NASHOS: Frank Gartlan, John Kennedy, Bill Gall and Ron Douglas were at the ceremony yesterday. PICTURE: LACHLAN BENCE
THE Ballarat Nashos paid tribute to Australia’s conscripted national servicemen with a wreath-laying ceremony in Sturt Street yesterday.
National Servicemen’s Association of Australia (Nashos) Ballarat sub-branch secretary Ron Douglas said it marked five years since the dedication of their memorial at the intersection of Sturt and Dawson streets.
The Ballarat Nashos have 75 members, and a small group of them gathered at the memorial yesterday in a wreath-laying service.
“Next week we’re heading to the Shine of Remembrance for a national service,” Mr Douglas said.
He said the Nashos represented all young men called up for service in the Navy, Army and Air Force between 1951 and 1972.
The National Servicemen’s Association of Australia was founded in 1987 and is now the second largest ex-service organisation in the nation.
National Service Day, on February 14, marks the day the last Nasho completed his army obligation.