Stan’s legacy to live on through RSL books

Serving in the Royal Australian Air Force, Stan was employed in a specialised field, that of Japanese code breaker, undertaking meticulous work and cracking the secrets of wartime communication.

Stan’s funeral service was last Friday, March 31 in the Chapel of Yarrawonga Mulwala Funeral Service. The service was conducted by civil celebrant Rhonda Livingstone who described Stan as “a fine, caring, good-hearted man”.

That kindness was endorsed by Yarrawonga Mulwala RSL Sub-Branch’s Ian Summers.

“When I arrived in Yarrawonga 30 years ago, Stan took me under his wing and taught me all about pensions and welfare,” the current sub-branch vice president and past president said.

“If I made a mistake there would just be kind words from him to me. His knowledge was immense. Stan was the man.

“His legacy to us all will be in all his numerous books. His greatest was ‘Murray Country Heroes’ (1995) which included Yarrawonga in general and the RSL.”

Other books included ‘Sun Country Heroes’ - a condensed history of the Yarrawonga Mulwala RSL Sub-Branch 1918- 2012 - ‘Trilogy’ – ships sunk off the coast of NSW, young gardeners growing vegetables and eavesdroppers and ‘The Kid From Cobaw’ relating to Stan’s life.

For his war service, Stan was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939-45, Australia Service Medal 1939-45 and Returned from Active Service Badge. 126143 Telegraphist Stanley Kevin Clarke joined the RAAF on January 15, 1943 discharged on March 6, 1946 and had served in the South Pacific.

He was a mighty leader in the local sub-branch, occupying positions such as president, secretary and welfare officer, and was a club board director. “He provided the highest quality of leadership,” Mr Summers said.

In 2001, aged 76, Stan was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to veterans and their families, with sub-branch president at the time, Trevor Hargreaves OAM describing Stan as “a fantastic worker for the RSL”.

“He’s done magnificent work for a long time. He more or less ran the Beechworth RSL before he became president.”

The face of the Victorian RSL at the time, State President Bruce Ruxton, said Stan was a very worthy recipient of the OAM. “He’s been a tireless worker for the RSL for many years – not only for Yarrawonga/Mulwala but to Beechworth too,” Mr Ruxton told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.

“His effort in writing the history of the Yarrawonga Mulwala RSL was magnificent.:

Civil celebrant Rhonda said; “Stan was a wordsmith”.

“He had a gift as an accomplished user of words, putting together a variety of vocabulary when writing and speaking. He also wrote articles for the Yarrawonga Chronicle including ‘Masonic Musings’ and ‘Golf Quips’, as well as writing several historical novels - providing much regional background information to all those in Yarrawonga.”

Stan’s leadership at Beechworth was not solely related to the RSL. It also covered Freemasons Beechworth where he occupied the top job of Worshipful Master in 1985 and 1988.

At the Yarrawonga Lodge of St David since 1990, he was secretary from 1995 to 2010, and was Worshipful Master in 2011 and 2016. Current senior deacon and past Worshipful Master John Nicholson outlined the whole of Stan’s outstanding background which included compiling the history of Yarrawonga Lodge of St David 103 on its 125th birthday 1884 to 2009.

Stan loved his sport. Along with John Dunstan OAM – who recently passed away at 100-years-of-age – Stan was an ambassador to the RSL Memorial Bowls Tournament on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day. This special annual lawn bowls event at ClubMulwala, attracts bowlers throughout the region. Also, a very keen golfer, Stan reduced his handicap to 15 at Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort.

Stan was one of four children born in Cobaw, Victoria, on March 4, 1924. He completed his schooling in Cobaw, leaving at a young age to commence work in the post office.

He was a proud dad, husband, grandpa, great grandpa and great great grandpa. Stan was a hard worker throughout his life and had many different job roles including that of hotelier for many years whilst living in Beechworth. Stan met Merven, “the love of his life”, they soon married and enjoyed many fun family times together.

Step daughter Pam Cassell said one of her fondest memories of Stan was on the wharf at Sydney Harbour in 1974 when her parents were about to sail. “Mum and Dad, Milton and me, Cheryl and David were waving bon voyage to their world tour. It was the introduction to their holiday tours.”

Stan maintained good health throughout most of his life and with the help of his youngest son Greg as carer, maintained living at home in Mulwala. His health recently began to decline, and after a seizure, on March 15, was admitted to Wangaratta Hospital where he sadly passed away peacefully on March 17.

“Dad was an excellent father to me, always caring about everybody’s well-being,” Greg said.

Last Friday, The Last Post and Rouse were played. The Last Post indicated Stan had completed his life’s work and entered into his rest. The Rouse symbolized the awakening of his soul into a new life. Mr Summers presented the Australia Flag to Stan’s family, the flag under which Stan served so proudly and which adorned his coffin.

Rhonda suitably summed up Stan: “Stan’s life has been full - he enjoyed each day, shared his wisdom, passed the goodness on and used his love of life to guide him until it was his time to go. He had an amazing history with amazing stories.

“No one will fit into Stan’s shoes, but the influence of his personality, strength and character will always live on, in the acts and thoughts of everyone that is here today.”