There are other far better and greater men and women who could write more eloquently and with more knowledge, skill and passion, of John Deighton. I cannot and will not write or comment about his military experiences as others better qualified have that right. Mine is only to write about his personal influence and that of the Australian Hellenic veteran community.

As such I seek forgiveness from those who knew him better, I can only speak from the time I met the great man in Victoria while he was working closely with old friends the likes of Bruce Ruxton, John Anagnostou, Keith Rossis and Michael Lidis.

All of the above were thick as thieves during their pinnacle at the RSL and much good work was done under their tutelage. John Anagnostou and Michael Lidis, always in competition with each other, would go on to to do good work for the Australian Hellenic Victorian veteran community.

My time with John was during the 1990s while still serving as a Warrant Officer with the Australian Army. John, along with Bruce Ruxton and that indomitable old man Keith Rossi, made my transition into the RSL and to the world of civil life much easier. To them, I am and always will be, eternally grateful as I was still struggling to raise four sons on my own.

John was a man’s man, standing head and shoulders above his peers. He was born on the island of Corkyra (Corfu) and like Bruce Ruxton, passionate about his love of the Greek people. I remember many a time on Anzac Day, meeting him for breakfast down in South Melbourne at Bruce Ruxton’s office amidst the many others who congregated there.

John Deighton, along with Bruce Ruxton, and members of the Hellenic RSL Branch, John Anagnostou and Michael Lidis, were instrumental in negotiating with local authorities to long lease the Hellenic RSL Branch in South Melbourne. As far as the Australian Hellenic veterans were concerned, John Pericles Arthur Deighton and Bruce Ruxton were honorary Australian Greeks.

John was also instrumental for his support to the Australian Hellenic War Memorial in Melbourne’s Domain Gardens. A strong supporter of ex-servicemen and women, a tireless worker within the Victorian RSL Branch, loved and admired by Australians of Greek heritage and not a man to be crossed if it meant going against Australian values.

From my point of view, during the times I spent interviewing him, John appeared to have a positive outlook on life that reached out and touched many across the generations. He had seen young men and women come and go, and with each he would ensure that no one went away empty-handed. Like Bruce Ruxton, he was never afraid of the truth or of confronting issues that were found to be challenging by others. In truth, John will be sadly missed but his legacy still lives on.

We often too readily forget those men and women who have influenced our lives and later regret that we did not have the bloody balls and courage to express it publicly. All that I can say at this point in time is that if I, at the age of 65, an Australian of Greek heritage who has embraced Australian values, can write about men like John Deighton and express my heartfelt thanks, then the spirit of the ‘digger’, ‘mateship’ and ‘Anzac’ is not dead.

To John and to those who made this country of ours safe and free from the evils of this world, we who have worn the uniform of this nation we call home, Australia, salute you.

JPA may you rest in peace in the embrace of your mates.