A Spotlight on Peter
With Anzac Day approaching, we want to take a moment to honour the service, sacrifice and resilience that defines this important day. Vikings is proud to commemorate those who have served and continue to serve our country.
One of those individuals is Peter, a proud and valued member of the Vikings Group since 1998.
Passionate, understanding and tolerant, these qualities have not only defined Peter’s 25-year career in the Australian Army, but also his continued dedication to supporting others in the community.
Peter’s journey began in January 1970, when he enlisted as an Army Apprentice at just 15 years of age. With both his parents having served, his father during World War Two and his mother in the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps and many other family members wearing the uniform, a life of service felt like a natural path.
He joined the Army as a vehicle mechanic, a role that evolved over time as he supported armed units and various other sectors across the Defence Force. His career spanned decades of change, including the integration of women into frontline roles, a movement that was extremely meaningful, as he met his wife, Angela, one of the first women posted to a Field Force unit. “Meeting my wife was one of the greatest highlights of my career,” he says. They shared a deep connection through service, with both of her parents having also served in the RAF during World War Two.
After retiring from the Army in 1995, Peter’s commitment to helping others only grew stronger. He dedicated over 15 years to Scouts Australia, working closely with the Australian Federal Police and the Scouts ACT Commissioners on a “kids at risk” programme. The initiative gave vulnerable young people the chance to build confidence, resilience and new skills through challenge-based experiences. “It was so rewarding to see these young people grow, to watch their intellectual development unfold and to see them explore their opportunities,” he shares. Several of those young people he worked with through Scouting went on to join the Defence Force themselves.
Peter’s involvement with the RSL began in 1974, when his uncle Arthur, a 1st Battalion Kokoda veteran , asked him to march alongside him in Gosford on Anzac Day. “That was an honour,” Peter recalls. To this day, he remains a proud and active advocate within the RSL community.
For Peter, Anzac Day is deeply personal. “I’ve seen the effects of conflict firsthand, the aftermath, the toll on families. If we fail to remember and recognise the service of our defence personnel, we do ourselves an injustice as a society.” He sees Anzac Day as a time for reflection, remembrance, and community. “It’s not just important for the Defence Force, but for families and the wider community as well,” he says.
“There’s a bond among those who serve, what I’ve found is a deep sense of camaraderie that doesn’t fade.” He still meets every two years with the same group he enlisted with at 15. “That kind of friendship is life-changing. In times of difficulty, you only need to reach out, and they’ll be there.”
One of Peter’s personal Anzac Day traditions is something he calls the reflection toast. “Each evening, I raise a glass to my mum and dad, to my uncles, and to the many mates I signed up with who are no longer with us.”
Peter’s connection to the Vikings Group began in the early 2000s, not long after his daughter Deb, now part of the team at Erindale Vikings, started full-time working at Town Centre Vikings. He’s watched the Erindale club grow ever since. “It’s a vibrant part of the Tuggeranong community, a hub for the elderly, a meeting place for local groups. It’s a foundation of the community.”
When asked about career highlights, Peter’s answer is simple. “Meeting my wife was definitely one. And after I retired, being part of introducing the Bushmaster Family of Vehicles into service was significant too.”
A soldier, a husband, a father, a mentor, and a community leader, Peter’s story is a powerful reminder that the spirit of Anzac lives not just on the battlefield, but in every quiet act of service that helps build a stronger, more compassionate community.
