Gordon ‘Dutchy’ Holland honoured with OAM

Campbelltown RSL sub-branch president Dutchy Holland honoured with OAM for services to veterans.

MACARTHUR CHRONICLE/AAP. Dutchy Holland poses for a photo in Campbelltown, Thursday, 6th June 2019. Dutchy, who is the long serving Campbelltown RSL Sub Branch President, is receiving an OAM. (AAP IMAGE / Robert Pozo)

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Since 1958 Gordon “Dutchy” Holland has served his country, first through his service in the Australian Army and now with the Returned and Services League of Australia.

Mr Holland enlisted in the army in 1958 eventually retiring with the rank of major in 1995.

He served in the Malayan Emergency at the end of the 1950s and later in the Vietnam War.

Since 2000 he has been the president of the Campbelltown RSL sub-branch.

Dutchy Holland is proud of his fellow veterans. Picture: Robert Pozo

It is for his work with the RSL that Mr Holland has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Queen’s Birthday honours list for service to veterans and their families.

At age 79 and with 19 years service as Campbelltown sub-branch president, Mr Holland remains committed to the organisation.

“The veterans keep me going, being a part of that community is an honour,” he said.

“The RSL is a welfare organisation... for many years soldiers would come home with what they called shellshock, it wasn’t, it was PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder).

“Many veterans died because of PTSD. I think the strength of the RSL is that it gives veterans a community to feel a part of with people who know what they are going through.”

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Mr Holland is a familiar sight leading Campbelltown’s Anzac Day services.

“I’m really proud of the Campbelltown community and how they support veterans,” he said.

“The most pleasing thing is to see thousands of children supporting veterans.”