Aged-care worker brings peace to 98‑year‑old Taree veteran
A support worker’s promise brings peace to a veteran’s past.
What began as a simple conversation between a support worker and her client has become an extraordinary act of compassion, that reconnected a family with a fallen loved one more than 80 years after his death.
integratedliving Australia client Norm, 98, is a quiet but proud veteran living in Taree. Like many of his generation, Norm carries stories of war, loss and mateship that have stayed with him for a lifetime. During a conversation with his integratedliving support worker, Kylee, Norm learned that she would soon be travelling to Borneo – a place that stirred memories he had carried for decades.
Norm told Kylee about his brother-in-law, Leonard Campton, who was just 21 years old when he was killed during the Battle of Balikpapan in July 1945. Leonard was believed to be buried somewhere in Borneo, but no one in the family had ever been able to visit his grave, something that had quietly weighed on Norm for most of his life.
Motivated by a desire to help, Kylee encouraged Norm to contact his local RSL to assist in locating the grave. What they discovered was unexpected. Leonard was not buried on mainland Borneo, but on the remote island of Labuan.
For Kylee, what started as a kind suggestion quickly became something much bigger. Reaching the grave would require significant detours, complex logistics and determination well beyond Kylee’s original travel plans. Once in Borneo, Kylee sought help from her tour guide, Roland, who revealed he had previously lived in Labuan and offered to help her get there.
On the final day of her holiday, Kylee and Roland embarked on a demanding 14-hour journey. It included a five-hour drive, a speedboat crossing, a ferry return, and crucial assistance from generous locals who had never met Norm yet felt compelled to help her bring closure to a stranger’s story.
Despite moments where the journey seemed impossible, persistence and the kindness of strangers prevailed.
Kylee eventually stood at Leonard’s grave — a young man lost too soon, finally found after more than 80 years. She took photos, paused in silence and paid her respects on Norm’s behalf.
“I did this for Norm, not for anything else. I was so proud to be able to do this for him and find Leonard’s grave when no one had ever been able to,” Kylee said.
While at Leonard’s grave, Kylee realised that he was buried beside his best friend from home. They were the same age, had enlisted together, and died on the same day.
“Norm had asked me to see if I could find Leonard’s mate. To find him buried right beside Leonard was so moving,” Kylee said.
When Kylee returned and showed Norm the photos, the moment was deeply emotional. For the first time since the war, Norm knew exactly where his loved one rested. After decades of wondering, there was finally certainty. Someone had found him for him. Someone had cared enough to try.
“It meant a great deal to me," Norm said. "Leonard and I knew each other before we joined the army and he was a couple of years older which meant he could fight in the war."
For Norm, the visit brought peace and closure. For Kylee, it reaffirmed the deeper purpose of her role — that support work is not only about the practical tasks she helps clients with, but about listening, respect and honouring a person’s life story.
“Norm told me he had always wanted to take his late wife and mother-in-law to see Leonard’s final resting place, but he could never afford to go. This will give him peace which is something that will stay with me forever. That’s all I need to know, that it’s made a little difference,” Kylee said.
This remarkable story is a powerful reminder that even the smallest conversations can carry profound meaning — and that compassion, when acted upon, has the power to change lives.
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