Ron Barassi Jr
Today we remember Melbourne footballer, Ronald James Barassi, who was killed in action at Tobruk. Listen to his son, Ron Barassi talk about the profound impact his father’s death had on him.
Ron Barrasi audio file (MP4 24 MB)
Ron Barassi audio script
75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War
Audio actuality:
“Fellow Citizens, the War is over” – The Hon J B Chifley, Prime Minister of Australia
August the 15th marks the 75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War.
Around 1 million Australians enlisted to serve from a population of just 7 million.
Australia Remembers 27-year old Melbourne footballer, Ronald James Barassi, who was killed in action at Tobruk.
His death had a profound effect on his son, AFL legend Ron Barassi, who was just 5 at the time.
Ron Barassi
Well the thing that I remember the most is with news that my father had been killed. Unfortunately, he was the first VFL footballer killed in the war. My mother was crying, and I guess the fact that she was crying hurt me more than anything else.
I think we should feel hurt, when to think that people have been killed defending you – and that’s what this war was about. War is a shocking, tearful, awful waste of people’s efforts and lives. When they die, the shock comes to the mothers and fathers, and husbands and wives. I haven’t been as emotional as this in years.
Saturday, August 15 marks the 75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War. Let’s pay our respects to that amazing generation of Australians.