Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Ian Donald Robinson was born on the 12th January 1949 in Penola. Parents Donald and Joyce lived in Kalangadoo with daughter Jillian, Ian’s older sister.
Ian attended the Kalangadoo Primary School from August 1954 until the family moved to Dartmoor in 1962. Although enrolled to attend Heywood High School, it is believed that he had a “Claytons” year.

The family returned to Kalangadoo in 1963 and Ian began working at Softwood Holdings Mill at Kalangadoo in the Green Mill, helping to change saws over during the break. Ian was a keen member of the Kalangadoo Football Club, playing in two Colts Premierships in 1964 and 1965.

On the 2nd October 1969 at the age of twenty Ian was conscripted for National Service.

A chance meeting at local footy with Glencoe’s Jack Peacock saw them under the same circumstances, with service numbers being only four numbers apart.
A mateship that lasted all through their army service, war in Vietnam, with the bond only broken by Ian’s death in 2019.

Private Robinson ended up at Puckapunyal, Victoria, in October 1969 for basic training. Applying for anything other than infantry, but this did not happen.
After Infantry training Private Robinson put in for 3 RAR in Woodside in the Adelaide Hills in April 1970 as a part of the 12th Platoon, being told that he was in training for Vietnam.

In June and July 1970 the battalion phased through four weeks of jungle Training at Canungra, Queensland.

Exercise “Desert Flower”, was held in the Flinders Ranges in October 1970. This was the battalion’s last exercise before the final test in Queensland.

The training cycle was climaxed when the battalion flew in RAAF Hercules aircraft to Shoalwater Bay training ground in northern Queensland to commence Exercise Grand Storm. The battalion deployed into the area of operations by helicopter and armoured personnel carriers and proved during the fifteen days of the test exercise that it was fully prepared for active service in South Vietnam.

February, the last month in Australia, was full of activity, including the Farewell Parade at Woodside.

On the 15th February 1971, amidst many tearful farewells, Private Ian Robinson, embarked on HMAS SYDNEY at Outer Harbour for the sea voyage which would deliver them in Vung Tau harbour some ten days later and then flew direct to Nui Dat by US Chinook helicopters.

The second and last tour conducted by 3 RAR was undertaken in and out of the Phuoc Tuy province, with the main emphasis placed on operations east and north east of Nui Dat to prevent enemy infiltration and attacks around the Zuyen Moc District. During this time 3 RAR had a number of day-long bunker contacts with D445 VC Battalion and local Guerrilla forces.

On the 6th and 7th June 1971, in southern Long Khanh Province, the Battalion located and attacked an extensive bunker complex occupied by 3rd Battalion, 33rd North Vietnamese Regiment. After a long battle involving artillery, armour, Australian and United States helicopter gunships, the system was found to contain 47 bunkers as well as training areas and kitchens.

Other operations included Operation Hawker and Operation Inverbrackie during July and August.

In August 1971, the Prime Minister, William McMahon announced the withdrawal of troops by Christmas 1971.

After returning to Australia in August 1971, Private Robinson was discharged on the 1st October 1971, completing his two years service which included 179 days of service outside of Australia.

Ian Returned to Kalangadoo working at Softwood Holdings Mill and won another premiership, this time with the Kalangadoo B grade in 1972.

He married local girl Angela Swiggs on the 10th of January 1976 at the Kalangadoo Catholic Church. Fatherhood came to Ian with the arrival of Daniel (1976), Steve (1978), Jane (1983), Greg (1985) and Phil in 1987.

In 1982 Ian and Angela purchased the Wepar property of 280 acres. The following year Ash Wednesday paid the property a visit which saw Ian turn the farm into a dairy, as well as juggling his day job at Softwoods where he remained until 1989. He then spent 9 months working for Donald Ferguson. In September 1989 a neighbouring 426 acres was purchased and Ian then spent full time at the property.

Whilst on the farm Ian had a love affair with his new John Deere tractor. He was otherwise easily entertained sitting in front of the TV with the kids, coffee and biscuits.

The farm was sold in 2002 after Ian was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome a not uncommon war related illness. He was classified TPI (Totally Permanently Incapacitated) in 2000.

His comrades from Vietnam, most notably Jack Peacock was his other source of mateship and comradeship, taking turns in visiting each other and attending lots of reunions with his old mates.

Ian passed away on the 24th of December 2019, aged 70 years and is interred in the Kalangadoo Cemetery.

A Brave Soldier at Rest
Lest We Forget