FOREWORD The Hon. Stuart Robert Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZA I am honoured to have been appointed the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC. As a peacekeeping veteran I understand firsthand the unique nature of military service and recognise the importance of maintaining a distinct department to look after the needs of Australia’s veteran and ex-service community. Needless to say, I admire and appreciate the work of all our service personnel. I have six priorities for veterans over the next 12 months: 1. Transforming DVA from a claims-focused 4. Improving transition services: I will continue organisation to one that is veteran-focused: the excellent work done to date and focus I want veterans at the centre of DVA. on ensuring our younger personnel can seamlessly transition from service to civilian 2. A key part of having veterans at the centre life. is improving computer systems: at the heart of everything we do to support you, is our 5. Rehabilitation: I want to see those veterans computer infrastructure. Modern, more and ex-service personnel who can work, agile computer systems will significantly return to work – importantly, with the improve claim processing times and open continued support of DVA. up new avenues to interact with younger veterans. 6. Prioritising support for personnel with mental health conditions: those ex-service 3. Reducing claim times: improved computer personnel with mental health conditions will systems and better coordination between continue to be given priority when making a Commonwealth agencies will further reduce claim with DVA and they and their families already improving claim processing times. will have access to a significant range of resources and uncapped treatments. To those of you who have served, and your families, your nation thanks you. I look forward to doing all I can to better support you. n The names of forty two Australians are listed on the Afghanistan The Hon. Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial. There would be many more but for the quality of our military leadership at all Dr Brendan Nelson, levels; the depth and breadth of training; equipment provided Director, Australian War Memorial to defence personnel; and, what might be described as the ‘Australian character’. There was some resistance to putting a There is another – Explosive Detection Dogs. soldier’s name alongside those of dogs. When I called Sapper Smith’s father to Without the courage, skill and devotion of these combat seek his opinion, his strong response engineers and their dogs, many more Australian lives would have was that his son’s name should been lost in defence of our interests and values in Afghanistan. definitely go up. The bond between these soldiers and their dogs is one beyond the understanding of the rest of us. Prior to deployment when Herbie had to spend some time at the vet’s, Darren The Australian War Memorial has, through the generosity of slept there with his dog for three nights. Both Darren and Herbie Mr Doug Thompson and his late wife Monique, commissioned were cremated and they are buried together - such is the bond a sculpture that pays tribute to these four legged warriors. between soldier and dog. Melbourne based sculptor, Ewen Coates has given the nation the great gift of helping us to understand the vital role played This work has been permanently placed near the entrance to by these dogs and the unique bond they have with their ‘Poppy’s’, the Memorial’s café/restaurant named in honour handlers. of Trooper David ‘Poppy’ Pearce killed in Afghanistan. It has multiple layers of meaning, none more important than what in Elevation of the Senses was dedicated by much loved television the end the entire Australian War Memorial itself represents – vet, ‘Dr Harry’ Cooper in early October. He did so in the presence stories of love and friendship. of the men and Explosive Detection Dogs (EDD) from the School of Military Engineering. This magnificent and moving work pays In this case it is the mutual love of these dogs for their handlers, tribute to the dogs that give their all for their handler and the and for these teams - the love they have for our country and the soldiers they protect. protection of others. Inscribed onto the Memorial are the names of the dogs killed in As the EDD dog ode inscribed near the sculpture reminds us: action, along with Sapper Darren Smith and his beloved ‘Herbie’. Both were killed along with Sapper Jacob Moerland by an IED in ..I will readily lay down my life for yours…for in this moment we Afghanistan on 7 June 2010. are one. n THE LAST POST – 2015 REMEMBRANCE DAY / SUMMER EDITION 1 From the Publisher: GREG T ROSS ecent changing-of-the-guards at RSL In Music and Entertainment we interview music national, RSL NSW, Legacy Australia legend and veterans advocate Normie Rowe as Features