ROBINSON, Jack Finlay
| Service Number: | VX90278 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 September 1942, Caulfield, VIC |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Alberton, South Australia, 29 January 1921 |
| Home Town: | Mount Burr, Wattle Range, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Port Adelaide, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Stock Manager - Elders |
| Died: | Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 22 July 2000, aged 79 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 14 Sep 1942: | Involvement Corporal, VX90278 | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Sep 1942: | Enlisted Caulfield, VIC | |
| 14 Sep 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal, VX90278 | |
| 1 Nov 1942: | Involvement VX90278, Enlisted in Vic as a Transport Operator. Date is approximate | |
| 14 May 1946: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal | |
| 14 May 1946: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal, VX90278 |
Mosquito Research at Cairns
In the Army, volunteer 'guinea pigs' were needed to test a newly found treatment for tropical disease malaria, which was causing havoc among the Australian soldiers in the islands campaign against Japan. Forty volunteers were sent to Cairns and subjected to regular mosquitto attacks while taking an antidote.
At the end of the classified project, five had dies. Mr Robinson survived the alternating shivers and fevers of the experiment.
He returned to the cooler climate of the South East of South Australia, Millicent after the war.
Submitted 26 August 2021 by Pam Robinson-Bilney
Biography contributed by Pam Robinson-Bilney
Once World War II started, the young Mr Robinson was keen to enlist with the Air Force but was rejected after he became ill with pneumonia. He recovered, tried to enter other forces and, after learning that the Victorian recruiting centres were more lenient than those in his home state, he travelled there from South Australia and succeeded in joining the army, only to be based in Australia.
He was never fully happy with his role as a transport operator, always wanting to contribute more to the war effort. Volunteered to Cairns Mosquito Research as a 'guinea pig'.
In 1951 Jack was Millicent, SA Manager for the successful stock company Elder Smith & Co. Colleagues recall him as hard-working and loyal. He was a wonderful judge of stock and a good organiser, former Elders stock maanger Bob Dunsford recalled, he was a good operator.
It was a boom time for the area and the industry. Soldier settlers, the subdivision of large stations and improved farming and pastoral techniques all helped make Millicant on of the largest stock centres in the state by the early 1960s.
He left Millicent and took over as stock department manager in Adelaide in 1967. He was also in charge of Elders' involvement in livestock exporting, which became a major industry.
Apart from his job, Jack was known in his younger days for his tennis competing for the Methodist Tennis Club. He was also keenly involved in football, serving the Millicent Football Club as president and secretary and the district as a vice-president, as well as writing a popular local commentry column on his favorite game.
Extracted from The Advertiser, 2 Sep 2000, Tony Love.
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