RETURNED soldier, Legacy president (1993, 1998) Sheepvention president (1988-89), OAM recipient and community worker, Hamilton’s Eric Brettell Causer passed away suddenly last Friday, aged 98.

Eric, who farmed most of his life near Macarthur, was fond of saying that merely taking part in two of the biggest adventures of his life – war and farming – was what led him to community service.

In 2017 he was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday honours list with the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division, for services to veterans and their families.

He had a long list of community services and recognition in many other areas including the CFA and pony club.

His latter years focused on providing pensions for Legatees, working with the South West Veterans Centre, based in Warrnambool, and the Hamilton History Centre.

Eric was 16 when he joined the workforce under a former patron, Archie Paton, of Macarthur, who he credited with setting him on the path of volunteering and leadership.

Eric farmed Corriedale sheep and volunteered with the Ardonachie and later Macarthur Fire Brigades.

Eric, who was very young for military service, used to say he had “an easy war”.

That was because he didn’t get overseas until quite late in the piece, as part of reinforcements.

He had three months on Moratai Island (in eastern Indonesia) - loading and unloading ships for troops that were in active areas.

On August 13 he was on a draft to go to Balikpapan (in southern Borneo) - he got there on August 18, and war had been called off on the 15th.

Eric was out of the army before he was 21.

A full obituary will be published in a later edition.