CAMERON Philip Donald
army officer and voluntary worker 1929-

Phil Cameron was born at Epping and, as his father was a bank manager, the family moved around various towns in NSW and Queensland. Educated in Bundaberg and Warwick primary schools, Warwick, Hornsby and Homebush High Schools, he began work in 1945 in a Sydney wool broker’s office, then Lloyds Agents Office and Rudders Shipping and Forwarding Agent.

During this period he joined the CMF 17/18 Inf Bn, then attended the Officer Cadet School Portsea in 1952, graduated into the Australian Staff Corps and was allotted to RAE (Transportation) on the basis of his experience in the shipping industry. He was posted as a platoon commander in 11 NS Trg Bn Wacol, followed by Adjutant Transportation Training Centre Chowder Bay, then 6 MC Trg Gp (CMF) Adelaide as Adjutant and QM.

Promoted captain in 1956 he was 2ic of the RAE company, then assistant quartermaster 20 NS Trg Bn Puckapunyal. A year-long Transportation Course in 1958, on marine engineering, stevedoring, railway operations, seamanship, navigation and movements, was rounded out with a year’s attachment to NSW Railways and Maritime Services Board.

When the Army procured four US Landing Ships mothballed in Japan, Philip joined a refurbishing party there and subsequently sailed home on Vernon Sturdee as First Mate, arriving at Watsons Bay in 1960 to receive a posting to HQ FARELF Singapore as SO3 (Tn). After this stint he commanded Vernon Sturdee.

Posted to AHQ Canberra as SO 2 (Tn) in 1963, he attended the Australian Staff College Queenscliff in 1965 followed by SO2 Ops HQ 1 Tml Comd Georges Heights. Two years later he became DAQMG (Mov) HQ AFV Saigon in time to face the expansion of the force and its attendant movement traumas, producing a force movement priority plan to facilitate movements operations.

On return Philip was posted to Air Support Unit Williamtown pending formation of an Australian Joint Warfare Establishment however as it did not materialise he moved to School of Military Engineering Casula as Major Administration, then on promotion to lieutenant colonel as CO and CI Transportation Centre Chowder Bay. With the planned withdrawal from Vietnam from 1971 he returned as SO1 (Mov) to coordinate the return of equipment and personnel, then came back to Chowder Bay.

In 1975 Philip attended the Manchester University of Technology postgraduate course in Management Sciences followed by the British Transport Staff College and a series of attachments to British, US and German units. Back home he became SO1 in the Directorate of Logistic Development Army Office Canberra, developing future logistics concepts and equipment solutions, beginning the Army’s transition to containerisation following its brief success in the Vietnam withdrawal. Opting for a  terminal posting in Sydney, he became SO1 Logistics Planning Group Moore Park, retiring in 1979 after 27 years of service and enjoying very day.

While in Canberra he joined Canberra Legacy, transferring to Sydney Legacy's Inner Suburbs Division where he still serves. He was Chairman Inner Suburbs Division, Secretary Board of Management and Board of Directors, Chairman Family Welfare Committee, Member Junior Legatees Committee (currently Juniors Activities Committee in which he still serves), Vice President then President Sydney Legacy. Subsequently he served on the History, Traditions and Advisory Committee, National and State Conference Committee, all the time caring for widows and junior legatees committed to his care.

He also represented Legacy on the NSW Department of Veterans Affairs Round Table on Aged Care, then the National Round Table, based upon which he proposed that Legacy create an Aged Care Forum, which was adopted by the National Conference: Philip acted as Co-ordinator Aged Care matters until 2006. Concurrently he was invited to review the DVA NSW Welfare Handbook, following which he assisted the conduct of their welfare courses for twelve years to 2008. He was awarded the OAM for services to ex-service families.

He married Lieutenant Mary Haworth WRAC in Singapore in 1962.  Together with Mary, who is a Blue Belle and member of the Sydney Legacy’s Women’s Auxiliary, Philip has regular contact with his two children and their families all of whom live in Sydney.