In September our Association Brisbane Branch Secretary, Tony Wadeson, visited Victoria where he presented the Association’s Honorary LIFE MEMBER to KEITH HEARNE – Past President of 2/31st & 2/25th Battalion Association Victoria. In an email to the President of the Frankston RSL Tony gives a brief of Kieth’s achievements over many years of RSL and community involvement.

For Attention President Kevin:- I refer to our Visit to your Club on Wednesday 7th Sept. for Lunch & to present an “Honorary Life Membership Tribute” to 97 Year old Keith Hearne WW2 Digger, & Past President of the 2/31st Bn & 2/25th Bn Association Victoria, who now resides in “Micare Avondrust Village.

As Requested I’m forwarding you:- (A) Details of Keith Hearne & his RSL Resume, – Details of the 31st Bn Association. (B) Photo of Presentation at Frankston RSL Names in Photo – from left to Right – Tony Wadeson Secretary 31st Bn Association Brisbane, – Keith Hearne WW2 Digger 2/31st Bn & Past President of 2/31st & 2/25th Bn’s Victoria, – Brian Mullarvey 31st Bn Assoc. Member. (Brian served with 42Bn as 2IC Biloela Company for a short period in the early 1970’s I believe? – He was The ARC Engineering P/L Manager of our Gladstone Factory at the time before being transferred to Manager/Tasmania.
Please refer to the Attached details & Photos.

Kevin, I would like to Congratulate you on Your Excellent Club, particularly your Staff who bent over backwoods to cater for our needs in the restaurant & where to take photos etc for the Presentation. It really made our visit enjoyable & successful.

KEITH HEARNE

2/31^st Bn – WW2 Veteran

President of the 2/31^st & 2/25^th Battalions Assoc. Victoria

Gold Badge – Life Membership RSL

Life Member – 7^th Division AIF Association

Honorary Life Member – 31^st Infantry Battalion Association Inc.

The 31^st Bn Association first made contact with Keith Hearne during July 2010 when a group of WW2 Veterans of the 2/31^st Bn AIF were touring their old pre battle training areas in North Q’ld. They called in to Kissing Point Townsville to present an old “31^st Bn Flag” to the North Queensland Military Museum. Keith who was, and had been, President of the 2/31^st & 2/25^th Bn’s Association Victoria as long as anyone could remember and one of the last operating in Australia, made contact with Committee Members of 31^st Bn Association to request that we might take over the job of “Remembrance of the 2/31^st Bn“ due to their Association’s dwindling Numbers. Our Committee members indicated that they would certainly be proud to take on the Caretaker role to ensure that such a famous Battalion as the 2/31^st would “LIVE ON”. Twelve years on and that is work in progress with the Brisbane Branch joining with the Descendants of Veterans of 2/31^st Bn in the Anzac Day Memorial Service at South Bank and the Brisbane Anzac Day March. Brisbane Branch member Tim Lewis, whose Father served with the 2/31^st at Balikpapan, took on the role of 2/31^st Bn co-ordinator, and has made contact with family members of past 2/31^st Bn Presidents or committee members from all Eastern States. The Victorian Branch of the 2/31^st Bn & 2/25^th Bn Association folded about 5 years ago as numbers dwindled. It was the last Branch to close in Australia. As far as we are aware Keith Hearne & his Secretary Walter Robertson are the only two WW2 members of the 2/31^st Bn still alive today. (Refer Keith’s RSL Resume – here under).

For your Info:- 2/31^st & 2/25^th Bn’s were sister Bn’s in the 25^th Brigade – 7^th Division- 2^nd AIF

25^th Brigade was formed in England & served in ENGLAND as part of the Defence Force of England. Then Served in SYRIA & Palestine. – NEW GUINEA:- – Kokoda Track, Ioribaiwa – Oivi Gorari – Buna, Gona. – Lae, Nadzab, – Ramu Valley. BORNEO:- Balikpapan

The 31^st Infantry Battalion Association Inc. – WEBSITE:- Google – 31bnassn.org

The 31^st Bn is the only Battalion from the WW1 – Fifth Division still on strength in the Australian Army’s Order of Battle today. It’s now known as 31/42 Bn RQR – HQ’d in Townsville, but drawing its Troops from Cairns down to Gladstone and west of those towns. Both the 31^st Bn originally the Kennedy Regiment, and 42^nd Bn, originally the Capricorn Regiment trace their history back to 1881. Most members of the 31^st Bn Association have served with the 31^st Bn. In North Queensland. The Association has Branch’s in Townsville, – Charters Towers, – Ingham, & Brisbane.

TONY WADESON (Secretary- 31^st Bn Assoc. Brisbane)

Email:- wadesonriver@aapt.net.au

 

Keith Hearne’s – R S L Service Resume as at – “2002”

Sub Branch:- Bairnsdale

Service in Years Member 55

Committee 7

Welfare 35

V/Affairs 35

Anzac Poppy Appeals 35

Land Settlement/Rural 5

Hospital Visiting 25

Blood Bank 18

Conference Delegate 8

DISTRICT – 10 – BOARD

Chairman 6

State Councillor 7

Delegate 8

SUB BRANCH

State Executive 5

Committees 5

STATE BRANCH COMMITTEES ANZAC HOUSE

Veteran’s Affairs Committee (Chairman)

Land Settlement/Rural – (Secretary)

Appeals

Future of League

Membership

V.J. Commemoration

Diaster Fund Coordinator

OTHER ACTIVITIES.

Gippsland Veterans Welfare Management Committee Sale.

Veterans Affairs Coordination Council at – Veterans Affairs

R.S.L. Disaster Fund Coordinator East Gippsland Floods 1998

R.S.L. Disaster Fund Coordinator East Gippsland Bush Fires 2003

HONOURS & AWARDS

50 years Service Award

Gold Badge Life Membership RSL – June 26 2002

Certificate of Appreciation RSL – June 26 2002

Life Membership – 7^th Division Association

Life Membership – 31^st Battalion Association

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Addendum

A story on Keith Hearne and his previous wartime and peacetime involvements appeared on this

website in September 2020 (Type Kieth Hearne into he search box on this website).

The story includes his travelling Papua New Guinea to attend the re-interment of 

2/31 Bn victims of a wartime aircraft crash, remains finally recovered in 2005.

—o—