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FOR the past 38 years, Kim Archibald has been the organiser behind Mildura’s Anzac Day celebrations, but this year marked his last.

The Mildura RSL general manager described the day as “a little bit emotional”, but he was also “chuffed” that his son William, who is an avionics technician with the Royal Australian Air Force at 1 Squadron, was able to march alongside him for his last Anzac parade before retirement.

“It has come full circle,” Mr Archibald said.

William, who was first inspired to join the RAAF after a visit from the No.2 Operation Conversion Unit to Mildura in 2017, was joined by three fellow RAAF members at the Mildura Anzac commemoration service.

“It’s pretty special to be back here considering it has kind of come full circle with Dad wanting me to join the air force, and now it’s his final Anzac Day and we are all here for it,” he said.

Mr Archibald said among other things, he will particularly miss being involved in Anzac Day.

“The greatest joy that I got from being the general manager of the RSL was initiating programs and supporting veterans the way they should be supported, in every way possible,” he said.

“Forty years ago I can remember there being 40 to 50 people at the dawn service, and that was back in the mid to late 80s.

“There were still anti-war protests happening, and people were still thinking that Anzac Day glorified war, which of course it doesn’t.

“Thankfully, it has transitioned into Australia’s most important day. It has gone for 40-50 people 38 years ago, to 5000 that were there this year.

“Anzac Day has finally earned the respect that it always deserved.”

Over his time at the RSL, Mr Archibald contributed to many projects and programs, including helping to establish an RSL retirement village in Mildura, securing headstones for unmarked graves, and generally advocating for local veterans.

“There’s a lot that has grown, and it’s how it should be at the RSL – that is their obligation, to support veterans and provide them with all of those services that they can possibly have,” he said.

Mr Archibald was also particularly proud of his involvement in establishing the honour rolls in Henderson Park.

“One took 10 years to finish because it was pre-internet, so researching more than 4000 names took some time,” he said.

“That would be something I am proud of because back then, those committees were made up of WWII veterans, and it was a privilege to be able to do that with them.”

Mr Archibald’s wife Kate said his dedication to the RSL was always very prominent, sacrificing Christmas mornings with his family to open the RSL up to veterans with no place else to go, as well remembering William and his three sisters handing out bunches of rosemary on Anzac Day.

“The kids have always had that connection to Kim’s work, and always understood from a young age the importance of it,” Mrs Archibald said.

Set to retire at the end of June, it is a bittersweet ending to a significant portion of Mr Archibald’s life.

“I was 100 per cent committed for the full 38 years,” he said.

Article written by: Phoebe Doyle

Article provided by The Sunraysia Daily
https://www.sunraysiadaily.com.au