Today, on National Servicemen’s Day, Australia acknowledges the contribution of thousands of our countrymen, also known as Nashos. More than 280,000 Australians served in National Service schemes between 1951 and 1972. On 14 February we recognise the contributions of...
Ted Chitham
ADFRA – DFRDB UPDATE – JANUARY 2024
13 Feb 2024 Our best wishes to you and your families for a safe and happy 2024. Thanks for your support Ongoing Quest for Fair TreatmentOur quest for fair treatment over our superannuation entitlements is ongoing. We will be in Canberra again next month and will...
Statement from the Secretary of DVA on the Veterans’ MATES Program
The Department is aware that the withdrawal of Defence and Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Human Research Ethics Committee approval on Monday, 5 February 2024 has increased concerns in the veteran community regarding the Veterans’ MATES Program (MATES),...
Alison Frame: Change leader looking to make a difference in veterans’ lives.
Alison Frame had a lot of work ahead of her when she became secretary of Department of Veterans’ Affairs just over 12 months ago. Not only was there a backlog of claims to manage but a Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, which began its important work...
ASPI Commentary: The mental health epidemic threatening Australia’s security
As it prepares Australia to defend itself in a contested region, the ADF has put the call out to young people to join—to achieve its goals, it needs to recruit 18,500 more people of serving age by 2040. Young people in Australia can seem an enigma to...
Conscription Commentary: Calls for return of conscription raise question about what’s in it for younger Aussies
A cat has been set among the pigeons, with Curtin University academic Dr Alexey Muraviev calling for Australian policymakers to consider reinitiating conscription to defend the nation, but many young Aussies rightfully asked why. I know that the initial response from...
Opinion: Australia ignores lessons from WWII
The past may be a different country, but has well trodden paths and byways. In 1938 politically peripatetic Winston Churchill seemed a lone voice against British PM Neville Chamberlain’s attempted appeasement with Hitler. Churchill warned against the Axis powers who...
Vale: Colonel Owen Maxwell Carroll (25 September 1931-24 January 2024)
The Regiment is saddened by the passing of another tribal elder. He died in the Manning Base Hospital. Max enlisted in the CMF in 1949 at the age of 17 before joining the ARA in 1953 and attending the Officer Cadet School, Portsea. He served as a rifle platoon and...
AUSTRALIA DAY 2024 – Proud of our Country and our Flag
From our Australian history we have been inspired by: the past deeds of patriots, Dorothea MacKellar's poem My Country . We all know the second verse but few will know the last verse. The Seeker’s iconic hit song “I am Australian” But few people would have heard this...
Opinion: Australia Day – Let’s Counter Attack
This opinion from George Mansford, one of our tribal elders, is repeated from last year. It's even more relevant today as we witness malcontent activists strident in their criticism of our celebration of Australia Day. "Today our proud history and precious social...