In just a few months, Roc Walshaw will hang up his uniform and put away his highly-shined shoes for the last time.
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The Forbes local says he has spent his whole life in one uniform or another, but the most familiar is his Army Reserve khakis, which he’s been donning for 50 years now.
As he has for years, Walshaw attended Tuesday night parade in Orange last week to find they had a surprise waiting for him.
The unit presented him with an incredible plaque marking his 50 years since he had first signed up with the Citizens Military Force.
Walshaw actually reached mandatory retirement age with the army reserve two years ago, but he was granted an extension of service so he could pass on his trade as an armourer.
It’s a trade he has practised for more than 40 years, repairing and maintaining weapons for the region’s Army Reserve battalions.
Roc (Robert Owen Clive) joined the Citizens Military Force as a 17-year-old in 1966.
He served with 11 Platoon Delta Company 17th Royal NSW Regiment and then the 1st/19th Battalion NSW Regiment - all around a career with the railways.
“When I transferred to the 1st / 19th I was a country boy who had never driven in the city,” Walshaw said.
“I did my training in a left-hand drive Studebaker that had a mechanical arm you pushed out to indicate you wanted to turn right.”
In 1975 he started to train as an armourer, inspecting and repairing weapons, and joined the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers ranked a Lance Corporal.
“They were short of armourers so I transferred to RAEME, did the courses in the inspection and repair of weapons, and I have been there ever since,” Walshaw said.
The plaque prepared by his colleagues to mark his 50 years of service cites “regular reporting of his high standard of performance and knowledge of his trade”.
In 2008 he offered his skills at the Australian Army Skill at Arms Meeting and there are “requests for his support to the competition due to his professionalism and contribution to its success,” as the plaque prepared by his colleagues says.
The gear has changed in Walshaw’s time in service, from the 303 to the 7.62mm self-loading rifle and 5.56mm F88, Walshaw knows them inside out.
Walshaw first joined the Forbes High School cadets when he was in school.
“One of my greatest moments was when, as a staff sergeant, I led the Anzac Day parade,” he remembered on Friday.
Work with the railway took the Walshaws to Ivanhoe in 1972, where he continued serving with the reserves.
When he returned to Forbes 12 years ago, Walshaw prioritised organising a catafalque party to stand at the cenotaph during Anzac Day commemorations.
“They come from Orange, Bathurst, Parkes …” he said.
He is proud of the fact that catafalque parties under his watch march with the Anzac parade, rather than join them at the cenotaph.
While he’s not sure what “retirement” holds, Walshaw is continuing his role as local commander of the SES.
“I enjoyed the discipline of the army,” Walshaw said.
“I have enjoyed my career, I really have. It’s been a big part of my life.”
The local SES branch is looking for volunteers and will host an information day at Bunnings on the long weekend Saturday. Head out there to talk to Roc and the other local volunteers and find out more about helping out.
