Page 22 - Living Gems Thrive | April 2023

Logan Village’s military legacy that aircraft was used in the film Top
Gun: Maverick.

History has a new facet at Opal Bill, together with his family, returned
to Australia as a commissioned
officer and retired as Group Captain.
Moving to Opal by Living Gems has
Residents at Opal by Living Gems “I think he was trying to get rid of given Bill more time to dedicate to
live on the border of a significant me!” he joked. "The truth is that it the Jimboomba RSL where he is Vice
piece of Queensland’s World War was a great opportunity. I started as President and RSL state delegate.
Two history. In this feature, we a cadet radio apprentice." His professional twin passions
uncover the history of Camp Cable are veterans support service and
and speak to three men who served Despite not liking high school, Bill school visits where he shares the
in each of our armed services. discovered that he took to university
study and found that he also enjoyed importance of Anzac Day to a new
Bill Malkin, Royal Australian Air life in the air force. generation.
Force (1966-2011) “It was a great career that has John Lacey, The Australian Army
When Bill was 16, he thought he taken me to all states of Australia (1961-1967)
wanted to be a chemical engineer. and an extensive career working in As a young man who was at a loose
“Not that I really knew what that conjunction with the US Air Force,” end after an apprenticeship fell
was,” he said. he said. through, John looked at the army

“We were living in Townsville and In 1972 he was stationed in Denver, to give him the kickstart he needed
my parents certainly didn't have the Colorado where he met his wife. in life.
means to send me to university." From there Bill moved to Georgia “I highly recommend it,” he said. “It
That's when the father of his and then Las Vegas before being helped me get disciplined and learn
girlfriend at the time, an air force stationed in California where he skills along the way.”
recruiter, suggested that he consider worked on the avionics and software John served for two years in Malaya
a career in the service. for the F/A-18 Hornets. A variation of
22 Thrive