GILLIES, Robert McPherson
| Service Number: | 6709504 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 April 1969, National Serviceman |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 7th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR) |
| Born: | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia , 11 November 1949 |
| Home Town: | Kingston, Kingborough, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | The Friends School, Hobart, Tasmania |
| Occupation: | Bank Clerk |
| Memorials: |
Vietnam War Service
| 26 Apr 1969: | Enlisted Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 6709504, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion (2RTB), National Serviceman | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Feb 1970: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Corporal, 6709504, 7th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR) | |
| 23 Apr 1971: | Discharged Australian Army (Post WW2), Corporal, 6709504, 7th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR) |
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Robert McPherson Gillies
Roberts was born in Hobart 11th November 1949 to parents James W Gillies (a WW2 veteran who was a Prisoner of War) and Verl R Gillies.
He attended Kingston Primary School and The Friends School in Hobart and on finishing school became Clerk in the State Savings Bank of Tasmania (1965)
In April 1969 he commenced National Service - Service Number 6709504 - undertaking his Recruit Training in Puckapunyal.
He was posted to the formation of 7RAR at Holsworthy NSW and commenced preparation training for deployment to Vietnam.
Departing Australia on HMAS Sydney Feb 1970, he arrived in Vietnam and commenced duties as a Private with C Company, 8 Platoon as a Forward Scout, Infantryman/Machine Gunner. After 7 months service he was promoted to Corporal and transferred to C Company, 7 Platoon as a Section Leader. He was involved in operations in Phuoc Tuy province mainly ambush patrols from Nui Dat Base/Fire support Bases.
He departed Vietnam on 4 March-1971 on H.M.A.S Sydney arriving in Sydney 11th March via Perth.
He returned to his positon in the Bank soon after his discharge and married Maree Pearsall in March 1972.
In 1973 resigned from Bank and started as a sales representative with Diversey Australia: Commercial and Industrial Chemicals.
Between 1975 - 1986 he was an owner /operator of a Newsagency in Kingston and worked for Mars Confectionary and Uncle Ben’s of Australia as a Sales Rep. In 1981 joined Safcol-Sales - Marketing working across both domestic and International markets. He was appointed International Marketing Manager and relocated to Safcol Head Office in Adelaide, South Australia in April 1986.
In 1990 he was appointed Sales Manager, at the South Australian Brewing Company: in 1994 appointed General Manager MacMont Hospitality Suppliers-Gaming and Beverage Divisions and in 1999 Managing Director of Liquor Marketing Group introducing the Thirsty Camel Brand in SA and NT. In 2013 he retired, retaining a Directorship until 2015 when the Company and Brand were sold.
Rob has been a longtime, proud and passionate supporter of the RSL and the work that it does in supporting veterans.
He is the loving husband of Maree and proud and loving father of four sons: Adam, James, Timothy and David.
Rob Gillies
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