Vale Harry Buckley. Lest We Forget

Very sad to learn about the passing of Harry Buckley, one of our region's most decorated and respected ex-servicemen.

Harry was patron of the South Lake Macquarie RSL sub-Branch (Morisset), and was a mentor to many.

His story was extraordinary. He joined the Merchant Navy at 14 and later spent several years marooned on an island after becoming shipwrecked. He later joined the Army and served (in high ranks) in Malaya and Vietnam, among other places.

I won't detail his incredible story here but I plan to honour Harry in the Parliament when it resumes next month, so I'll post the full version then.

His funeral will be held tomorrow (Friday), but sadly the number of mourners is restricted due to the pandemic. Along with the sub-branch and all who knew him, I'm hoping we might be able to stage a public memorial service at a later date.

My thoughts are with his family and many friends, and with Dan Sloan and all Harry's close mates at the sub-branch who were kind enough to lend me some photos.

LEST WE FORGET