Community & Business
2 September, 2022
WWII medals donated to Pittsworth RSL Sub Branch
The medals of WWII veteran Reg Jones were presented to Pittsworth RSL Sub Branch last week as friends and family arrived to remember his son, Brian Jones, who passed away recently and who had treasured the medals.
Brian grew up in Pittsworth and was a well known boxer back in the 1960s.
“We wanted to bring the medals back home where they should be and where they belong,” said a long time friend of Brian’s, Douglas Saunders, who came from Brisbane where Brian spent the past few decades of his life.
“It’s an honour to bring the medals back here, this is where they belong, not hidden away in a cupboard somewhere,” Douglas said.
Brian was raised by Frank and Mary Oberhardt in Pittsworth after his mother died in childbirth.
“She already had four children of her own when she took that little baby on,” Mary’s daughter-in-law June Oberhardt said.
“We called him Moppy... and we all loved him as a brother,” June’s daughter Maree said.
“He had the wildest crop of hair... that’s why we called him Moppy.”
Local boxing coach Brad Smith recalled Brian had one of the stand out fights of the era.
His Brisbane mates spoke
fondly of Brian and mentioned how he had great memories of growing up in Pittsworth and of his boxing days.
The medals and some photos will be displayed in the collection held at the RSL Sub-Branch.
