THE daughter of former Purnim serviceman Captain Reg Saunders has described her father as a “proud and humble man”.
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Hilary Saunders spoke at a commemorative service held in honour of her father at the Warrnambool RSL on Saturday.
The service was to officially mark the purchase by the Purnim Community Group of Saunders’ medals for his service in World War II and the Korean War.
The eight medals were auctioned in July for a hammer price of $9000. The group was able to buy the medals thanks to financial contributions from the Gwen and Edna Jones Foundation, Anzac House, the Warrnambool RSL and Moyne Shire Council.
Mr Saunders was the first Aboriginal commissioned officer in the Australian Army.
One of Mr Saunders’ 10 children, Hilary Saunders, has fond memories of her father.
“When we were growing up he was always just Dad to us,” Ms Saunders said.
“We thought he was great, he was such a proud and humble man.
“I remember Dad would never go out of the house without a clean shirt on our without his shoes being so clean you could see your own face in them.
“Even if he was just going to the shop to get the newspaper, it was never in shorts and a pair of thongs, he was always immaculate.”
While Ms Saunders said her father’s time in the army had instilled in him great discipline, there was also a much softer side.
“He was a pushover, especially for his daughters,” she said with a laugh.
“He was a very gentle man who loved his kids and his grandchildren. He always worked hard to support his family.”
After finishing his army service in Korea, Mr Saunders lived in Melbourne before moving to Sydney where he worked in a foundry.
His next career move was to be long-term, seeing him through to retirement.
“Dad got a job with Aboriginal Affairs in Canberra,” Ms Saunders said.
“He was a liaison officer there and he really enjoyed that work, helping other people.”
Mr Saunders would regularly come back to the south-west to see family members and visit his mother’s grave at Framlingham.
“It’s great the Purnim community has played a part in getting Dad’s medals, it feels right,” Ms Saunders said.