Kapooka dedication honours Norm Jeffs and Alan Evans

For 14 years, the 92-year-old World War II veteran has taken young recruits under his wing, encouraging the down-at-heart to “soldier on”. 

In that time, he said he had missed only four march out parades at Kapooka. But he never imaged he’d be recognised for his efforts.

So when the Kapooka Commandant unveiled Mr Jeffs’ name on the side of a parade-ground grandstand he said: “You could have knocked me over”. 

The former foot soldier and his fellow RSL Sub-Branch member Alan Evans were this month honoured for their unwavering support and selfless contributions at The Home of the Soldier. 

With their names emblazoned across the grandstands, that border the sacred ground, their legacy will not be forgotten. 

Commandant Colonel Mike Garraway said the dedications were symbolic of Wagga’s many former military men and women, who also gave up their time to support their bothers-in-arms at Blamey Barracks. 

“We’re blessed to have such an active ex-service community in Wagga,” Colonel Garraway said. 

“We decided to recognise those that do the same small, but meaningful things over and over again.” 

He said soldiers without the support of loved ones, became Mr Jeffs’ “orphans”.

“When they feel like giving up, Norm encourages them to keep going,” Col Garraway said. “It’s a pat on the back of a young soldier and a ‘chin up son. You’ll get there’.”

The Commandant said both Mr Evans and Mr Jeffs had attended every march out parade, every Friday, providing solidarity from the sidelines. 

As members of the green (army) family, they watched the “next in line” graduate, hearts swelling with pride, as if they were blood relatives. 

“It’s just that,” Col Garraway said. “They just have this unobtrusive presence there.”

Although young at heart, Mr Jeffs said he would still be in the army if he was young of body. 

He said his memories of the bonds between soldiers had stuck with him across the decades.

“You can’t get that in civilian life,” Mr Jeffs said. “You trust them and you know they’ve got your back.”

It is the reason he dedicated his time to helping others push through the rigorous and challenging training course. 

But he never imaged he’d be rewarded for it. 

“I was given three medals out there too,” Mr Jeffs said. “When Colonel Garraway pulled back the curtain on the stand, you could have knocked me over.”

The surprise was shared by Wagga’s Alan Evans, a Korean War and Vietnam War veteran. 

Mr Evans said he almost fell over when a plaque, bearing his name and details for his service, was unveiled at Kapooka. 

“I was dumbfounded,” Mr Evans said. “It was a very proud moment for me.” 

Mr Evans finished his service at Kapooka in 1980.

After a short period of time, he went back to share what he could and to help his fellow soldiers.

From 1991 until today, he said he had not missed a march out parade.

“Kapooka is like home to me,” he said.