Frank Mallard AM (deceased)
Yamatji Elder
Warrant Officer Class 2
Royal Australian Engineers
Australian Army
Malaya, Borneo & Vietnam Veteran

Medals and Awards
Member of the Order of Australia
Australian Active Service Medal with clasps Malaysia and Vietnam
General Service Medal 1962 with clasp Borneo
Vietnam Medal
Australian Service Medal 1945-75 with clasp SE Asia
Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal with clasp Balkans
Defence Force Service Medal with 1st clasp
National Medal
Australian Defence Medal
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal
United States Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation
Australian Army Combat Badge
Return from Active Service Badge NoA465042

2019 West Australian Senior Australian of the Year
 2018 City of Swan Citizen of the Year
Chairman of the Voice of the Voiceless Ministry
Director for Amurri Divine Mercy Foundation

I enlisted in the Regular Army on the 9th of October 1962 with the intention of just serving three years. At the end of recruit training, I was posted to the School of Military Engineering to train as a Sapper (Engineer). As a teenager, I thought it exciting to be able to wear the Army uniform and to be just like my uncles, who had served during the wars. I was proud of being a soldier and couldn’t wait to come home on my first leave to show my family the uniform. Little did I know that soon I would be deployed overseas and would be required to sign on for a further three years. It was December 1964; we were to go to Sabah North Borneo to build roads through the Jungle as Australia’s support to Malaysia during the Indonesian Confrontation. From there, I volunteered to go to Vietnam with the first Engineers to be deployed with 1 RAR. That was September 1965 and by the time we came home in September 1966, we were being ostracized by the Australian public. I felt good about myself though and tried to wear my uniform with the pride I felt for doing a good job, but it was not to be, in public it was required for us to wear civilian clothes. As my six-year term was drawing to a close, I got my first promotion and an opportunity to deploy overseas again, so I signed on the dotted line again. This time I was posted to Malaya/Singapore, and being married now, I took my wife with me on a two-year posting, 1970-72. My daughter was born at the British Military Hospital Singapore. I returned to Australia. My son was born in Townsville, and I soldiered on until 1985. I was discharged from the Army in 1985 after 23 years and then joined the Army Reserves. In 1991, our Government decided to recognise our service with the Americans in Vietnam by allowing our l RAR Gp to be presented with the United States Army Meritorious Unit Citation 25 years late. While in the reserve, I trained as a prison officer in Townsville and worked there for some years until the call to military service had me volunteering to work with the UN in Croatia. That was 1993, and I stayed on there until 1996, completing my tour with the NATO Force. While in Croatia, I met my second wife, we married in Croatia on 4 October 1997. On return to Australia, I went back to the prison service, now called the Corrective Services, and then in 1999, when my youngest son was born in Townsville, I retired. In 2002, we moved to Croatia for 2 and a half years. We came home to WA in 2005 and lived in Ellenbrook, Perth. It is from here that I keep myself busy doing what is considered necessary by my family and, as an Elder, my need to contribute to the community. In May 2015, our Government saw fit after 50 years to recognize our lRAR Gp for the award of the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation with Palm. You may think that I am unhappy with my service, but no I am prouder than ever, just disappointed with our Government for taking so long to recognize our achievements. After leaving the regular army in 1985, I have been awarded 5 more medals and two citations. They look impressive on ANZAC Day and other days for commemoration, but they would look more impressive on the Military Uniform. Military service is not for everyone, but those who aspire to serve their country will find great satisfaction from their commitment.