Decades after serving Australia in different wars, Rohan Goyne's grandfather, uncle and father have finally received the honour and medals they deserved.
Future generations of the Goyne family will have a number of new medals and commendations to remind them of their ancestors' sacrifice, thanks to Rohan's efforts and a little known service offered by the Australian Defence Force.
Relatives can apply for unawarded medals on behalf of family members through the federal government's defence department website.
Mr Goyne - who was denied the opportunity to serve on medical grounds - is incredibly proud of his family's service to the country.
"My family served the country for 75 years... in most of the conflicts of the 20th century, to be honest," he said.
The Canberra resident initially set out to apply for an Africa Star on behalf of his grandfather.
Thomas Alexander Goyne
Thomas Alexander Goyne completed training as a machine gunner in 1918, going on to serve on the Western Front until the Armistice, surviving the Advance to Victory.
He attained the rank of Lieutenant in 1938, and was called upon following the outbreak of World War II due to his combat experience.
Lieutenant Goyne served with the 7th Division in the Middle East, Papua New Guinea and Queensland. He went on to serve as a quartermaster in NSW and was deployed to Morotai following the surrender of the Japanese, before eventually retiring in 1950.
Mr Goyne was unable to prove his grandfather's eligibility for the Africa Star, as he could not prove he served on the western side of the Suez Canal. He was however, able to attain a World War II Defence Medal, and South West Pacific Clasp, adding to a host of honours he had already received, including an OBE.
Mr Goyne decided to lodge a similar enquiry on behalf of his uncle Alan Kenneth Goyne after visiting the War Memorial on the 75th anniversary of his death.
Alan Kenneth Goyne
Alan enlisted in the army at the commencement of World War II, serving as a pay clerk before being discharged and joining the Royal Australian Airforce under the Empire Training Scheme.
He completed basic training at Ulverstone, before progressing to advanced training in Sale. On July 19, 1943 he was involved in a midair collision during a close formation flying drill and was one of four pilots who lost their lives.
Mr Goyne was able to attain World War II Defence and Victory medals on his behalf.
Following his success with his grandfather and uncle, he decided to also lodge an inquiry on behalf of his father.
Colin Alexander Goyne
Colin Alexander Goyne graduated from the Royal Military College as an artillery core Lieutenant in 1953.
He went on to serve for 32 years, including two years service in Malaysia and Singapore and a tour of duty in Vietnam from 1966/67.
He also commanded a missile battery in Austria, and a guided missile unit at Woomera in the height of the Cold War. He retired from service as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1983.
Through Mr Goyne's enquiries he attained a Pingat Jasa from the Malaysian government, a South East Asia clasp for his Defence Medal and Vietnam's Cross of Gallantry with a Palm Unit Citation.
Mr Goyne said he was happy to have been able to retrieve the medals on behalf of his relatives, seeing himself as a "custodian" of his family's proud military history.
"They're (the medals) a permanent reminder for my family going forward, and a representation of my family's intergenerational sacrifice for the country," he said.
He said the process of applying for unawarded medals is easy, you don't even need to know what medal you are applying for. All you need to be able to provide is your relative's full name, the arm of the military they served in, and your relation to them. Their service number and dates they served are also helpful, the former can be searched through national archives.
Civilians who served in home front roles may also be eligible for civilian service medals.
For more information on how to apply, visit the Australian Defence Force website: www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/honours-awards
