Dedicated
duty
2 Div anniversary planner recognised
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Dedication:
Commander 2 Div Maj-Gen Paul Irving congratulates Lt-Col
Ian Lalas. Photo by Milton Lalas
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By
Cpl Cameron Jamieson
THE history of 2 Div contains numerous stories of infantrymen
who fought against the odds in the service of their country.
To add to that record is the story of an infantryman who has been
fighting serious illness to see his plans for 2 Div’s 90th
anniversary celebrations become a reality.
Lt-Col Ian Lalas recently received a Commander 2 Div commendation
for his planning and execution of a range of anniversary activities.
Having served in the reserves for more than 30 years, Lt-Col Lalas
is passionate about 2 Div’s history. So much so that when
he was struck down by a life-threatening brain-tumour only 30
minutes before the division’s anniversary parade at Victoria
Barracks in July, his main concern was that he’d miss the
parade.
Fellow HQ 2 Div member Lt-Col Matt Vertzonis said Lt-Col Lalas’
need for ongoing medical treatment also prevented him from attending
the 2 Div battlefield tours of Gallipoli and the Western front.
“He was down, but he wasn’t out,” Lt-Col Vertzonis
said. “He could see an opportunity to attend the memorial
parade at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe
in Paris. He only had a brief window between treatment sessions,
and was able to spend 36 hours in Paris before returning home.
The other Australians on tour didn’t know he was coming,
and they were so pleased to see him that they appointed him the
parade commander for the day.”
Comd 2 Div Maj-Gen Paul Irving said Lt-Col Lalas’ selfless
dedication to the Army Reserve was an inspiration to all his friends
and Division members.
“He has an amazing strength of character and is totally dedicated
to the Division and the Army Reserve.
Lt-Col Lalas said he kept going with the project because it meant
a great deal to him. “2 Div has such a rich history,”
he said.
“The anniversary celebrations provided an opportunity to
take today’s soldiers back to their predecessors.”
