As ANZAC Day approaches it’s important to hear the stories of our veterans to honour their service to our country. The team from St Barts sat down with one of their residents to hear his story.
Peter who lives at the James Watson Aged Care Centre, shares about his time in the Royal Australian Navy. He told his remarkable story, beginning with running away from his Sydney home at just 15 years old to join the Navy.
Peter found himself aboard the HMAS Duchess in 1964, which had replaced the HMAS Voyager following its tragic loss. As an able seaman, he served as the Captain of the Gun Bay and was also a skilled weapons mechanic.
Reflecting on his time aboard, Peter recounted sleeping in a hammock, operating the ship’s powerful turrets, and the unique experience of travelling the world. “I spent time in Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, and Vietnam during my service,” he shared.
One of Peter’s most cherished memories was when the HMAS Duchess escorted the HMAS Sydney, which carried Army soldiers and vital equipment to Vietnam to rescue civilians from captivity.
St Bart’s Patron, Mr Graham Edwards said: “St Bart’s is proud to honour and support Veterans like Peter. We are committed to providing assistance and programs to those impacted by homelessness. St Bart’s has a long history of supporting Veterans, helping to rebuild their lives and securing access to a stable home or aged care”.
Mr Edwards who is also a Vietnam Veteran and double amputee became St Bart’s inaugural Patron in 2021. He has been instrumental in raising awareness about homelessness and advocating for Veterans’ needs.
St Bart’s expresses heartfelt gratitude and pays tribute to Veterans, both past and present, for their dedicated service to Australia.
