By Romy Stephens
The Mt Evelyn RSL marked the 50th anniversary of the death of Mt Evelyn serviceman Garry Willoughby on 8 October.
It was the last of the RSL’s commemorative services to local servicemen, having honoured the centenary of WWI veterans and the 50th anniversary of Vietnam veterans since 2015.
“For five years now the Mt Evelyn RSL has been honouring our local men who died while on active service across four local war memorials,” Mt Evelyn RSL president Roger Boness said.
“Seventeen men were from World War One and we honoured them on the centenary of their death, four were from the Vietnam War and we have honoured them on the 50th anniversary of their passing.
“Garry Willoughby marks our last service.”
Mr Willoughby was born at the Queen Victoria Hospital on 25 October 1947. He was the eldest of four children to Cecil and Yvonne Willoughby.
His early years were spent at Coburg before his family moved to Mt Evelyn. He attended the Lilydale State School then Lilydale High School.
In September 1967 his birth date was pulled out in the national service ballot, conscripting him for national service. He deferred his national service while studying but when he failed his degree he was ordered to undergo military training.
In June 1970, while he was on leave, he got engaged to his girlfriend Rhonda Graham.
Mr Willoughby was then assigned to the second battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, who at that time had relieved the 6th Battalion at Nui Dat in South Vietnam.
On 8 October 1970, he was on patrol in the Sui Chau Pha area as part of Operation Cung Chung. At 3.10pm his company was engaged by enemy who were in a defensive position, in thick bamboo, and fired on them.
Mr Willoughby was killed and another soldier was severely wounded. He was just 22 years old.
His body was brought home to Australia and buried at the Lilydale Cemetery.
Mr Willoughby’s sister, Alison, remembered him as “a lovely brother, hardworking and engaging.”
His mother, Yvonne, told a local reporter in 1992 “hardly a day goes past when I don’t think of Garry.”
Mr Willoughby was honoured with a service and wreath laying at the Mt Evelyn War Memorial, where his name is remembered.
Some of his family members attended the service.
The service took place under Covid-19 restrictions.
