Brian Watson says his Australia Day honour actually belongs to his son Steven.
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Several years ago Mr Watson’s son said to him “Dad, what are we going to do for the centenary”.
Those words sparked a four-year journey for Mr Watson but Steven, who worked as a firefighter in Western Australia, never saw the project come to fruition.
“He was in absolute awe of our family history, especially from World War I. It is sad he never got to see the final results, but I’m sure he is watching saying ‘well done, Dad’,” Mr Watson said.
Two years ago Steven, who was a fit 46-year-old, suffered a massive heart attack and never regained consciousness. On Thursday morning, RSL Tasmania acting state president Geoff Leitch presented Mr Watson with the Australia Day Achievement Medallion at a ceremony at Nunamara.
“Mr Brian Watson, member of the Northern Midlands RSL sub-branch committee, has been instrumental in the organisation of ceremonial events throughout the centenary of Anzac commemorations, 2014 to 2018,” Mr Leitch said.
Mr Watson was one of only two people in Tasmania to be nominated by the state RSL.
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Humbled by the recognition, Mr Watson credited the hard work, time and effort he put in over the past four years to bring together the state’s centenary of armistice commemorations to his son.
“The biggest thing is I’ve completed what my son started because he never got to see it,” Mr Watson said.
“I consider the Australia Day award more for my son than anything, it was just presented to me.
“I’ve pulled it off with the help of other people, of course.”
Mr Watson was responsible for the live broadcast of the New Zealand dawn service to the Longford cenotaph on Anzac Day in 2014 and 2015.
He also organised a centenary of Anzac-themed concert at Launceston’s Door of Hope in 2015.
“After the success of the above events Mr Watson put his efforts towards organising the centenary of armistice events,” Mr Leitch said.
A centenary of armistice concert and dinner were organised by Mr Watson.
“Both events were held at the Albert Hall in Launceston, and the very successful centenary of armistice commemoration and celebration service and activities held in Longford on Remembrance Day 2018,” Mr Leitch said.
Mr Watson said the medallion was a huge honour.
“I never expected it. It was a hell of a shock when I got the phone call on Tuesday,” he said.
Although some days it was difficult to continue the process that Steven started, Mr Watson said he kept going for the love of his son.
