Australia's National Magazine for Veterans
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$16.50 AUS (gst included) THE LAST POST BI-ANNUAL ISSUE 9 AUSTRALIA’S NATIONAL MAGAZINE FOR VETERANS + SUSIE O’BRIEN, whatever MARTIN happened to... FLANAGAN, THEY’RE A ANNA KRIEN, WEIRD MOB BUDDY HOLLY, DADDY COOL, JIM KEAYS, KENNETH DAVIDSON, ROBBIE FLOWER, SEDA DVA UPDATES + interviews with FINANCE ROCKWIZ ENERGY QUEEN JULIA ZEMIRO TRAVEL AUSTRALIAN ROCK LEGEND RICHARD CLAPTON MUSIC ROCK BIOGRAPHER MICK WALL HEALTH AUTHOR MARK ISAAC SPORT CRICKETER AND CAMP GALLIPOLI AMBASSADOR RYAN HARRIS WRITER, SINGER, ANZAC AND INDIGENOUS ADVOCATE TED EGAN THE LAST POST - REMEMBRANCE DAY / SUMMER EDITION 2014 OUTSCOV1 FOREWORD Senator the Hon. Michael Ronaldson Minister for Veterans’ Affairs | Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC | Special Minister of State This Remembrance Day It is my pleasure to write to you in The Last departure of the convoy carrying the first Post, as we enter the most significant period contingents of the Australian Imperial Force of commemoration in our nation’s history – and New Zealand Expeditionary Force to the I will join with Australians the Centenary of Anzac. First World War. The Centenary of Anzac is a time for The Prime Minister and WA Premier around the nation to pause Australians to reflect on, remember and officially opened the National Anzac Centre commemorate a century of service and the in Albany on 1 November. This is a state of the sacrifices made by generations of Australian art interpretive centre telling the story of the and reflect on the service servicemen and women, who have defended Anzacs and the Albany convoys. Other events our values and freedoms in wars, conflicts over the weekend included a commemorative and sacrifice of those who and peacekeeping operations from the Boer service, a gathering of vessels and a march War to today. past, as well as activities organised by the This Remembrance Day I will join with local community. have worn the uniform of Australians around the nation to pause and I would also like to take this opportunity reflect on the service and sacrifice of those to remind our veterans, their families and who have worn the uniform of Australia’s eligible Defence Force personnel, that as Australia’s armed forces. armed forces. always, if you need support or someone I was recently honored to attend the to talk to, the Veterans’ and Veterans’ Albany Convoy Commemorative Event, Families Counselling Service (VVCS) from 31 October to 2 November, which is free and available 24 hours a day, commemorated the 100th anniversary of the just call 1800 011 046. Foreword by The Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson, Director, Australian War Memorial The First World War (FWW) was many Palestine, the war at sea and in the air. The things to Australia – naive enthusiasm, deep divisions at home and the conscription courage, bloody sacrifice, deep domestic referenda give visitors a sense of the changing divisions, victories, defeats, generations views of Australians. Then there’s the of mourning and pride in what had been leadership of John Monash and the stunning achieved all combined to give our young victories breaking the Hindenburg Line. nation its story. Visitors leave with pride in what was The Memorial’s refurbished FWW galleries achieved, informed by a sober understanding reflect and infuse this pride. As you enter of the cost. the galleries, you are invited on a journey The FWW Galleries reinforce my pride in of discovery through the origins of the war being Australian, pride in this magnificent – Australia’s initial enthusiasm for it, the institution, its staff and volunteers. But more early engagements in Rabaul, enlistment, so, pride in the men and women who gave us embarkation, Egypt, France, Belgium, Sinai what we have today and make us who we are. THE LAST POST - REMEMBRANCE DAY / SUMMER EDITION 2014 1 From the Publisher: GREG T ROSS Thanks on this elcome to the 2014 Remembrance In Travel we feature stories from subscribers Day edition of The Last Post. Bob Walter and Anne-Louise O’Connor edition to: W With the Anzac Centenary with as well as looking at Kiama and Goulburn us in 2015, It may be a good time to reflect in NSW and Geraldton in WA as possible Australian Red Cross, Martin Flanagan, on what that really means, not only for those holiday destinations for our readers. Also, RSL CARE SA, Boronia Travel, Kiama immersed in military history but for the we look at Unley Council and their plans for Golf Club, Coopers Brewery, Anna everyman and woman. 