![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/05\/Anzacwrap2_66026.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
“My father, Commander Colin Humphrey, RAN, served for 38 years in the Permanent and Reserve Navy, joining as a recruit sailor in 1958.<\/p>\n
“He served in the Malayan Confrontation and the Vietnam War, as did several uncles.<\/p>\n
“Dad died at the age of 68 from cancer most likely related to his service in the asbestos-riddled ships of the 1960s.<\/p>\n
“I enlisted and served for 30 years in the Royal Australian Artillery, with postings around the country, and overseas deployments to Cambodia, South East Asia, East Timor and Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
“My amazing wife Fiona supported me and raised our boys throughout.<\/p>\n
“We were incredibly proud to have our sons, Liam and Colin, representing the ADF and the Victoria Police respectively, at this year’s service.<\/p>\n
“Both completed their schooling locally and played football for the Heathcote Saints before commencing their careers of service.”<\/p>\n
Nothing was going to stop Noel Cahill from attending this years Dawn Service and Commemoration Ceremony, not even a stroke last year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “A few weeks ago, when we asked Dad what he wanted to do this Anzac Day, he was adamant he was going to attend as he always has,” said daughter Wendy.<\/p>\n “Nothing was going to stop him.”<\/p>\n Cahill was supported by many family members including his fifth great-grandchild and his granddaughter Laura who has been attending the Anzac Day Dawn Service with her grandfather for 25 years.<\/p>\n Humphrey spoke at the Commemoration Ceremony about the sacrifices made by not only the men and women who served but also the families who supported them.<\/p>\n “Whilst Fiona and I are incredibly proud of our sons, and our daughters-in-law, who also serve our great country for Defence and Police, I know our affiliate members, take the same pride in remembering parents, grandparents and other ancestors who served our nation,” he said.<\/p>\n “For a district the size of ours 110 years ago, there would not have been a single family not directly affected by these events on the other side of the world.<\/p>\n “We must be the ones that continue to hold the torch high, to be ever-thankful for the sacrifices of our glorious dead.<\/p>\n “And we must never forget the great tragedy of war, and the significant loss of life, limb and the psychological wellbeing of those who answered the call.”<\/p>\n Humphrey thanked everyone for attending and praised performances by Heathcote and Holy Rosary Primary Schools combined choir, musician Jeffrey Arthur, and the Heathcote Wandering Minstrels choir.<\/p>\n Guest speaker Lieutenant Commander Liam Humphrey RAN travelled from Wollongong for the ceremony.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/05\/AnzacWrap3_60577.jpg\")
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