Five receive seniors awards

Five people from or connected to the Peninsula area in some way received awards at The Commonwealth Recognition Awards for Senior Australians which was held late last year.

served in the Royal Australian Navy from September 1939 until March 1946.

His service at sea was primarily on small ships such as minesweepers and anti-submarine duties.

He was involved in combined operations at HMAS Assault and while there volunteered for special service with Special Operations Australia/Service Reconnaissance Department.

He was a member of the 14-man commando party that sailed back to Singapore during the Japanese occupation in 1943 aboard the historic vessel Krait, resulting in seven Japanese vessels being sunk or damaged in Singapore Harbour by limpet mines.

The party returned to Australia without casualties and Mr Young was awarded a mention in dispatches for his part in the operation.

Mr Young was a career public servant with the Postmaster-General Department during his civilian working life, rising to Deputy Assistant Director-General and finally Assistant Secretary with the newly-formed Department of Posts and Telegraphs.

He was awarded the Queen's Jubilee Medal for public service.

On retirement Mr Young was continuously involved in returned service activities and occupied positions including president of the Victorian Commando Association, president, secretary and patron of the Woy Woy-Ettalong RSL Sub-branch, president, secretary and patron of the Naval Association of Australian Central Coast Section.

He was awarded a diploma of merit by this association.

He was president of the Z Special Unit Association and was awarded life membership of the Association.

He is a past chairman of the Krait War Memorial Committee and co-founder, honorary secretary and co-patron of the Central Coast WWII Veterans' Association.

Mr Young was awarded life membership to the Wireless Institute of Australia for services to Australian Radio Communication Services.

He is past president and secretary of Umina Probus Association and served as a Legatee with Brisbane Water Legacy.

Carl Spears, January 8