Victor Bartley awarded OAM

Victor Bartley celebrating his OAM with a his wife Donnas, niece Joan Dickson, and a fresh lamingto from Morrall’s Bakery. Photo TWH

Bourke’s Victor Bartley, a man who wears many different hats and medals, now has something new to add to his collection after being awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) on Australia Day.

The 76-year-old Bourke local and Vietnam war veteran was one of 503 Australians to be awarded an Order of Australia during Australia Day celebrations last week.

A Wiradjuri man, Victor grew up in Wellington and Bourke in the 1950s and 1960s during a difficult period for Aboriginal people.

Four of his siblings were taken from his parents by the Child Protection Board and they were not reunited until years later.

Victor’s life changed dramatically during to the Vietnam War.

Initially conscripted to join the army in 1966, Victor soon found out he would not be accepted.

“When I was registering, one of the questions was: “Are you of Aboriginal descent?” I ticked “yes”,” he said. […]

Read more in the printed edition of The Western Herald.

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