By Jed Lanyon
Warburton lost a local legend when news came through that World War II veteran Richard “Dick” Leith passed away on Friday 21 May, aged 96.
Dick was the last remaining World War II veteran from Warburton and had a significant impact on the township he called home.
Granddaughter Kate Allen said Dick passed “peacefully”, and in his usual spirit, had been cracking jokes until the very end.
Dick, an avid walker, was confined to a wheelchair for his last weeks, but it didn’t stop him from taking part in Warburton’s Anzac Day march last month despite being “fiercely independent”. His entire family stood alongside him to show their support in an act that meant a lot to the veteran.
“He was a bit nervous about doing the march in a wheelchair, so we said we’d be there with you,” Ms Allen said. “The whole family was there with him marching from the RSL to the cenotaph, it was amazing. He was really proud to have us there. He was emotional and it was the first time I had seen him like that, I think.”
Warburton RSL President Wayne Morgan said it was “very touching” to see Dick take part in the march.
“The whole community felt that on the day and it was great to see Dick there with his family,” he said. “To lose the last of our World War II vets, is a great loss.”
Dick joined the air force and spent time in Papua New Guinea during Australia’s efforts in the Second World War. Both Ms Allen and Mr Morgan said Dick was “a man of few words” when it came to speaking about his involvement in the war.
Ms Allen described her grandfather as the patriarch of the family.
“Grandad was one of the most giving people I’ve ever known. He set us up for success from the very start and taught us all really strong morals about looking after each other, but also about giving back to your community. We are all the people we are today thanks to Grandad.”
Ms Allen described her grandfather as “no fuss” and it’s clear through his funeral wishes for a private cremation and a small family service.
Dick had a significant impact in the Warburton area. He was a timber industry worker by trade for 30 years and used his logging machinery to excavate the original hole for the Warburton swimming pool.
He was one of the three community members who purchased the town’s privately-owned golf course and turned it into the Warburton Golf Club, where he volunteered for more than 70 years.
Dick was instrumental in establishing the Warburton Community Bank and spent time volunteering on local primary school committees and for the local scouts group.
“Like all the older fellas from that generation, he played a major part in building Warburton into what it is today,” Mr Morgan said.
