- Class 3/69 Members
- The Queensland Chapter has advised of the passing of Paul Burza, believed to have happened last Tuesday.
- The following is what I have been able to find out about Paul. I cannot find a grave for his Parents to confirm that they were Gestow and Lilian, but it seems too much of a co-incidence that a Paul Burza, some three years old, left England and headed to Brisbane, where our Paul was brought up.
- If you have information on Paul and his post-Army life, I would be pleased to add it to the Draft Vale.
- Paul Francis Robert Burza was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, on 14 December 1948. (Immigration records show that) along with his father Gestow and mother Lilian, Paul departed from Southampton, England, and arrived at Fremantle on 26 February 1951 on the Migrant Ship Largs Bay. Their destination was The Clachan, Howard Street, Grange, in Brisbane’s north. However, as the Geraldton Guardian of 8 March 1951 reported: ‘Shipping officials said to-day that a Shaw Savill liner (Largs Bay) had not made much real progress since it arrived in Australia. When it arrived in Fremantle last Monday week no berth was available. It berthed on the Tuesday but no labor was available. On the Wednesday a stop work meeting was held. Unloading took place on Thursday and Friday during the day time, but no work was done on Saturday and Sunday, while Monday was a holiday. The shipping man said that, having called at only one Australian port, the Largs Bay was now eight days late. It was expected the vessel would arrive in Melbourne next Monday, which is a holiday. The Largs Bay sailed from Fremantle at 4.35 p.m. yesterday (Wednesday, 7 March).’
- The family did arrive in Brisbane and Paul grew up there. He completed his secondary education at Brisbane State High School and was still a student when called up for service as National Serviceman 1735820. Paul enlisted for National Service on 9 July 1969 and like most Queenslanders commenced Recruit Training at 3 TB, Singleton. He was selected for officer training and commenced at OTU Scheyville with Class 3/69 on 25 July. He was allocated to Corporal Parr’s 11 Section, in Sergeant Ian Coulson’s 6 Platoon, B Company, in the last OTU Class to have a three-company structure. Paul’s ‘Father’ was Cadet David Clyde Lewis, who did not graduate, while his ‘Brother’ was Rod Sutton. In the revamped four-company structure Paul’s platoon became 5 Platoon. In his Senior Term, Paul was the Section Commander of 10 Section in Sergeant Bernie Gleeson’s 5 Platoon. His ‘Son’ was Don McNaught. Paul graduated with his class on 18 December 1916, was allocated to the Medical in Administration and the Technical field and posted The School of Army Health at Healesville, Victoria. Paul remained at the School of Army Health as an Instructor, discharging from the Army after two-and-a-half years on 8 January 1972.
- Post-Army, Brad and Dunstreet list Paul as being involved with Metal Ore Mining in the Central Highlands Region of Queensland with Pee Bee Mining, along with Financial Investments and Related Activities.
- Paul lived alone with little contact with neighbours. Some of his old schoolmates had been trying to contact him since Tuesday 9 April with no reply, so on Thursday they finally decided to request that the Police undertake a home visit. Paul was found dead. It is believed that he probably died of a heart attack on the Tuesday. A small family cremation and a memorial ceremony is to be planned for about a month’s time.
- Neil Leckie, Editor, The Scheyvillian, 0400 573 802
