IMPORTANT … As you replace the cache, please place your finger underneath the cache to bring it into contact and engage the magnet.
This cache is dedicated to one part of Australian military history specially remembered at the Memorial Wall in Queen St, about 230 metres away.
Kevin Wheatley is remembered both at this memorial (along with others from the area who served in Vietnam) and also in a dedicated memorial in Mawson Park. In addition, a street in the recently-established estate of Newbury is named in his honour, as is a rest area on “Remembrance Drive”, on the shores of Lake George. A sports arena in Vung Tau province, Vietnam also bears his name. In addition to his VC, Kevin Wheatley was awarded the Silver Star by the USA.
Wheatley was born in the Sydney suburb of Surry Hills, on 13 March 1937. After attending Maroubra Junction Junior Technical School, he initially worked as a labourer in Sydney. But at the age of 19, enlisted in the Australian Army, and served in Malaya during the Malayan Emergency of 1948-1960. With Kevin returning from Malaya in 1959 the Wheatleys bought affordable land at Campbelltown and moved into a place at East Campbelltown.
He continued to serve in the army from 1959-1965, when he was sent as a military ‘adviser’ to South Vietnam. He saw action on a number of occasions, one of which resulted in his being recommended for an award by a US infantry advisor after single-handedly sending the enemy into retreat.
Some time later, out on mission, his group came under heavy fire from a numerically superior enemy unit. With a fellow Australian soldier severely wounded, Wheatley refused to abandon the man by retreating with the rest of the unit. Kevin Wheatley was subsequently killed defending his comrade. He was one of only four Australians to be awarded the VC in the Vietnam conflict.
Though his origins were in a different part of Sydney, Campbelltown has very much adopted Kevin Wheatley as one of its own, arguably awarding him greater recognition than any other part of the nation.
Information from Wikipedia entry "Kevin Wheatley" and "Campbelltown-Prominent People from our Past"
With Red Rooster so close, you'll need to be cool. My advice ... step back and casually observe from a short distance.
(Campbelltown Mall, for food & toilets, is adjacent. Safest entry is Queen St. Fast food also close by.)
*** Point of Interest *** This cache is fairly close to the spot where Fisher's Ghost was purportedly sighted by John Farley in October 1826. This is NOT set up as a night-time cache, but if you decide to go a-searching after dark, who knows ...? (see Campbelltown-Prominent People from our Past-Have you seen Fisher's Ghost?)
Salute the man who managed to be casual dropping off a grandchild while on the way to picking up an FTF. Here's to'ee jkcourtz!!