[BITList] Fwd: Joint media release: VA012 Happy 110th Birthday to Australia's last remaining WW1 serviceman Jack Ross [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

[John Feltham]

Minister for Veterans' Affairs Mailing List

VA012
                                                                                                                                                                Wednesday
, 11 March 2009

Happy 110th Birthday to AUSTRALIA’S LAST REMAINING WW1 SERVICEMAN Jack  
Ross
The Australian Government today officially paid tribute to Australia’s  
last remaining First World War serviceman and oldest Australian male,  
John Ross or ‘Jack’ who celebrates his 110th birthday today.

Prime Minister, Mr Kevin Rudd has also written to Mr Ross formally  
recognising his milestone.

By reaching his 110th birthday, Mr Ross is now part of a select group  
known as supercentenarians.

The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Mr Alan Griffin, and Minister for  
Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot, wished Mr Ross a very happy day on this  
momentous occasion.

“I congratulate Mr Ross on reaching such a milestone.  He volunteered  
to serve his country in two world wars and has seen Australia change a  
great deal over the last 110 years,” said Mr Griffin.

Mrs Elliot said that we can learn so much from the wisdom, knowledge  
and experience of older Australians like Mr Ross.

“In his lifetime, Mr Ross has not only lived through two World Wars,  
but also witnessed the rise of the automobile and air travel, two  
Halley’s comets and the Federation of Australia,” Mrs Elliot said.

In January 1918, at 18 years of age, Mr Ross enlisted in the  
Australian Imperial Force.  He trained at the Wireless Training School  
and was posted to the 1st Battalion at Broadmeadows Camp in Victoria.   
The war ended before Mr Ross could be posted overseas and he was  
discharged on Christmas Eve, 1918.

“Mr Ross is our last link to a generation of young men who served in  
the First World War.  By the time Mr Ross enlisted, our young nation  
had already suffered massive casualties on the battlefields of  
Gallipoli, Palestine and the Western Front, yet Mr Ross volunteered to  
join them on the front line,” Mr Griffin said.

Jack Ross served his country again in the Second World War as a member  
of the Volunteer Defence Corps.

In his civilian life, Mr Ross worked for the Victorian Railways for  
more than 45 years and retired in 1964. He now lives in Bendigo,  
Victoria, and has a daughter, Peggy, a son, Robert, four grandchildren  
and nine great grandchildren.

Member for Bendigo, Mr Steve Gibbons said: “To have Australia’s oldest  
digger in our community is an honour and a privilege.

“On behalf of the people of Bendigo, I wish Mr Ross a very happy  
birthday,” Mr Gibbons said.

Mr Ross was awarded the 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal,  
Australia’s first commemorative honour, marking the 80th anniversary  
in 1998 of the end of the First World War. Mr Ross also received the  
Centenary Medal, which recognised living Australians who had  
contributed to Australian society in the 100 years since Federation.

Media inquiries: Laura Ryan 0437 863 109 (Minister Griffin)
Kathryn Conroy 0448 249 447 (Minister Elliot)
Office of Steve Gibbons 03 5443 9055
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ooroo

Bad typists of the word, untie.




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