Noble Park Vietnam Veterans Mick North, John Chisholm and Billy Clifford remember their late and great mate, John Dunstan, this week. 20712 Picture: Luke Plummer.
By Shaun Inguanzo
DON’T let John die in vain – give up the smokes and grog.
That’s the message from Noble Park Vietnam veterans to local ex-servicemen and women this week, who are mourning the loss of one of their key welfare workers.
John Dunstan died aged just 59 from alcohol and smoking-related ailments at his Hampton Park home on Saturday and was an integral part of the Noble Park Vietnam Veterans’ Association’s welfare office. Noble Park RSL and Vietnam Veterans’ Association vice-president John Meehan said Mr Dunstan battled emphysema and was on oxygen tanks for up to 16 hours a day towards the end of his life.
“John wasa very heavy smoker and liked the brown fluid, and it really took its toll on him,” Mr Meehan said.
“As with a lot of Vietnam veterans, he picked up the habits through army service and brought it back to Australia.”
Mr Meehan said the Vietnam Veterans’ Association and Noble Park RSL would deeply mourn Mr Dunstan’s death as he was one of the most knowledgeable people when it came to veterans’ welfare claims.
Even as his health deteriorated, Mr Dunstan battled his ailments to continue working until physically he could no longer cope.
“He’d been on oxygen for 16 hours a day for the last 12 months or so, but still battled on trying to help blokes in the office until about a month ago,” Mr Meehan said.
“John had a high profile in the RSL and Vietnam veterans’ movements, and we presented him with an honour only about a month ago.”
Mr Meehan said Mr Dunstan would also be remembered for his service during the Vietnam War.
He said Mr Dunstan served as a regular soldier in the Vietnam War between 1968 and 1969 in the Army Services Corp, which took care of transport and supplies.
Mr Dunstan had served in Nui Dat and Vung Tau, and Mr Meehan said the veteran was “very proud” of his war service medals.
Mr Meehan said the death of his mate first hit home when he wrote a death notice for a daily newspaper.
“I was designing one and got a little bit emotional,” he said. “I pride myself on being a tough bastard but started getting the old whimpers up.
“You don’t forget 40 years of friendship.”
Mr Dunstan leaves behind a wife and two children.
A funeral service was held at Boyd Chapel at the Springvale Botanical Cemetery on Wednesday.
