Sterling (Sonny) Minniecon – deceased
Kabi Kabi and Gurang Gurang (South East Queensland)
Lance Corporal
1st and 7th Battalions, Royal Australian Regiment
Royal Australian Infantry Corps
Vietnam Veteran
Medals
Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75 – Vietnam
Vietnam Medal
Defence Force Service Medal with 1st clasp
National Medal
Australian Defence Medal
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Infantry Combat Badge
“My brother Sonny Minniecon, was a proud Kabi Kabi and Gurang Gurang man who also has strong connections to South Sea Islander people and the people of Ambrym Island. In 1967, Sonny enlisted in the Royal Australian Regiment and completed four tours of Vietnam. Sonny and I had two grandfathers who served in World War I in the 11th Light Horse Brigade: Private Jim Lingwoodock and John Geary as well as our brother Philip who also served in the Australian Defence Force. In 2007, I was motivated by the lack of recognition given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander war veterans to start the Redfern Coloured Diggers March – which has been held every ANZAC Day since.”
Pastor Ray Minniecon,
CMF 51st Battalion, Transport driver. (Citizen Military Forces, which became Australian Army Reserve)