Medals replaced for Ted

COLLIE’S only surviving World War II veteran, Ted McCormick, will be presented with war medal replicas tomorrow at a presentation at the Collie RSL club rooms.

It comes after medals belonging to the 97-year-old and his father were stolen from his Medic Street home four months ago.

Mr McCormick said three of his medals, plus five of his father’s, were stolen from a safe in his shed. Important documents, tools and $1400 cash were also stolen, as well as the cabinet and safe they were stored in.

Mr McCormick said he noticed rubbish around the area before he realised his precious belongings had been stolen.

“They took the lot - the cabinet, the safe, everything,” Mr McCormick said.

When he contacted the Australian Defence Force about replacing the medals, he said he was told the medals were no longer manufactured.

“I was very upset,” he said.

“They told me my father’s medals were very hard to replace because they’re so old.”

Grahame Old from the RSL decided to apply on Mr McCormick’s behalf for duplicates.

Mr Old said his hard work was part of the RSL’s service.

“We know where to go and who to talk to and what to do,” he said.

Mr McCormick will be presented with the medals by Member for Collie-Preston Jodie Hanns at the clubrooms tomorrow at 5pm.

Mr Old said that the presentation is not typical, but the return of the medals is significant.

It is not often that duplicates can be obtained by someone other than the medal’s original recipient, he said.

“It would normally take 12 months for medals to be replaced, but Mr McCormick’s were replaced in only six weeks,” he said.

Mr McCormick said he is elated.

“I’m very happy, especially for my father’s - they are a treasure for me,” he said.