Farewell to Lance Corporal Mervyn McDonald
Lance Corporal Mervyn McDonald was farewelled today in Perth, in a funeral service at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, Applecross, followed by a private service at the Fremantle Cemetery.
Thirty-year-old Lance Corporal McDonald, from the 2nd Commando Regiment, was killed in a helicopter crash on 30 August 2012, while serving in Afghanistan with the Special Operations Task Group.
Lance Corporal McDonald’s family and friends were joined by his mates from the regiment to celebrate the life of the highly experienced and respected soldier.
Commanding Officer of the 2nd Commando Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel B, spoke of the energy and enthusiasm Lance Corporal McDonald brought to the regiment. He also spoke of the sense of duty that saw Lance Corporal McDonald serve on multiple deployments in his near 12 year Army career.
“Merv would have wanted to be remembered as a quiet, hard working, likeable bloke who got the job done no matter what it was. This was an understatement,” Lieutenant Colonel B said.
“Merv, your peers consider you to be one of the most professional members of your Company and of our Regiment.
“Despite the tempo of life, you were also known for making a point of stopping to literally smell the coffee. Your impact was wider than you could have ever imagined.”
Lance Corporal McDonald is survived by his fiancée Rachael, his mother Myrna and stepfather Bernie, and brothers Percy, Roger and Gary.
The funeral was attended by the Hon Julia Gillard MP, Prime Minister; the Hon Stephen Smith MP, Minister for Defence; the Hon Tony Abbott MP, Leader of the Opposition; Senator the Hon David Johnston, Shadow Minister for Defence; the Hon Gary Gray AO MP, Member for Brand; the Hon Colin Barnett MLA, Premier of Western Australia; General David Hurley AC DSC, Chief of the Defence Force; Lieutenant General David Morrison AO, Chief of Army and Major General Gus Gilmore AM DSC, Special Operations Commander Australia
