Hero made a life in Oz
WORLD War II veteran Iane Turpin has lived in Mt Lawley for more than 40 years but walked a hard road to resettle his family there.
Mr Turpin (85), originally from Macedonia, migrated to Australia after fighting alongside the British in the Balkans in 1944.
Nazi soldiers shot him three times in his leg and back.
“I had to fight at 17, my mum cried but I had no choice,” he said.
“In 1941 I joined the Greek Democratic Battalion and in 1944, the Macedonian Active Battalion.”
He said that after his village was bombed in 1948, he had no choice but to leave.
“When I came to Australia with my wife Crisa in 1950 with the International Red Cross, I was a war victim,” he said.
“
This is my country. I was born there and fought for freedom, but no freedom. I stay here in democratic Australia and I don’t complain.” After his arrival, Mr Turpin moved his family to Manjimup to find work.
“I went to the mill and they said that they couldn’t put me in a mill if I don’t speak English. I said please, please, please Macedonians are good workers, they said yes and I stayed there 15 years,” he said.
“It was a hard job.”
He moved to Mt Lawley in 1964, buying their family home for 2300 pounds.
The veteran, who has 30 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, also worked at the Perth GPO for 20 years.
He received a WWII 60th anniversary commemorative medallion from the Australian Government in 2007.
Now living in North Perth residential care, he recently celebrated his birthday with family, friends and local dignitaries.
- The Guardian Express is looking for local identities, volunteers and people passionate about their communities to profile in this section. Email suggestions to guardianexpress@community news.com.au or call 6389 8016.
http://www.inmycommunity.com.au/news-and-views/local-heroes/Hero-made-a-life-in-Oz/7577531/
