Nashos reward Don’s dedication
Worthy recipient: Don Earl and his Gordon Murphy Award plaques – one perpetual and one to keep.
DON Earl is a proud man.
He recently received the highest honour available to a National Serviceman in Victoria, but sees the award as being more about his mates and the service they gave to Australia than his own contribution.
The Korumburra man was presented with the Gordon Murphy Award by the Victorian branch of the National Servicemen’s Association of Australia.
The award was bestowed at the annual meeting of the South Gippsland sub-branch at the Inverloch RSL.
Only one person a year is presented with the award from a membership of thousands.
The award also recognises the work of Don’s wife Betty, who has tirelessly stood by him.
He described the members as extremely loyal and worthy of recognition too.
“They are the heart and soul behind this honour,” Don said.
In his own words, Don said the award made him feel “humble”.
“I was speechless,” he said.
“Apart from marrying Betty, it’s the greatest honour that I’ve ever had. I’ve always wanted to be part of the team. It’s just huge.”
Don has been involved with the association since 1997.
Last year, he played a major role in the installation of a plaque at the Wonthaggi cenotaph recognising the contribution of National Servicemen or ‘Nashos’ as they are colloquially known.
Don has held committee positions as assistant secretary and vice-president with the South Gippsland sub-branch, and for the last 10 years has been president and served as state delegate. His services have resulted in a life membership.
The sub-branch now has up to 60 members at meetings, who follow the motto: “Sharing and caring”.
While juggling those roles, he has also been welfare officer, caring for ill Nashos and conducting special funeral services.
“It’s been hard because I’ve lost a lot of good mates,” Don said.
Betty makes wreaths for Nashos to lay at Anzac Day services across South Gippsland, and the couple also attends memorial services at the Puckapunyal Army base near Seymour and the Shrine of Remembrance.
“The association honours all those men who wore a uniform and the mates you met in the Army, you know some of them would lay down their life for you,” Don said.
“They are different to the types of mates you make in civilian life because you are all in the same boat.”
Don joined the National Service in 1951, among the first intake.
“At the time, there were only 36,000 Australians in uniform and 1700 of them were officers. With all the trouble in the Pacific (Korean conflict) at the time, it was decided we did not have much defence,” he said.
“That’s when the government said if you are 18, you have got to do National Service.”
Young men were offered a choice between joining the Army for two years or National Service for five.
Don attended weekly training and also camps of up to three weeks’ duration at Puckapunyal.
“I could have been sent anywhere around Australia and the world,” he said.
As well as volunteering as vice-president of the Korumburra RSL, Don plans to continue to serve.
“I’ve always said that if you can’t help someone, you may as well be dead,” he said.
Short URL: /?p=3446
Posted by 