2015 in Councils and the Centenary. We offer Krien, Bob Walter, Anne-Louise The “legacy” is an often used term but what too, a look see at high quality travel bargains O’Connor, Newstyle Printing, Scotch does it mean? offered by Boronia Travel and McLeay Valley College, Wendy Squires, Lachlan Clyne, For the memory of those that have fought Travel. Give them a call before you plan your City of Unley, City of Geraldton, Ron and struggled to bring about the best possible next getaway. Tandberg, Kirstie Wyatt, The Surf for Australia, the legacy means we should be We have a truckload of books from Travel Company, Kiama Council, The setting about involving ourselves in positive Australia’s most respected publishing Repat Foundation, Royal Australian actions that bring positive results for Australia houses, to give away. Just email through to Mint, Kiama Leagues Club, Tim and her multicultural inhabitants. [email protected] and we’ll put Soutphommasane, Craig Cook, Phil As inhabitants of Australia, we benefit from you in the running for some great literary Rankine and SPACE Events, Modern our democracy and yet, it is a fine line. Daily, Christmas gifts. Baking, Anzac Biscuits, Mal Farr, there are examples of our democracy being We offer too, Finance advice, DVA Updates Veterans SA, Martin Hamilton-Smith, cheapened. Whether it’s lazy journalism and feature interviews with Rockwiz hostess Paul Sykes, Defence Care, McLeay aimed more at maintaining sales figures or and energy pack, Julia Zemiro as well as Valley Travel, Visit UK, Mick Wall, Allen sensationalist “shock jocks” aimed more at Australian rock legend Richard Clapton and Unwin, Maddie Veares, Murdoch dividing a community. Their aim also, is to stir in Music and Entertainment. In Sport, we Books, Cricket Australia, Camp emotions and anger and to leave a feeling that interview Australian cricketer, Ryan Harris Gallipoli, SEDA Group, Chris Reidy, our voice is not being heard. But our voices and Camp Gallipoli CEO, Chris Fox. Robert Flower, Paragon Café, AVCAT, are heard. We have elected representatives In the Christmas TLP eNews we will feature Legacy, Australian War Memorial, Dr. and a, despite the federal government’s excerpts from our interview with Australian Brendan Nelson, Sue Chiera, Victorian recent law changes, a free and open press. writer, actor and historian Thomas Keneally Hearing, Geelong RSL, Helen Thomas, Enact. Join a club or organisation that helps as well as AWM and DVA Updates and prizes Kiama RSL Sub Branch, Penelope others and that will, in turn, help you. Find and giveaways. Debelle, Mark Sydow, Carolyn Piggott, a positive way to express yourself through Enjoy this edition and, as we enter the Bill Cross, Kenneth Davidson, Waleed speaking or writing or painting or music. Take 2015 Anzac centenary, ponder on positive Aly, Greg Barns, Dorrigo RSL Sub the first step towards a higher education. ways to honour the legacy and your fellow Branch, Bernard Zuel, Gareth Ward, Read. Options and avenues you may not have Australians, whatever their colour or creed. Mark Isaac, Corporal John Skinner, Julia known existed will open up for you. We are all in this together and everyday, Zemiro, Richard Clapton, Ryan Harris, Interact too and you’ll find that as human whether on our way to work or volunteering Chris Fox, Ted Egan, Veterans Affairs beings, we have more in common than you or by simply remaining calm, we are helping Minister Ronaldson, WEHI, University may have thought. The majority want peace each other. n of Melbourne, Tony Amato and and goodness for themselves and their ACA, Parkinson’s NSW, Clubs NSW, families. We have that as a strength. Palliative Care, Phil Wall and House of This edition leading into the important Golf, The Goulburn Mulwaree Council, Anzac Centenary brings some great stories Tennis Australia, Sarah Freeman, Simon and interviews with some of Australia’s best. Dash, Rostrevor College, RDNS, Ross We focus on the health of veterans with a G r eg McMullin n brilliant story by Anna Krien. Her insightful Greg T Ross essay, Homecoming, looks at the causes, Publisher, ‘The Last Post’ effects and possible cures for Post Traumatic [email protected] Health Disorder. 2 THE LAST POST - REMEMBRANCE DAY / SUMMER EDITION 2014 FEATURES 7 Lithgow remembers the day Gough came to town by Carolyn Piggott 8 Unley Council and the Centenary Contents 37 TLP hears from Hon Martin Hamilton-Smith MP, South Australian Minister for Veterans’ Affairs 40 What would success in Iraq look like? By Waleed Aly 42 TLP interviews former Salvation Army employee about his book The Undesirables 64 Love it or leave Aussie singlet is divisive by Susie O’Brien 67 Day at the races wins Pompey’s men just reward by Ross McMullin 82 Richard has won it by Martin Flanagan ‘The Last Post’ magazine is owned 94 Extract from Diary of Corporal J W Skinner - a heart wrenchingly honest account from the trenches of Gallipoli and Europe during World War I And published by GTR Publishing, 103 Anzac POW – Escape from Italian Prison Camps a subsidiary of B4E Pty