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AUSTRALIAN GUNNER

OBITUARY RESOURCE
 
         
         
 
 
       
 
  Victor John (Vic) Hardie

 

29 April 1947 – 12 October 2013
 

 

 
 
   

By Peter Bruce, OAM

 

         
Printed Version    
         
  Vic was born in Summer Hill, Sydney, the first child of Joyce and John Hardie. The family moved to Cronulla when Vic was around 12 years old and one of the many activities which afflicted Vic started in earnest – surfing. A student at De La Salle College in Cronulla, Vic was often known to prefer a good surf rather than attending school. He did attend long enough to make the school rugby team and in 1962 he was part of the team which won the NSW Schools Championship. They played their final as the lead up game to the main grand final between St George and Wests at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Vic’s team of choice was of course Cronulla, but he did not get to see them in a final.

 

In 1965, Vic married Pam and their first child Adam was born in 1966. Craig, their second son - known affectionately as Chub - arrived in 1969 the same year as Vic decided to join the Army

Vic was allocated to Artillery and after initial training at North Head he was eventually posted to 4th Field Regiment which was part way through a tour of South Vietnam. Vic joined Headquarters Battery in July 1970 and was employed as a driver. His tasks involved delivering ammunition to fire support bases as well as more routine driver tasks within the Task Force area. Vic returned to Australia with the Regiment on the 12th of March 1971 and was posted to 106 Field Battery. The battery was in training for deployment to Singapore as part of the ANZUK Brigade. Pam and the boys accompanied Vic on his posting to Singapore and they lived in Changi Village. Vic was employed as a driver again and often drove for the Battery Commander on exercises.

Vic’s rugby skills were also put to good use as part of the battery team. He was a vital member of a very successful battery team playing half back for the team that made the grand final of the competition but missed out on the final prize.

Vic returned to Australia in December 1973 and was posted to the School of Artillery at North Head. Vic took his discharge in 1975 and in 1978 joined the Australian Federal Police. He was eventually promoted to Detective proving again his adaptability and commitment to any task. Vic left the force in 1981.
 
         

Vic and Pam and the boys moved a few times including a stint on the Gold Coast where they ran a carpet cleaning business. In 1987 Vic joined the NSW Police Force as a communications officer. He stayed with them until 1998.

By 2002, after a medical scare for Pam, they discovered Cruise Ship life and embarked on several cruises around various oceans of the world. In later years they tried their hand at the Grey Nomad lifestyle but after three months, decided it was not for them. Vic much preferred to be on the water and had several boats at various times of which he was very proud.

After a stint in Townsville to be near the now adult boys, Vic and Pam moved to the Hervey Bay area. It was here that Vic was able to pursue his passion for golf at the Burrum District Golf Club. Vic was quite taken by the golfing bug and had a ‘never satisfied’ approach to various drivers and putters.
         
  A service was held for Vic at the Orana Chapel, Hervey Bay Crematorium. The service included a family tribute with Lisa, Aleisha and Jasmine Hardie, accompanied by Josh Pech on guitar, singing “Amazing Grace”. His daughter in law, Lisa read a wonderful golfing poem at Vic’s funeral which captured Vic’s approach to golf beautifully.

 

While the term ‘family man’ is often used to describe various individuals, it was such a fitting description of Vic. He was devoted to his wife Pam, their two sons, Adam and Craig, daughter-in-law Lisa, and especially the grandchildren Benjamin, Aleisha and Jasmine, and his mother-in-law Dorothy Johnston.

 
         
         

 

       
         
         
         
         
         
         
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