Eric Markham Lee Tucker (2/71) was born in Frankston, Victoria on 26 September 1950. He was educated at Frankston High School and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology where he completed a Geology Diploma. Before commencing his National Service he was employed by Metals Exploration as a Geology Researcher. He graduated with Class 2/71 on 7 October 1971 into the RAAOC  and was posted to 3 BOD.

Eric had recently joined in with the West Australians at their quarterly luncheons. He passed away on 23 February 2013, aged 62 years. As notices requested donations to the Motor Neurone Disease Association in lieu of flowers it is assumed that Eric suffered from that disease. A Committal service was held at Karrakatta Crematorium, Brown Chapel Service, Railway Road, on Thursday, 28 February 2013 at 9:00am

Anthony (Tony) Williams Parkes (4/69) was born in Melbourne on 2 January 1949. He completed his secondary education at Mentone Grammar School. Prior to National Service he was employed with Myer (Melbourne) as a Furniture Buyer. He graduated for OTU with Class 4/69 on 16 April 1970 and was posted to RAASC. He attended his Corps Training at the RAASC Centre before being posted to HQ CRAASC 3 DIV in June 1970.

Tony was an OTU Victorian Chapter member before moving to Queensland a few years ago, where he became a regular Queensland Chapter lunch attendee.  Tony and his wife Vivienne owned a ballooning business in the Gold Coast region and Tony was sometimes late arriving at the lunches as a result of late balloon landings.

Mick Hart reported that Tony was a “man for all seasons”: open, considerate, met his difficulties with grace and humour and was genuine in his conversations and generally. He was great company and he will be sadly missed.  His selections of reds was always very acceptable. An enduring memory will be of Col Burg helping Tony home after a monthly lunch late last year.  It looked like a bit of mutual help.

Sadly, Tony died on Friday 25 January 2013 after a courageous fight against brain cancer. Tony’s funeral was held at 11am on Friday 1 February 2013 at Allambe Memorial Park, Nerang-Broadbeach Road, Nerang

Above Left: Peter and Tony Parkes, ANZAC Day 1970.

Alan Ross CAMERON (1/70) was born in Goondiwindi, Queensland on 18 January 1949. He was educated at Toowoomba State High school. Before entering National Service he worked as an Insurance Chief Clerk with General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corp. Alan commenced his officer training at OTU with Class 4/69, graduating with Class 1/70 on 16 Jul 1970. He was posted to 9 RAR at Enoggerra, Queensland.

Sadly, Alan lost a short but brave battle with metastatic melanoma shortly before midnight on 19 December 2012. He was funeral was held at Burstow’s Funeral Chapel, Ruthven St, Toowoomba, at 2:30 pm on Friday 28 December 2012, 22 years to the day that Alan and Rhonda lost their son, Justin, to cancer in December 1990.

Brian McNamara (an ex-Nasho) who went to school with Alan said of Alan ‘A great officer and bloke, he will be sadly missed!’