For Don Mackrill Anzac Day is a time to remember his parents.
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The George Town RSL sub branch president has a long history of service personnel in his family and he is no exception.
Mr Mackrill was a Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps caller during the Vietnam War, and while he didn’t go to Vietnam he saw first-hand the impact it had.
The body was responsible for a vast range of support tasks to the army, but Mr Mackrill’s role focused on the deployment of soldiers, resettling of soldiers in Australia, administration and welfare.
Helping integrate soldiers back into society was often difficult as Mr Mackrill said there was limited knowledge of post traumatic stress disorder at that time.
“In a lot of cases the troops hadn’t developed it at such an early stage,” he said.
Strong military ties run in the Mackrill family: Mr Mackrill’s father was a Rat of Tobruk and his mother served in the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps as a pay corp.
“My dad passed away in 1992 … he was a Rat of Tobruk and I am very proud of that,” he said.
“He suffered a variety of things and without a doubt he would’ve been diagnosed with PTSD.”
A member of the RSL for more than 20 years, Mr Mackrill got heavily involved when he was asked to take on the role of treasurer at George Town in 2013.
He was named president of the branch in 2016.
“I’m proud of a number of boys and girls in George Town that have and are joining the military,” Mr Mackrill.
“I am very proud of them as well as my own kids.”
Mr Mackrill’s eldest son has served and his younger son would begin his service in two weeks.
“My two sisters were in the service as well.”
In an ongoing commitment to ex-service personnel, Mr Mackrill recently completed his welfare grade two course.
“We really need to keep our sub-branches up and running until [future] boys and girls can take over,” he said.
For the first time in more than 20 years the George Town dawn service was held at the original cenotaph.
Mr Mackrill said the weather held out as more than 300 people stood tall to commemorate those past and present.
“It was a very special service,” he said.
George Town’s 11am service was held at Max Harris Memorial Park.
Senior guest speak and Southern Cross presenter Rachel Williams held back tears as she shared stories of Tasmanians who fought at Gallipoli. “They were selfless, courageous and ready to lay down their lives for others,” she said.