CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS
Mr FRENCH (Moore) (10:23): I rise today to recognise one of the most interesting people I have had the privilege of meeting in my community, Jack Le Cras OAM, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday. Jack has lived a life that almost sounds too remarkable to be true. At just 19 years old, Jack was serving in the Royal Australian Navy aboard HMAS Bataan.
On 2 September 1945, he was one of three sailors selected to ferry Australia's senior military representatives to the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. One day after turning 19, Jack stood just metres away as Japan formally surrendered and World War II came to an end. That story has a particular meaning for me.
My brother is still serving in the Royal Australian Navy. So when Jack talks about his naval service, there is a connection that I feel very strongly. There is also another small coincidence that I particularly like.
Jack shares his birthday with my late grandfather. 1 September was already a significant date in my family, and now it's a date that I associate with another remarkable Australian. I was lucky enough to attend three of Jack's birthday celebrations during the week. The first was with DART, the Dialysis and Renal Transplant Support Group, which is a great support group for people living with kidney disease.
The second one was Jack's own birthday party at the Gibson Park Community Hall in Padbury. And the third was with the Whitford Lions Club at Bunnings, where Jack was presented a bandsaw by the team at Bunnings there. I have to say, getting a bandsaw for his hundredth birthday tells you a fair bit about Jack.
He's not exactly planning on slowing down, and that is what impresses me most about him. Jack went on to have a career of more than 35 years with the ABC, and when he retired in the early eighties, he certainly did not put his feet up. He has spent more than four decades of his retirement volunteering.
He has given his time to the Lions Club at Whitford for almost 50 years. He has served the Wanneroo RSL sub-branch and the Naval Association of Australia's West Australia Section. He has helped organise Anzac Day, Remembrance Day and other commemorative services across our northern suburbs.
At 100 years of age, he is still active in the Whitford Lions. I've met plenty of people who talk about giving back to their community. Jack just does it for decades.
There was a wonderful story about Jack during COVID. While many people were trying to work out what to do with themselves at home, Jack was in his shed building display cabinets for the RSL, and that probably sums him up better than I could say. Jack has been recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to veterans and to the community.
Those honours are richly deserved, and I think Jack's greatest legacy is the example he sets. Service does not finish when you leave the Navy. It does not finish when you retire from work.
It certainly does not come with an expiry date. Jack Le Cras has spent a century showing us that strong communities depend on people who keep turning up, helping others and giving their time. Jack is an example to us all.