George Collins dies

Prominent Warragul Collins died on Sunday.

Mr Collins aged 96, died at Abbey Gardens aged care in Warragul of which he had recently become a resident.

He arrived in Warragul in the early 1950s and for many decades operated Collins Newsagency, one of two agencies in Warragul at the time.

Mr Collins was involved in and supported many community organisations in the town and district.

For the past 10 years he, his family and several local businesses have funded the George Collins Kokoda Award that has enabled 30 secondary students from the district to visit New Guinea and walk the Kokoda Trail, a major area of conflict during World War 2 when Japanese forces pushed south.

A member of the 2/14th Australian Infantry Battalion Mr Collins’ unit was recalled from service in the Middle East to the battle in New Guinea and at Kokoda where he turned 21 years of age.

His wife Phyllis died in 2007 and he is survived by three children, Corinne, Annette and David, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

A funeral service for Mr Collins will be held at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Warragul at 11 a.m. on Friday. A private burial will follow.

Funeral arrangements are being conducted by Nielsen Funerals of Warragul. citizen George