Veteran makes lasting mark on city

MOUNT Gambier’s last surviving prisoner of war has been nationally honoured as a recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) following decades of service to the Mount Gambier community.

Jack Hopgood did not let his experience as a POW define him, rather he returned to the Blue Lake city after serving his country and forged a successful career, while generously giving his time to a number of volunteer organisations.

While Mr Hopgood is most often recognised among the city’s remaining World War II veterans, he was instrumental in community projects Mount Gambier residents still reap the benefits of today.

As a foundation member (and later president, board member and life member) of the Mount Gambier Chamber of Commerce, Mr Hopgood endeavoured to improve the city’s business and economy.

During his 50 years as a member of the Mount Gambier Queen Elizabeth Park Trust and Lakes Beautification Committee, he helped to transform the lakes precinct.

Mr Hopgood’s national recognition is arguably long overdue, but the softly spoken gentleman remains humble about his accomplishments.

“I was stunned when I received the call – when you live this long you would hope you have achieved something, otherwise you were probably spending a lot of time in bed,” he told The Border Watch.

At 98 years old, Mr Hopgood still lives independently in the Lake Terrace home he built for his young family in the mid ’40s.

“Every week I have something on – the boys come up here for billiards or alternatively we lunch somewhere,” he said.

“I was still playing a weekly game of croquet until recently, I haven’t played for awhile but I hope to get back there when the weather improves.”

Mr Hopgood enlisted with the RAAF at only 19 and was deployed overseas at 20.

“A digger from World War I lived around the corner when I was younger,” he said.

“He said to me ‘Jack, never volunteer for anything’ – having joined I finished my training and they wanted someone to do overseas duty, so at the age of 20 I put my hand up.

“I forgot all about the admonishments.”

Mr Hopgood was held by the Japanese for more than three years in Singapore, Java and Thailand and returned to Japan earlier this year.

“I had been back to Japan some years ago when they held the Olympic Games – my first trip was very influenced by my experiences under the rule of the Japanese,” he said.

“I was a bit wary I suppose, but we were treated extraordinarily well.

“I don’t hold any resentment – hate is a useless emotion.”

Following his service, Mr Hopgood picked up where he left off at his father’s garage.

“I left school at 15 and I was petrol boy at Walker’s Garage on five shillings a week,” he said.

“My father opened Hopgood’s Garage and I worked with him until I joined the Air Force.

“When I came home I started working as a mechanic again – my old man was in poor health and when he passed away I took over the business.

“Fundamentally I am a mechanic, however I was able to add up and had a good memory and so on and I ended up doing other things in finance as well.”

Mr Hopgood said among his proudest achievements was the establishment of the Blue Lake Golf Club, of which he is a former chairman and life patron.

“During my 30 years with the chamber of commerce, one of the things the pundits of the day recognised was the value of golf,” he explained.

“Golf was played in all sorts of areas around the town and I had the idea we could develop that as a persuasion to business.

“The chamber started a pilgrimage to establish this golf course and after many years of battle with various town councils we managed it.”

He said he was also proud of his efforts during five decades of involvement with the lakes committee.

“What you see in the lakes now is totally different from when we started – the whole place was bare,” he said.

“We established the wildlife park among countless other projects.”

Mr Hopgood once served as president of the Mount Gambier Community Returned and Services League and has been an active member since 1945.

He is a former chairman of the Mount Gambier College of TAFE, a founding member and life member of the Mount Gambier RSL Bowling Club and was Mount Gambier Citizen of the Year in 1995.