Ey, Mr Sidney

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (15:21): On 31 May last year, I delivered a speech to this parliament about Mr Sidney Ey. Mr Ey was a World War II veteran and I spoke about his service to his country. It is with great sadness that I advise the chamber that this morning Mr Sidney Ey passed away at the age of 103 years and four months. He was, until today, our oldest veteran in this state. What I am about to say is based on a transcript of an oral history undertaken by Mr Barry Neylon, who is one of the oral history people in the Town of Gawler who do a wonderful job in recording oral histories and making sure that a history of our town stays alive.

Sid Ey was born on 31 May 1916 to Elsie Dawkins and Luis Ey. His first home was at 4 Moore Street, Gawler, and he lived his entire life in Gawler. Sid was educated at Gawler Primary School and worked with his father at the local chaff mill, which was located on the site where Coles now sits in the heart of Gawler. During Sid's life, Gawler changed remarkably. When he gave his interview to the Oral History Society, Sid remembered the time when wagons pulled by horses used to travel to Gawler from surrounding areas carrying wheat and barley to be loaded onto trucks to be sent to Port Adelaide. Sid also remembered his grandfather's 1924 Ford Buick car. He studied wool classing and, once qualified, had the opportunity to travel extensively across South Australia.

At the commencement of World War II, Sidney enlisted in the Army along with many others from the town. He joined the field ambulance service after meeting two Army officers in Gawler who informed him that they were developing this unit. Sid did not know what the unit was about at the time but thought it would be a good fit for him. He also stated that he never had any regrets in being a part of that unit. Sid received his early training at Wayville and was initially deployed to the Gaza Strip and later deployed to Tobruk when it was under siege.

He remembers one night in particular when he was looking after a patient with a broken leg in the hospital. As the patient had a broken leg, he was unable to evacuate to the air raid shelter when the sirens went off. Sid decided to stay with the patient to try to stop him in case he tried to get to the shelter. He remembered sitting with the patient during the bombing, and he remembered it being an incredibly nerve-racking period, but thankfully they were not hurt.

That was the sort of person Sid was. The bravery displayed by Sid on this occasion is quite inspiring. Tobruk was under siege for six months until they were relieved from duty. Sid remembered that water use was rationed and that they were allowed to use only a quart of water a day for drinking and shaving. It was a difficult time for those people at war and a difficult time for nations across the world.

Sid remained with the Army for many years, later serving in New Guinea, where he caught dengue fever, before rejoining his unit. Sid remembered the emotional moment when he surprised his parents on his return home. Sid finished his military service at the rank of sergeant in the field ambulance service. He witnessed the horrors of war from the front line and witnessed the loss of many good people, including many nursing and medical staff.

I think it is incredibly important to acknowledge the work of medical staff in our military, as they often experience the trauma and brutality that war has to offer. They played a very important role in making sure that soldiers who were injured received the care they deserved and ensuring that those who did not make it home were treated with dignity and respect. I would like to acknowledge Sid's military service today on the day he passed away. I would also like to acknowledge the military service of all those people from my electorate who have served in armed conflict throughout past and in many modern conflicts.

Sid enjoyed playing tennis and used to play in his early years when he returned from the war. He was a member of the Tod Street Tennis Club for many years. It is quite sad today to advise that Sid has passed away, but he had an incredible life. One thing I will miss are the ANZAC Day services and Remembrance Day services that Sid attended. For the last 19 or 20 years since I have been attending ANZAC Day services and Remembrance Day services, Sid was always there. In terms of services, the last time I think I saw him was at the Remembrance Day service last year, but he was a regular at the local RSL club. He used to go weekly to the RSL club. He will be sadly missed, but he had a life of service and respect.