Karen Colliver’s father fought in World War II and was a foundation member of the Shepparton RSL.
She proudly says his name adorns the wall at the club as she sits behind a card table selling commemorative merchandise ahead of Anzac Day to help raise money for the annual appeal that supports veterans and their families.
Her dad, Kevin McCoy, who sadly died at age 68, was in the 58/59th Battalion and fought in Papua New Guinea and Borneo.
He, along with his widow, Dorothy, Karen’s mother, is her inspiration for volunteering for the cause.
It was mid-afternoon at Shepparton Marketplace and Karen’s husband, Barry, had just left her side for a few minutes to collect more items to re-stock the table of badges, pens and wristbands after selling more than they had anticipated for a Monday.
Appeal stalls run for two weeks before Anzac Day, with volunteers covering two three-hour shifts each day.
Karen and Barry have been volunteering their time each year for the past three since they retired and have worked a shift at a stall for eight days this year.
“Before we retired we would help raise funds in other ways, like the Friday night raffles at the RSL,” Karen said.
“But now we’ve retired, we’re able to help with the appeal.”
Barry said Fridays were usually the busiest days for sales in shopping centres, but as it got closer to Anzac Day, sales increased no matter the time of week.
Karen said the morning and afternoon shift that day had each sold about $400 worth of goods.
“They (the RSL) have been good to Mum,” Karen said.
“They’ve helped her out by building her a ramp and such.”
Dorothy still lives independently at age 95 in the house her late husband built himself.
Karen said the pair met straight after the war when Dorothy was 19 and Kevin around 26.
Kevin’s parents had lost their house in the Depression, so he was determined to provide a secure home for his wife and himself.
Seventy-four years later, Dorothy still lives in that house.
Karen will take Dorothy to both services in Shepparton in the morning where she will proudly wear her husband’s war medals before spending the rest of the day at the RSL having a drink.
“She’s 95 years old and she still loves a beer,” Karen said.
Gunfire breakfast
There will be a gunfire breakfast at the Shepparton RSL directly after Shepparton’s Dawn Service. Egg and bacon rolls will be $2 each, with all proceeds going to the Anzac Appeal. Purchase a ticket from the car park or at the poppy wall inside the club and then collect your roll from the bistro or the function room. Eftpos is available, but cash is preferred. Complimentary tea, coffee and juice will also be available.