LANCE, George Basil (1920-2015)
George Lance died at Ballarat Base Hospital on 26 July 2015 and was interred at Ballarat New Cemetery on 30 July 2015. He had been at Kirralee Aged Care, Ballarat.
Born at Donald, Victoria on 21 August 1920, the only child born to parents, Stephen Arthur Lance and Louise Ruth nee Pollington, he was living at 5 Darling St, Warrnambool when he was enrolled as a boarder at Geelong College on 13 February 1935. He left at Form VA in December 1936. He had previously been at Warrnambool High School. At the 1936 College Sports, he won the novelty Egg and Spoon Race.
During World War II, he enlisted (No. VX 100036) at Rowville, Victoria on 28 July 1942 to serve as a Lieutenant with 18th Australian Lines of Communication (Signals). He served in New Guinea from December 1942 to April 1943 and the Torres Strait area from April 1944 to August 1944. He was discharged from the armed services on 29 July 1946.
In June 1943, he married Joan Olive Rich of Ballarat and had five children. He was an electrical retailer in Ballarat. Among his many interests were the Ballarat Light Car Club, Ballarat Pistol Club and Ballarat Probus. As a member of the Ballarat Radio Group (BARG) he was widely known by his call sign 'VK3DS'. Ad Astra noted in June 1986 that 'three original members of the House of Guilds, Radio Guild, Tom Dowling (1920-1997) OGC 1935, of Buderim, Jamie Ferrier (1921-2005), OGC 1936, of Coleraine, and George Lance of Ballarat still keep in touch by amateur radio' .
Sources: Ad Astra June 1986 p4; The Age (Melb) 1 August 2015; D Lance. OGC 1933.