Tasmanian military veteran Greg Melick awarded top French honour for organising Anzac centenary
A Tasmanian Army Reserve veteran, who has served as national president of the RSL since 2019, has received a prestigious French honour for his role planning Anzac centenary commemorations.
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A Tasmanian Army Reserve veteran, who has served as the National President of the RSL since 2019, has been awarded a prestigious French honour for his leadership role planning Anzac Centenary commemorations throughout northern France and Belgium from 2011 to 2018.
Greg Melick AO, who began 52 years of service with the Army Reserve in 1966, was presented with Ordre national du Mérite (National Order of Merit) by the French Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Pierre Andre Imbert, at a ceremony at the French Embassy in Canberra on Anzac Day.
Mr Melick, who was recognised for his service to Australian-French relations, said he was extremely honoured to receive the award on behalf of those Australians involved in marking the centenary of the nation’s contributions in France and other theatres of war.
“It is humbling to receive this significant honour on the 110th anniversary of the ANZACs landing at Gallipoli,” he said.
The son of a World War II veteran, Mr Melick was promoted to Major General to become Australia’s most senior Reserve officer in 2007, and is the President of the Australian Commando Association.
Mr Melick has been a member of the Council of the Australian War Memorial since 2015, and has been visiting battlefields and cemeteries in France and Belgium annually since 1997.
The National Order of Merit was established by then-French President Charles de Gaulle in 1963, and is awarded by the incumbent President.
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Originally published as Tasmanian military veteran Greg Melick awarded top French honour for organising Anzac centenary
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