years, Belrose local John Balfour has been the man behind the scenes moving all the parts to make those ceremonies happen.
As a veteran himself, John knows the importance of keeping activities running for all to commemorate and, more importantly, to keep a sense of camaraderie and support for our national heroes.
His devoted participation and incredible spirit of service saw him receive an Order of Australia (OAM) in 2012 and be awarded the Meritorious Service Medal from RSL Australia in October 2022.
The service medal recognised his over 50 years of service to RSL NSW and, more recently, his role as the ceremonial officer at Forestville RSL sub-branch. It was an award that he received as a great honour.
“That was just terrific because there were only two at the NSW State Congress,” John says.
“It recognised my 50 years’ service for the RSL both here at Forest and as the deputy chief marshall of the Anzac Day march in the city.
“I knew it was coming, because several people were asking me questions about it, but it’s the highest individual award that any RSL member can get in Australia.”
The long-time local dedicates most of his time at the Forestville RSL sub-branch as a member of the committee. There, John is not only in charge of running the parades around Anzac Day and Remembrance Day, but also organises and prepares activities to support local schools and children.
John with the Governor of NSW, the Hon. Margaret Beazley and RSL NSW President Ray James at the RSL NSW Annual Congress in October, where he received the Meritorious Service Medal.
“We run two big programs involving schools, and we have 20 schools in the area participating in the Australia My Country competition. This goes from February to April,” he explains.
“Also, we run scholarships under the Remembrance Day Educational Grants program, which runs from August to November. We ask 20 schools to find Year Six students going on to high school the following year. They need to have a member of the family who is serving now or did in World War II, World War I or Vietnam, and do an essay of 500 words about that family member’s service.”
Keeping memories alive and giving recognition to those serving this country is what motivates John the most, and he recognises that serving the Forest community veterans is his favourite part of volunteering.
“I’m there three to four days a week,” he says with a cheerful laugh.
“It’s part of their (veterans) wellbeing, to give them a place to get friendship, camaraderie, and assistance…” John Balfour
“Just sorting thing out, organising various activities.”
The spirit of service has been always part of his life. His parents were part of the Australian Defence Forces, and he was a cadet in his early years before being part of the army reserves for 48 years.
At 76 years of age, John remains incredibly active and, when he is not at the RSL, he works as the manager of the Australia’s Memorial Walk.
“The Memorial Walk at North Head has 6,000 memorial pavers on the ground. It’s a wonderful thing. My mother has a paper there. She was an officer in World War II,” he says.
To John, his key motivation is to create a place of recognition and a second home for the veterans and their families.
“We need we have the sort of friendship and the camaraderie of all these veterans. We do activities for them and keep them involved with monthly meetings or commemorative lunches.
“It’s part of their wellbeing, to give them a place to get friendship, camaraderie, and assistance in whatever and whenever they need it.”