Navy People: Retirement not on the cards
26 November 2010
Warragul’s Lieutenant Commander Christopher Gallagher, known throughout the Navy as ‘Gags’, joined up in 1965 and he’s still trying to retire.
Part of the “Gallagher’s Crossing” dynasty, Chris is the youngest brother of retired local businessmen Bill and Peter but, like the energiser battery, he’s still going.
Despite several previous attempts to retire he continues to travel and work in uniform across three Australian states.
Chris specialized in communications as a junior sailor, and has the rare distinction of having served both in the Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf.
Although Chris is still a few medals behind his elder bother Bill, he has had a recreational area at HMAS Cairns named after him — the “Chris ‘Gags’ Gallagher Patio”. Chris reckons this puts him ahead in the brotherly rivalry stakes.
On return from Tonga in 2001, Chris and wife Meg decided to modernise a local property they had purchased in 1999 as an investment, with Chris looking forward to retirement.
“It started with the kitchen then worked its way through the whole house,” said Chris. “On completion Meg and I were so impressed that we decided that this is no longer an investment property but our home.”
“Then I was approached not to retire and got posted to Canberra,” said Chris.
“Since then I’ve had more comebacks than Johnny Farnham. Luckily our neighbours Meg and Wayne run a Jim’s Mowing franchise so I know the lawn always looks OK, whether I’m in Cairns or Tasmania — or anywhere in between.
All Chris’ family and friends are still wondering when his retirement will actually take place. His Warragul gym mates, where Chris has been a member since 2001, now just shake their heads when Chris informs them “I am back and I am retiring”.
“I joined the Navy to travel, and that’s just what’s happened,” said Chris.
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