Gerald Lynch
Westmeadows has long been home to one of Australia’s last-standing World War II veterans.
Ninety-eight-year-old Herbert (Barney) Lawrence Osborne served as a soldier throughout World War II, spending most of his time fighting in Papua New Guinea in 1942.
Thousands of Australians died on these ventures, but Barney made it home to tell his story.
He moved to Westmeadows in 1956 to work on farms, and purchased a home with his late wife, Mae, in 1957.
Here they raised two sons, both of whom went on to serve for the country also, with one being a sergeant major and fighting in Cambodia in the 1990s.
Recognised as a life member of the Glenroy RSL, where he has spent many afternoons and evenings in his time, Barney was given seats one and two at the post-service breakfast on Anzac Day, sitting below a host of his own medals, proudly mounted on the walls.
He only recently had his medals mounted at the Glenroy RSL, and said they wouldn’t take his money as a thank you despite his strong protest.
“They made me a life member there, and they do a lot for me, especially because my legs are buggered, maybe from riding too many horses,” he chuckled.
Barney said he was given his nickname by his grandfather at a young age, and he said it has stuck ever since.
While 98 may seem a great achievement for some, Barney is confident he has plenty more life to live.
“I’ve seen a lot of it, here today and gone tomorrow, when your number’s up, it’s up,” he said.
“Although, my father lived until 104 they say, so you never know!”
