QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY HONOUR - The Late Brigadier Neil Harvey Weekes AM MC OAM

He was awarded a posthumous OAM in the Queen’s Birthday Honours today for his service to veterans and their families.

After his retirement from the Army Brigadier Neil Weekes AM MC continued his duty of care responsibility to his troops by becoming actively involved with the well-being of the wider Australian Defence Community (ADC –current and past servicemen and servicewomen and their families) and the protection of their service entitlements.

“Retirement” in Townsville saw him championing the causes of the military community especially its veterans, at the Regional, Queensland State and National levels. He stridently fought injustices through the DVA processes and where necessary through the local media to ensure that all veterans received respect and their service entitlements.

Neil’s contribution to the veterans’ community was recognised at the highest level by Prime Minister Rudd when he appointed Neil as a notable person to represent veterans on the inaugural Prime Minister’s Advisory Council (PMAC) 2008-2013.

After his move to South East Queensland, Neil continued his veterans’ activities by becoming the President of The Royal Australian Regiment Association Queensland where his dedication and dogged determination continued unabated.

He is the epitome of the RAR’s motto Duty First and his contribution to the Australian Defence Community is outstanding.

NEIL Weeks was never known to walk away from a fight, whether on Vietnam’s battlefields or battling bureaucracies over veterans’ benefits.

He lost the toughest battle of his life in Brisbane on 6th March 2017 when an aggressive brain tumour claimed one of Australia’s toughest soldiers of the contemporary era at the age of 71.

Neil Weekes was born in Mackay on September 21, 1945. He was educated in Sarina and at St Brendan’s College in Yeppoon before entering Teachers Training College at Kelvin Grove in Brisbane.

He was called up for national service on February 1, 1967.

He deployed to Vietnam with the battalion in March 1968, leading his platoon in the Battle of Coral on May 15-16, with his gallantry recognised by the awarding of the Military Cross.

He returned to Australia to be discharged at the end of his national service in December 1968 but was soon back in the army and 1RAR, serving with the battalion in Singapore and Malaysia during 1969-1971.

He also served in Papua New Guinea with 2 RPIR at Wewak, and attended the Malaysian Armed Forces Staff College at Kuala Lumpur.

He was a consummate infantryman, leader and instructor, holding many demanding staff, regimental and training postings, including at the Royal Military College, Duntroon.

From July 1985 to December 1987 he commanded NORFORCE, a regional surveillance unit with subunits based throughout the Northern Territory and the Kimberley area of Western Australia. He was appointed a member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his leadership.

He returned to Townsville in December 1990 on promotion to colonel to command the district support unit, beginning 22 years in the city.

He retired from the regular Army in 1993 after 26 years service, but would remain in the Army Reserve for a further five years, being promoted to brigadier and commanding 11 Brigade, Ares at Jezzine Barracks.

His civil employment was with James Cook University, where he was executive officer to the Vice-Chancellor until he retired in October 2003.

QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOUR – The Late Brigadier Neil Harvey Weekes AM MC OAM

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