Rand RSL Care SA means an injection of well as highlight national tours by Icehouse and 4 Jenny Walker Legacy CEO Interview younger faces and ideas into these important Cold Chisel with interviews with Iva Davies and 7 The National Vietnam Vets Museum organisations. As part of our Future Focused Don Walker. Jack Kellerman and Taj Worthington- 8 Sam Jackman RSL National Interview 12 Determined to Serve – Michelle Moo special, The Last Post met face-to-face with Jones contribute their regular pieces, 10 Songs 20 The Winter of ’71 – Murray Walding these four new CEO’s to learn more about and Worth Listening To 30 In Love and War – Liz Byrski their take on the future and it’s importance to 56 Councils and the Centenary DVA Updates, Your RSL at Work and messages 60 Your RSL at work the ex-service community and beyond. In this from Federal Minister, Stuart Robert, Australian 78 Glenn Kolomeitz Interview Remembrance Day 2015/Summer edition, Sam 80 Shaking Up the RSL – Jane Southward Jackman, Glenn Kolomeitz, Jenny Walker and War Memorial Director Dr Brendan Nelson and 84 TLP interviews Nathan Klinge Nathan Klinge chat with TLP Editor, Greg T Ross. South Australian Minister for Veterans Affairs, 88 Was conscription a farce? Tony Wright Martin Hamilton-Smith round off a great read for Science and Education We again take a look at councils around veterans and their supporters in this, the 2015 100 CSIRO Seven Australia and their relevance and connection Remembrance Day/Summer edition of The Last 102 Newington College and the Great War to and with the veteran community with Post. Councils and the Centenary. In this edition 38 DVA Updates Stay safe and healthy and enjoy your Christmas 86 Finance we visit Port Pirie in South Australia and Parramatta in NSW. and New Year. We’ll catch up with you again in Travel our 5th anniversary year, 2016. 24 TLP Visits Canberra Featured too, is a look at the Vietnam Vets 30 Kimberley Magic – Bob Walter Museum in Phillip Island, Victoria with poems Greg T Ross Music and Entertainment by David Campbell and Sigfried Sassoon. 42 TLP Interviews Don Walker Publisher, ‘The Last Post’ 46 Fawlty Towers celebrates 40 years Stories to read over the summer also include [email protected] 48 Iva Davies In Love and War by Liz Byrski and Winter of 52 TLP interviews Normie Rowe ’71 by Murray Walding. Health 62 Donnie Sutherland – His story In Travel, TLP editor Greg T Ross and regular 68 Back to the future – David Noble contributor Bob Walter take us with them on 74 Health tips for spring and summer their trips to Canberra and Sydney and the Sport Kimberley’s. We also, as usual, look at Health, 90 Golf Finance and in Sport we have tennis, golf, 92 Basketball cricket and highlight Basketball Australia’s 94 History of the Geebung Bowls Club Boomerangs and Pearls and their recent successful playing tour of Ecuador. G r eg 2 THE LAST POST – 2015 REMEMBRANCE DAY / SUMMER EDITION FEATURES Contents 4 Jenny Walker Legacy CEO Interview 7 The National Vietnam Vets Museum 8 Sam Jackman RSL National Interview 12 Determined to Serve – Michelle Moo 20 The Winter of ’71 – Murray Walding 32 In Love and War – Liz Byrski 56 Councils and the Centenary ‘The Last Post’ magazine is owned 60 Your RSL at work And published by GTR Publishing, 78 Glenn Kolomeitz Interview 80 Shaking Up the RSL – Jane Southward a subsidiary of B4E Pty Ltd, 84 TLP interviews Nathan Klinge 6 Way Ave, Myrtle Bank 5064 88 Was conscription a scam? Tony Wright MANAGING DIRECTOR AND SCIENCE & EDUCATION PUBLISHING EDITOR 100 CSIROseven Greg T Ross 102 Newington College and the Great War GRAPHIC DESIGNER DVA UPDATES Kirstie Wyatt 38 The latest from the DVA 0419 035 000 [email protected] FINANCE 86 TLP gives you the latest news from the finance sector ADVERTISING TRAVEL www.thelastpostmagazine.com 24 TLP Visits Canberra and Sydney 30 Kimberley Magic – Bob Walter SUBSCRIPTIONS www.thelastpostmagazine.com MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT 42 TLP Interviews Don Walker 46 Fawlty Towers celebrates 40 years ENQUIRIES 48 TLP interviews Iva Davies GTR Publishing 52 TLP interviews Normie Rowe 6 Way Ave, Myrtle Bank 5064 08 8379 7919 HEALTH www.thelastpostmagazine.com 62 Donnie Sutherland – His story 68 Back to the future – David Noble 74 Healthy tips for Spring and Summer SPORT 90 Golf 92 Basketball 94 History of the Geebung Bowls Club THE LAST POST: eNEWS, NEWS The Last Post E News is growing in popularity. If you are a subscriber to The Last Post hard copy and online version and you’re not receiving the magazine’s E News, please get in contact with our subscription team at [email protected] Currently coming out every three months, the 2015 eNews will instead be released as an adjunct to the Anzac Day and Remembrance Day editions so that you will be now seen, heard and be able to read Australia’s national magazine for veterans electronically.