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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-10-14 Daily Xml
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Ministerial Statement

OPIE, MAJOR L.M.

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON (Croydon—Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (15:17): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: I rise to bring to the notice of the house the passing of one of this state's most famous military sons. On Monday 22 September we lost Major Leonard Murray Opie, DCM RFD ED.

With the artificial heroics of modern entertainment and the sometimes loose interpretation of the word 'hero' in the sporting arena, it can come as a real surprise to realise that we have lived in the same community as a person who is a genuine war hero. Len Opie was that, but he was more. He was the epitome of the Australian infantryman, that special breed of solider who is called upon to seek out the enemy, to close with him and to kill or capture him. To many who met Len in his later years he was a quiet, unassuming, even humble man. He was nevertheless one of the state's greatest war heroes, and we are diminished by his passing.

Len was buried on 2 October. He was farewelled by 200 of his family and friends, including Mr Keith Payne VC, the last surviving Victoria Cross winner of the Vietnam War. Keith Payne served with Len in the Australian Army Training Team. Speaking on behalf of Len's mates, Mr Payne said that the Australian military family had lost one of its finest warriors. Moreover South Australia—nay, Australia—had lost one of its finest sons.

Mrs Redmond: Pity you just can't speak about it instead of reading it.

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: I am sorry that the member for Heysen mars the occasion by an inane interjection. Len Opie was a soldier above soldiers, a true 'man of Sparta'. Len's career spanned some 30 years. I would remind the member for Heysen that, if one gives a ministerial statement and distributes the text, one is then obliged to read the text as distributed, otherwise the member for Heysen would claim that I was misleading the house.

Interestingly, and a point of great pride for Len, was that all his service was rendered as a member of the Citizen Military Force (CMF) as it was known. Len was proud that his entire career, as distinguished as it was, was rendered as a South Australian citizen soldier. He enlisted at age 18 in 1942 and saw service in World War II in Papua New Guinea. After a short period out of uniform, he re-enlisted for service in Korea. He served with 3 RAR and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Recently, Len recounted the incident that led to that award. He said:

I was having a cup of cocoa in the morning when the platoon commander said, 'Come on! We're having a go at this hill.' The platoon commander added, 'I want you to nudge along, but I don't want you to get into any trouble.'

Len laughed at the order, realising that the task ahead was a difficult one. He then led his section up the heavily-fortified Hill 614 and using grenades, an Owen machine gun, a .303 rifle and captured Chinese weapons, he eliminated the enemy posts one by one. Such was his mettle.

Len went on to fight with 3 RAR in the Battle of Kapyong, the defining battle of the Korean conflict. With Korea and subsequent service in Japan over, Len was discharged, but it was not long before he re-enlisted in the CMF and, in 1965, he commenced full-time duty with the Australian Regular Army. Australia's commitment to the Vietnam War was just beginning and Len was to serve three years and five months in that theatre. He served with the Australian Army Training Team, our nation's most decorated military unit.

I have not checked, but I think Len probably spent more time on active service in Vietnam than any other member of the Australian Army. I note that in the recent history of the Australian Army Training Team in Vietnam, Len Opie's tasks were described as varying from Province Reconnaissance Unit operations to training and operations in Vung Tau. As the authors themselves said, 'Len Opie's exploits deserve a book of their own.'

During the Vietnam War, the Australian government's policy was that no soldier could spend more than two consecutive tours of 12 months in Vietnam without a break outside the country. To a professional soldier such as Len, this presented a problem. His life was professional soldiering, and he wanted to live it at the sharp end. Begrudgingly, Len left Vietnam after two years but managed to have himself posted to the Kashmir-Pakistan border on what was at that time euphemistically called 'peacekeeping duties'.

Len served as a 'peacekeeper' for 12 months. He then returned to Australia briefly before being reposted to Vietnam where he rejoined the Training Team for another 12-month tour of duty. Len left Vietnam for the last time in April 1971, only a few months before Australia ceased combat operations in that war. Len was promoted to the rank of major in 1974 and was placed on the retired list on 23 December 1975.

Len's military career was remarkable. He fought in three wars, and he was decorated by three countries. Under our award system, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal which, at the time, was second only to the Victoria Cross in order of precedence. He received honours and awards from the United States of America, including the Presidential Unit Citation, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Bronze Star and the Air Medal. He received the Cross of Gallantry with Palm from the Army of the Republic of Vietnam and the Cross of Gallantry (Divisional Level) from the Republic of Vietnam.

In over 30 years' service, Len saw active front-line service, facing the enemy for a full 8½ years. I doubt that any Australian soldiers have equalled that level of service. Len was a true hero, a man of courage and tenacity in the mould of the original ANZACs. He was a warrior the like of which we may not see again.

In retirement, Len retained his interest in the military, being flown to Darwin only a few weeks ago to farewell the young men of 7 RAR before they departed for Afghanistan. They were privileged, and Len felt likewise. I understand that he even tried to convince them to take him with them! But for all this, Len was a gentle man; in his later years, fond of model railways, cups of milky tea, his voluntary work at the Army Museum and his little dog, Sally.

It is difficult to sum up a man such as Len Opie, but I was impressed with one sentence that seemed to say so much about him. When asked why he went to war, he said, 'It was the right thing to do'—the creed of an amazing man.

In conclusion, I wish to announce that the government has donated $5,000 in honour of Len Opie to the Army Museum at Keswick Barracks. The funds will be used to establish a Korean war exhibit as a tribute to Len. His friends tell me that he would have liked that.

On behalf of Len's Army mates, I conclude my statement by reciting, on behalf of Len, the ode of the Royal Australian Regiment that was recited at the conclusion of his military funeral service:

Rest ye, O warrior,

you'll battle no more,

no longer to live

the horrors of war.

Your duty was done

with honour and pride

Farewell, O brother,

until we march by your side.

Lest we forget.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

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