COLONEL GEORGE PEARCE MACKENZIE OBE RFD
(Compiled in 2020 from publications by the Shrine of Remembrance and an entry in Australian Who’s Who)
George was born in Preston in 1931, the son of Alister and Mary Mackenzie. As Alister was working in the Queensland cane fields and Mary soon returned to work at Holeproof Hosiery in Sydney Rd, George went to live with Alister’s parents in West Preston until Alister and Mary re-united and rented rooms in East Brunswick.
After primary school in Preston and East Coburg, George attended Coburg High School in 1943 and 1944. He joined the Boy scouts and achieved King Scout status. In 1945 he moved on to Scotch College but left there in 1949 having failed to matriculate. He found work as a clerk while studying part-time and matriculated in 1950.
George enrolled in Medicine at Melbourne University but switched to the Law Faculty in 1953. He was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1958. The following year he married Loraine Webb and they lived in East Ivanhoe. Their daughter, Fiona, was born in 1960 and the moved to East Kew in 1961. He joined the Victorian Division of the Liberal Party and remains a financial member to this day.
By 1964 George had been elected to the Kew City Council and in 1966 became Mayor of the City. His son Angus was born that year and George became Chairman of the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal for Kew, Prahran and St Kilda.
In 1965 George was appointed by the Minister of Health to be an Official Visitor to the Royal Park Psychiatric hospital, an appointment he held until its closure in 1970. In 1971 he became an Official Visitor to the Willsmere Hospital and Children’s Cottages Kew and he was Chairman of the panel until 1988.
In 1962 George was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Citizen Military forces (now known as the Army Reserve). By 1970 he was a Major and had volunteered to relieve a fellow Officer who was the in South Vietnam but was unwell. His tour of duty there lasted for six months.
From 1972 to1974 he was a member of the Services Canteen Trust, a body charged with the distribution of canteen funds raised during World War Two. In 1973 he was appointed to the Patriotic Funds Council (now known as the Victorian Veterans Council) and was its Chairman until it ceased to exist in 1999.
The New year Honours list for 1976 saw George made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for “outstanding community service”. In 1978 George was appointed a Trustee of the Shrine of Remembrance. He retired from the Trust in 2000 and is now a Life Governor of the Shrine.
George retired from his legal practice in 1980 and took up an appointment as Chairman of the Town Planning Tribunal and subsequently as Deputy Chief Chairman of the Planning Appeals Board (now known as VCAT). He retired from that position in 1987.
By 1985 George had been promoted to Colonel in the Army Reserve and was a consultant to HQ Logistics Command at Victoria Barracks in Melbourne. He had also received the Reserve Forces Decoration for 20 years of service. In 1987 George completed post graduate studies in law and graduated with a Masters Degree (LL.M) from Monash University.
He was a member of the State Executive of the RSL and a trustee of that body in 1982 and 1983. He was also a member of numerous other organisations such as the Action Group for Disabled Children, Berry Street Babies Home, Florence Nightingale War Nurses Trust, 39th Battalion Association and Australian Legion of ex-service Men and Women. In 2008 he was made a Life member of the 39th Battalion Association.
George joined Melbourne Legacy in 1992 and became its President in 2004.The National Servicemen’s Association of Australia (Victorian Division) invited him to become its Patron in 2000 and he served actively in that role and as Patron of its Whitehorse Branch until 2010. He still attends the Association’s Functions
After primary school in Preston and East Coburg, George attended Coburg High School in 1943 and 1944. He joined the Boy scouts and achieved King Scout status. In 1945 he moved on to Scotch College but left there in 1949 having failed to matriculate. He found work as a clerk while studying part-time and matriculated in 1950.
George enrolled in Medicine at Melbourne University but switched to the Law Faculty in 1953. He was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1958. The following year he married Loraine Webb and they lived in East Ivanhoe. Their daughter, Fiona, was born in 1960 and the moved to East Kew in 1961. He joined the Victorian Division of the Liberal Party and remains a financial member to this day.
By 1964 George had been elected to the Kew City Council and in 1966 became Mayor of the City. His son Angus was born that year and George became Chairman of the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal for Kew, Prahran and St Kilda.
In 1965 George was appointed by the Minister of Health to be an Official Visitor to the Royal Park Psychiatric hospital, an appointment he held until its closure in 1970. In 1971 he became an Official Visitor to the Willsmere Hospital and Children’s Cottages Kew and he was Chairman of the panel until 1988.
In 1962 George was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Citizen Military forces (now known as the Army Reserve). By 1970 he was a Major and had volunteered to relieve a fellow Officer who was the in South Vietnam but was unwell. His tour of duty there lasted for six months.
From 1972 to1974 he was a member of the Services Canteen Trust, a body charged with the distribution of canteen funds raised during World War Two. In 1973 he was appointed to the Patriotic Funds Council (now known as the Victorian Veterans Council) and was its Chairman until it ceased to exist in 1999.
The New year Honours list for 1976 saw George made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for “outstanding community service”. In 1978 George was appointed a Trustee of the Shrine of Remembrance. He retired from the Trust in 2000 and is now a Life Governor of the Shrine.
George retired from his legal practice in 1980 and took up an appointment as Chairman of the Town Planning Tribunal and subsequently as Deputy Chief Chairman of the Planning Appeals Board (now known as VCAT). He retired from that position in 1987.
By 1985 George had been promoted to Colonel in the Army Reserve and was a consultant to HQ Logistics Command at Victoria Barracks in Melbourne. He had also received the Reserve Forces Decoration for 20 years of service. In 1987 George completed post graduate studies in law and graduated with a Masters Degree (LL.M) from Monash University.
He was a member of the State Executive of the RSL and a trustee of that body in 1982 and 1983. He was also a member of numerous other organisations such as the Action Group for Disabled Children, Berry Street Babies Home, Florence Nightingale War Nurses Trust, 39th Battalion Association and Australian Legion of ex-service Men and Women. In 2008 he was made a Life member of the 39th Battalion Association.
George joined Melbourne Legacy in 1992 and became its President in 2004.The National Servicemen’s Association of Australia (Victorian Division) invited him to become its Patron in 2000 and he served actively in that role and as Patron of its Whitehorse Branch until 2010. He still attends the Association’s Functions