My father, John Gerald Mason served in WWII as a private in the army in two campaigns in New Guinea. During his tour, he contracted malaria. Upon his discharge in 1949, he was given the wonderful diagnosis of having just 6 months or so to live. And so he refrained from seeking that what most returned servicemen do upon their return. A wife, a family, a home. However, some 10 years later, he met and fell in love with my mum and the rest, they say, is history. He did succumb to that nasty malaria in 19 August 1971 (thankfully, some 22 years later than his original 6 month prognosis) from pneumonia which is quite often the case when battling the fever of an attack. This left my mum a war widow by definition for which I am very happy to report, is, to this day, very well looked after by the various government departments of veteran affairs and repatriation. As was my schooling, development and well being. This was capped off by the wonderful people from Legacy who provided me with opportunities of fellowship, sponsored billets and a guiding hand when needed, right down to a simple dinner and the bus fare to return home from any city club activities on a Friday night.
The men and women who serve have done so and do so without question, without judgment and with so much lost opportunity that we must never forget them. Nor should we forget their loved ones left behind. Love you dad. Love you mum.
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