Mr. Claude Midon, the dynamic president of the French Veterans [Anciens Combattants Français du Victoria], passed away after a long illness on March 16. Claude Midon was an invaluable, respected and dedicated member of Victoria’s French community. We send our condolences and our deepest emotion to his wife Madeleine, and to all his family and loved ones.
Claude Midon, born May 7, 1944 in Villemomble in France, had emigrated to Australia in January 1966 and worked for more than 40 years in the aeronautical field. In Australia, he remained very close to the French community and the French army, for which he had enlisted before leaving France. He became a member and flag bearer of the Victorian French Veterans Association in 1988 and President of the Association in 2000. He was also, at a time, substitute candidate for the Victorian representative in the Assembly of French Nationals Abroad, Mrs. Jeannine Sandmayer.
Claude Midon, in recognition of his civic and political involvement, was awarded the Senate Medal in 2011. In 2018, during General Beauchesne’s trip to Melbourne, he was awarded the Medal of Honour by the National Federation of Veterans Residing Outside France. In November 2021, his faithful friend and Vice President, Mr. Gilbert Charbonnier, presented him with the insignia of Knight of the National Order of Merit after his 50 years of service to the community.
But apart from the official recognitions, it is his sense of humor, his integrity and his courage that will remain forever engraved in the hearts of those who have been able to know him over the years. Claude Midon was an active and friendly presence in local civic life: he regularly took part in official meetings of the Consulate, volunteered to be an assessor or polling station member for the various Republican elections held in Melbourne, and helped, among other things, in the organization of the Bastille Day Festival on 14 July. The cordial personal relations he developed with the Shrine of Remembrance enabled the Honorary Consulate to organize republican events such as the presentation of Legions of Honor to veterans of the Second World War, at the Shrine. In addition, Claude Midon made it a point of honor to print and distribute to the aging community of his association, the emails received from both the Consulate General and the Honorary Consulate, thus ensuring that they were always included in community life.
Daniele Kemp – Senator L. Duvernois – Claude Midon
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