The community of Merredin turned out in force for the Anzac dawn service, but this year was a special commemoration. The town came together to remember one of their favourite sons who spent his post-Vietnam service life serving and supporting his mates back home.
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00:00 Pre-dawn in Meriden, an Anzac tradition.
00:04 Hundreds turned out to honour those who served and didn't return.
00:10 But this is also a story about a town saying a final farewell to a soldier
00:15 who survived the Vietnam War and carried on the traditions of courage,
00:20 mateship and service back home, volunteering in his community for 50 years.
00:26 Mr Jim Wilcox, Vietnam veteran, who answered the call of duty
00:31 and served our nation with unwavering dedication.
00:35 Jim died earlier this year, his family receiving a posthumous award
00:40 for his 50 years with the RSL.
00:43 Unfortunately he was the last president of the RSL
00:47 and the RSL no longer exists in Meriden as a result.
00:51 Mr Wilcox served in Vietnam between 1970 and 1971
00:56 with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Australian Army Regiment.
01:00 He was instrumental in helping the local RSL create this reflection pool
01:05 echoing the cross of Long Tan and was on hand for decades of Anzac commemorative services.
01:12 And he helped anybody that needed help and he'd be there just helping everybody.
01:17 He was a legend.
01:21 Each week for months he drove a fellow Vietnam vet from Meriden
01:25 to Hollywood Hospital for cancer treatment.
01:28 But when the end was near Jim took him out of the hospice and drove him home to Meriden.
01:34 He told the doctors he was just taking him up to Kings Park.
01:37 But Jimmy told a fib.
01:39 He actually brought the gentleman back to Meriden to have one last look at his little property
01:44 and also his beloved cat.
01:47 But Jimmy was like that. He was always putting his mates first.
01:51 We show that not only was he a good servant of Meriden but just a good bloke.
01:55 A true reflection of the Anzac digger who came home to serve.
02:00 [silence]