Walter Duck passed away gently on April 27, just weeks after celebrating his 100^th birthday.

Residents who were unable to attend his graveside service, due to COVID-19 limitations, did not let that stop them from giving Walter one final salute.

As the procession left the driveway of his home in Thone Street, Walter was taken one last time through the main street of the beloved village he called home for 97 years.

It was a quiet but fitting farewell for a man who was loved unconditionally by his two daughters Wendy and Lyn, his late son Noel, six grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and his best mate and faithful friend Bruno, his King Charles Spaniel.

He was laid to rest beside the love of his life, his wife Noni. The couple, who had known each other since they were children, married in June 1947 at a little church in the main street of Wauchope and then made the plateau their home.

The Gills Road property was home to their three children, Noel, Wendy and Lyn. They eventually sold the farm and purchased a home in Comboyne.

Noni died in 2001.

Born in Kendall, Walter left school at 13 to help on the family farm before enlisting for the war.

He joined the AIF when he reached his 21st birthday and in March 1942 he left for Dubbo before heading to Wilsons Promontory in Victoria for training.

On October 10, 1942 he travelled to Port Moresby then flew into Wau where he was part of a mission to stem the advance of the Japanese invasion.

He also served in the Ramu Valley on the west coast. During this period they were bombed twice and their grass huts burnt to the ground in the subsequent bombing.

Shortly after, Walter was part of the team ordered to build a tent city in order to draw the Japanese away from Goroka where an airstrip was under construction for the American air force to use as a base to land and refuel.

Walter served in a number of other regions around New Guinea during his service years.

He was eventually discharged from the AIF on December 29, 1944.

On his return home, Walter arrived back at the farm to discover his father had passed away. He continued at a variety of jobs including sawmilling and tractor driving over the years.

In later years he was well known as the cattle truck driver picking up stock at various properties throughout the Comboyne area.

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