Lilydale RSL sub-branch president and veteran advocate Don Parsons dies at 72
A tribute has been made to a Lilydale legend and ‘true friend’ after the death of the Yarra Valley sub-branch’s president Don Parsons.
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One of the Yarra Valley’s finest men and a staunch supporter of both old and young military veterans, Don Parsons, has died.
He was 72.
Only days after Anzac Day, the Lilydale RSL sub-branch president Don Parsons died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, May 2.
Mt Evelyn RSL sub-branch secretary and historian Anthony McAleer said Lilydale had lost a legend and a “true friend”.
As well as a number of local projects, Mr Parsons was also a strong advocate for the younger veterans and was part of a reformer group within RSL Victoria to bring change.
He recently came out against a move by RSL Victoria to sell its aged-care network — RSL Vasey Care — calling it shortsighted because veteran welfare was the RSL’s core business.
Mr McAleer said Mr Parsons had been trying to help those young homeless veterans by finding them places to stay at Vasey Care.
The former Royal Australian Navy submariner became sub-branch president in 2014 and in those six years made a huge contribution and impact on the community.
Mr McAleer said Mr Parsons joined the RAN at 15, trained at HMAS Cerberus and was first posted to HMAS Sydney, taking Australian troops to Borneo during the Indonesia – Malaysia Confrontation.
“He was to serve for 34 years in the Royal Australian Navy, nearly 18 of these at sea,” he said.
Mr Parsons also served on HMS Sealion, HMAS Oxley, HMAS Oven, HMAS Onslow, HMAS Otama and spent time with signals intelligence in the UK.
“Since 2014 he really built up the membership and the amount of money raised through poppies and Anzac badges was a record every year,” Mr McAleer said.
“He was involved in a lot of war memorials at the time of the centenary of World War I.
“He helped in publishing a number of books about centenary.”
Before he died, Mr Parsons was working on three community projects including commissioning a statue of a digger to place at the Lilydale War Memorial.
“He secured the funds to commission a statue that he was planning on placing on the memorial later this year,” Mr McAleer said.
He said Mr Parsons was also an advocate, not just for Lilydale but for RSLs everywhere.
“He was very much interested in the welfare of ex-service people,” Mr McAleer said.
“He was part of the reform group in the RSL with younger veterans and was heavily involved with them to try and get reform through the RSL.”
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Hawthorn RSL sub-branch president and East Timor veteran digger Lucas Moon said Mr Parsons was doing a lot of work for younger veterans.
“He was one of those older vets to ask ‘what can I do?’” Mr Moon said.
“(His death) is a massive blow. He worked hours a week to make the RSL a better place for all.”
Casey federal Liberal MP Tony Smith said Mr Parsons was “a fine leader”.
“I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear of Don’s sudden passing,” Mr Smith said.
“As President of the Lilydale RSL, he was a fine leader.”
He said Mr Parsons was a devoted father and dear friend to so many.
“I was privileged to be one of them,” Mr Smith said.
“He gave so much of himself to our community and shone a bright light on our local Anzac history,” he said.