ANDERSON Dalmain Ronald
administrative officer, citizen soldier and honorary worker 1931-

Born in Mitchell, Dal Anderson joined the Air Training Corps in 1947 and in 1950 enlisted in the RAASC CMF 18 Pet Pl Sandgate. He was commissioned in 1953 as a platoon commander to 5 Coy RAASC.

After relocating to Newcastle he joined 16 Company RAASC which was equipped with DUKW and LVT 4, and was a sub-unit of the amphibious 15th Northern Rivers Lancers RAAC. He then commenced full time duty, serving mainly in National Service Units in NSW during 1956-57. After returning to CMF service in Queensland he was promoted Captain in 1959 as 2IC 41 Coy RAASC.

On promotion to Major in 1963 he became OC 2 Coy RAASC; after then serving in administrative postings, Dal was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1968 and appointed as Commander 10 ST Coln RAASC. Following this appointment he served in staff officer postings before retiring in 1981.

He had familiarisation tours to New Guinea in 1966 during Confrontation, and in 1968 to Vietnam. On the disbandment of RAASC in 1973 he transferred to RACT, commanding the final parade in Queensland marking the changeover.

His last fulltime civil occupation was Graduate Administrative Officer, Prentice Computer Centre, University of Queensland. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from UQ in 1983 and was the first elected Non-Graduate Staff representative on the Senate of UQ from 1980 until retirement in 1991.

He served on the Council of the Royal Geographical Society of Queensland from 1986, President 1999-2001 and was made a Fellow of the Society in 2002. One of his roles in RGSQ was the organisation of coach tours that covered most areas of mainland Australia over a period of years. Currently he is the Honorary Treasurer of the Society.

Military associations are the Royal United Service Institute Queensland where he is Honorary Librarian, and the Defence Reserves Association.

His wife is Wendy and he has a son Brett (four sons) and daughter Susan (two sons).