Local heroes honoured across Randwick City in Anzac Day street banner campaign - Randwick City Council

A nurse, a renowned "snake man" and a frontline medical officer are among the local servicemen and women being honoured on street banners flying across Randwick City in the lead up to Anzac Day.

More than 100 banners were installed this week as part Randwick City Council's Honouring Service campaign, which recognises local people who are serving or who have served Australia in armed conflict.

This year's recipients include Sarah Elizabeth Deane, George "Snake Man" Cann, Tony Duckett White, Colin James Flatters, Julian West and Albert Thomas Tuck. Their names and photos feature on street banners flying in Clovelly, Coogee, Randwick, Kingsford, Kensington, Maroubra, Matraville and Little Bay.

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker thanked community members who submitted nominations and congratulated this year's honourees and their families.

"These street banners are a powerful reminder of the courage and sacrifice of the men and women from Randwick City who have served our country," Mayor Parker said. "As we pass beneath these banners throughout our town centres, we remember their service and the enormous contributions they've made to our nation."

Council launched the Honouring Service campaign in 2025. The initiative is supported by Council's Anzac Trust, local RSL sub-branches, surf clubs and community organisations.

Each nominee, or a surviving family member or relative will be being presented with a copy of their banner at Council's Anzac Civic Reception on 16 April 2026.

The individuals recognised in the 2026 campaign are:

Colin James Flatters
Colin is a respected and dedicated member of the Maroubra community. He had a long and distinguished career in the Army, including deployments to Malaya and two tours of duty in Vietnam. He joined the Maroubra RSL sub Branch when he retired and has been an integral member of the sub Branch executive over many years. He has regularly planned and conducted Commemoration Services for Anzac Day and Remembrance Day over many years. Colin was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours List 2019, for service to veterans and their families.

George Cann
George is recognised as the original "snake man" of La Perouse and a celebrated showman whose performances became a local fixture for 45 years. Born in Newtown, he developed his skills capturing and handling snakes from childhood and toured Australia's show circuits before serving on the Western Front in World War I, surviving mustard gas attacks and returning home aged 22 with a gunshot wound. After the war, he established his renowned snake shows at La Perouse and later settled in Phillip Bay. His sons George Jnr and John carried on the snake show tradition.

Sarah Elizabeth Deane
Sarah completed her nursing training at Prince Henry Hospital and enlisted on 19 August 1940. She was ranked Captain and served in Greece, Syria and Palestine, for which she received the Greek Medal. She then served in the Southwest Pacific until she was discharged on 10 May 1946. After World War II, Sarah worked at Prince Henry Hospital in Little Bay until retirement. She was affectionately known to staff and patients as "Digger Deane". She always made time to visit the servicemen who were admitted to the hospital to talk to them about where they served and their rehabilitation back to everyday life. Sarah inspired the Prince Henry nurses to build the Coast Chapel, which recognises all nurses who served during conflicts and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Today, the chapel is a war memorial.

Julian West
Julian has been serving in combat and peacekeeping missions for more than 35 years. He was honoured in the King's Birthday 2025 Military Honours List with a Conspicuous Service Medal for his outstanding work in designing, planning and delivering advanced collective training for the 2nd (Australian) Division. Since 2018, Julian has been an active member of the Coogee Randwick Clovelly RSL sub-Branch, regularly representing the sub-Branch at Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services. He recently earned his Bronze Medallion with the Coogee Surf Life Saving Club and volunteers as an age assistant and water safety member with the Coogee Minnows.

Tony Duckett White
Tony served in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps. He was deployed to Vietnam (1966-1967) as Regimental Medical Officer for the Fifth Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, delivering frontline medical care in combat zones, including minefields and high-risk operations. He demonstrated outstanding courage, dedication, and professionalism in treating casualties under dangerous conditions, helping to improve the welfare of troops, success of missions and the reputation of the Australian Defence Force. Tony was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for his pioneering work in remote and Indigenous health after the Vietnam War. He is the author of Starlight: An Australian Army Doctor in Vietnam (2001).

Albert Thomas Tuck
Albert served in the Royal Australian Air Force at a time when Australia faced profound global conflict and uncertainty. As a flying officer, he accepted the immense risks associated with aerial operations, demonstrating courage, duty, and commitment well beyond his own interests. Albert paid the ultimate price when he died while servingf. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Media enquiries

Rita Mu - 0429 347 999 or [email protected]
Joshua Hay - 0402 351 459 or [email protected]

Last Updated: 1 April 2026