The Gallipoli quilt displayed at the ANZAQC Memorial, Hyde Park & June Young OAM JP
June Young OAM JP is one the most highly regarded advocates and community members to grace our great nation.
The Manly-born wonder woman began her career at MLC in Sydney as a private secretary at the qualified age of 15 years old. She was born into a prosperous family, and married her sweetheart, Ken Young, at 17 years old. Ken was not as fortunate as June: he had been a Legacy boy since he was seven years old, and joined the army.
During the first seven years of their marriage, Ken was away for five of those years. June took on various jobs while raising their children. At times, there were postings together. “At Borneo, we had the most magnificent Officer Commanding’s wife, Jean Johnston,” recalls June. “Jean accepted all of us and taught how to be a family – an army family. Taught us about welfare, how to look after one another. In reality, that was when I started my welfare work. At that stage, I was 18-19 years old. We developed the Army wives club: we taught kids to swim, how to look after ourselves, all the practical things that we needed to know.”
When they were posted together to Popondetta in New Guinea again, they lived on the other end of the Kokoda Trail and were involved in all the events and stories surrounding the trail. They later moved to Puckapunyal, Victoria, where she started a craft fair for army wives that eventually expanded to include people from all regions. She also ran the army canteen.
The Gallipoli quilt
After Puckapunyal, June, Ken and their children then moved to Hammondville, Holsworthy. “We bought the house at Moorebank, and Ken was going to be sent overseas again, and he decided that after 23 years that was enough: the kids needed to come first, and there was no more unaccompanied postings. Then Ken turned and said to me, “well, what do you want to do? You’ve followed me all around the world for all of these years, now it’s your turn.” I wanted to open a ballet shop. So I opened my first shop at Liverpool, and that’s how Stagestruck Australia was born – I’m the founder of Stagestruck.”
June, Ken and their family have lived in Liverpool for 22 years and June continues to be involved with the community. “I was very involved with Council, and still am,” says June. “I worked a lot with Harry Hunt and the Chamber of Commerce. I’m on many committees. I’ve had over 30 years in Council committees, I joined Quota International, Rotary, Red cross, Sydney Legacy is like our family until this day: Ken and I are both Legatees. Ken has been a Legatee since he was seven years old, and I’ve been a Legatee for 30 years.”
June Young is inducted in the Liverpool Hall of Fame
When asked about the famous Gallipoli quilt, June laughs and says, “there were so many blocks, we made five quilts in total! The Gallipoli quilt is the quilt I had…the quilt had its own identity….it was always going to go into Hyde Park.” Hyde Park is the New South Wales principal war memorial dedicated to remembering all Australians who have served their country in the armed forces. To listen to June’s recount of the legendary Gallipoli quilt story, scan the QR code.
Since 1967, June has been involved in an incredible 20 organisations, held 101 positions and received 21 prestigious awards, including the Order of Australia Medal, The Police Commissioner’s Award, the NSW Premier’s Award for Volunteers and The Federal Volunteer Award presented by Federal Parliament. In 2003, June received the Federal Centenary Medal for service to the Liverpool community; in 2006, she received the Australia Day Council Award – Liverpool Citizen of the Year; in 2016, June received the Heroes of Liverpool Award, and in 2023, June was inducted in the Liverpool Hall of Fame. June’s impressive list of positions held, organisations aided and operated is immense. She is an outstanding woman of the community, with a rich Australian history of entrepreneurship, service, volunteering, and sacrifice. June Young OAM JP is a woman to admire, aspire to be and commend. The western suburbs are privileged to have June as one of their own.
Click here to listen to June’s Quilt Story
Original article: https://keepingnewslocal.com.au/anzac-special-greatness-walks-among-us-in-our-own-backyard/