General News
2 May, 2023
A proud tradition of service
Brian Bosworth, president of the Dimboola RSL Sub-branch, delivered a moving speech at the Anzac Day Dawn Service at Dimboola Memorial Secondary College yesterday. Anzac Day has a special significance for Brian as his family has a proud tradition of...
Brian Bosworth, president of the Dimboola RSL Sub-branch, delivered a moving speech at the Anzac Day Dawn Service at Dimboola Memorial Secondary College yesterday.
Anzac Day has a special significance for Brian as his family has a proud tradition of military service.
Both of his grandfathers served in World War I, his father served in World War II and Korea, and Brian himself served for 43 years in the army and was appointed the rank of WO1, the highest non-commissioned rank.
“It was pretty much a foregone conclusion that I was going to go into the army at some point," he said.
"It's something I grew up with.
"I don't think there was ever an opportunity for it not to be important."
Brian's commitment to serving his country runs deep, and his four children have followed in his footsteps.
Phillip, Robyn, Brandon and Lee have all served in various conflicts around the world, including Timor, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East.
Brian's wife of many years, Betty-Lou, served as a WRAAC until 1984, making their family an example of dedication and loyalty to the country.
During his time in the army, Brian served in Bougainville, Iraq, the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste.
His second deployment to Timor in 2006 was particularly challenging as Australian-led troops entered the country to restore order and stability.
He said the situation they were caught up in was the hardest thing he’d faced.
The Australian led troops (ISF) entering Timor-Leste in 2006 walked a fine line.
The Australian Government had issued an edict that restricted Australian troops from intervening in the internal conflict in Timor-Leste.
While some believed this was a failure of Australia's responsibility to assist its neighbour in a time of crisis, Brian and his team understood the importance of eventually transitioning the country to a state of self-reliance.
Although they were able to offer humanitarian aid, emphasis was placed on discouraging dependence.
“We agreed with that edict,” Brian said.
“We thought the Australian Government was right: we couldn't let them become dependent on us.
"But every day we saw the kids dealing with their poverty and the danger they were in from civil unrest.
"Kids don't hate anyone, but they were suffering.
"It was hard to feel helpless.
"Every day we felt our hands were tied."
Brian likened the situation to one he had faced while privately touring India.
"A little Indian girl approached me begging.
"I wanted to help her, at least for that day.
"You know, in Australia I would know how much to give a person on the street to keep them in meals for a day, but in India I didn't know so I asked a man nearby how much.
"He wouldn't tell me.
"'Nothing you do will change her life', he told me.”
Brian said that his son and daughter agreed with him that they would have "come away feeling better" if they had been able to do more to assist the children in the areas in which they were stationed during their military service.
Brian retired in 2014 and now lives in Horsham with Betty-Lou.
Although he's no longer in the army, his dedication to his country and the principles of self-reliance and independence continue to inspire those around him.