Hughie Offermans, a former member of Northern Command Band passed away 17 March 2026.
Johannes Hubertus “Hughie” Offermans was born in The Netherlands on 18 June 1938. He arrived with his mother and siblings at Fremantle on 30 July 1953, his father having arrived the year before. They settled in Nambour, Queensland and he was naturalised as an Australian in 1958. His date of enlistment is not known however he appears to have been in Northern Command Band as of 6 January 1968 and was promoted to lance corporal on 2 July 1968. Hughie went to Vietnam in 1970 with Northern Command Band.
He was a fantastic gentleman and a beautiful clarinet player. RIP