John Vickers SES.
JOHN Vickers has been a man of the world, throughout his lifetime, travelling the globe extensively, in all directions, during his time with both the Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force.
John joined the Royal Navy in 1958 (aged 15 ¼) and attended HMAS Ganges, (a Boys Training establishment at Shotley, near Ipswich, (Suffolk) for training as a Radio Operator. Whilst there, John completed his Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross and Award of Merit in life saving and also completed the Duke of Edinburgh’s Silver Award scheme plus his RN Radio Operator training.
Over the course of his service with the Royal Navy, John would serve at/on: HMS Ganges, HMS Armada, HMS Osprey, HMS Meon, HMS Phoenicea, HMS St Angelo, HMS Surprise, HMS Dundas, HMS Osprey, HMS Simbang, HMS Grafton, HMS Undaunted, HMS Victory when he finally discharged in 1970.
John met his wife Rosalie in 1963 whilst they were both serving in Malta. They married on return to the UK in 1964, where their first son was born in 1965.
In 1966, John, Rosalie and young son was able to complete a two and a half year married accompanied draft whilst he served at the Royal Naval Air Station Sembawang in Singapore.
Their second son was born in 1967 at the British Military Hospital in Singapore and the family returned to the UK in late 1968.
John, Rosalie and their two sons then emigrated to Australia mid 1970, after joining the Royal Australian Air Force in London as an already qualified Telegraphist.
The family lived in the Smithfield Hostel, South Australia during John’s basic/familiarisation training, his first posting was to RAAF Base Townville, where he was later promoted to Leading Aircraftman.
He was then posted to RAAF Base Butterworth (Malaysia) for a 2 ½ year tour. John and Rosalie’s daughter was born at the RAAF Hospital at Butterworth in 1973.
On completion of the tour he was posted to Headquarters Operational Command at RAAF Base Glenbrook. At the time, the family lived in Blaxland, before John was promoted to Corporal and was later posted to RAAF Base Darwin, following Cyclone Tracy in 1974. The family were able to follow him shortly after.
Whilst in Darwin, John was granted Australian citizenship in 1976 and a promotion to Sergeant in 1980.
His next posting was to RAAF Base, Richmond in 1982 and his following posting was again back to RAAF Base Glenbrook in 1985, where he was promoted to Flight Sergeant in 1987. At the time, the family lived at Glenbrook (just outside the base).
On promotion, John was subsequently posted to RAAF Base Laverton (School of Radio) as an
instructor and was promoted to Acting Warrant Officer in 1989.
He was then posted to Headquarters Logistic Command in Victoria and confirmed as a Warrant Officer in 1990, before being posted to Headquarters Training Command in 1991.
John was then posted back to RAAF Base Glenbrook yet again in 1992. He was discharged from the RAAF on reaching Compulsory Retiring Age (CRA) in 1998 at the age of 55, he then transferred to RAAF Special Reserve Group with an age extension granted to age 60.
John received a commendation from the Air Commander Australia (AVM Mark Binskin) – later Air Chief Marshal RAAF and thence the Chief of the Defence Force whilst at Glenbrook.
John was discharged from the RAAF Reserve in 2002 and commenced working as an ASO5–public servant at HQAC, RAAF Base Glenbrook, and would serve in that role until 2008, retiring at age 65, having worked for 50 years and 9 days.
In 1997 the family lived in Kingswood and finally moved to Emu Plains in 2018.
In 1998 John joined the Penrith State Emergency Service (SES) and is still a volunteer there.
During his time with the SES, John has had numerous deployments as Operations Officer and an Air Radio Operator, in support of primarily flood operations across the state, including Coffs Harbour, Dubbo/Gilgandra, Grafton, Nowra, Bourke x 2, Cobar, Moree x 2.
In 2014, John deployed to Perth as an SES Air Observer to assist in the search for missing Malaysian aircraft MH370.
He is also a volunteer guide at the Nepean Naval & Maritime Museum and also helps with the Cardiac Support Group at the Nepean Hospital.
Close friend and colleague Frank Syranamual said, “John Vickers (Emu Plains) is currently Vice President of the Nepean Blue Mountains Sub-Section Naval Association of Australia Inc., Secretary of the Nepean Naval and Maritime Museum Inc, and a member of Penrith RSL sub-Branch. He is also currently serving as Deputy Commander of local State Emergency Services, in which he has served for 27+ years.
“A very hard worker for every Association he belongs to.”
