From the Publisher GREG T ROSS
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from the publisher GREG T ROSS First of all let me welcome you to the Anzac Day/Winter edition of The Last Post. This is the magazine’s 16th issue and also its biggest yet. We start with forewords from Australian War Memorial Director Brendan Nelson and RSL National CEO Georgie Macris. Brendan has provided The Last Post’s foreword since Anzac Day 2014, so this is a birthday of sorts for the both of us. This is Georgie’s first foreword and we look forward to more from this modern and forward-thinking CEO. Sean Flynn, son of actor Sean Flynn, was a war photographer during the Vietnam War and friend of Tim Page. Tim himself is a photographer of some note, both in war and as a social commentary. Sean disappeared during the war, believed captured and killed by the Viet Cong. His camera, a Nikon Leica went missing too. The camera was recently found and Tim Page, who lived with Sean in Saigon, has written an amazing piece on the history of the camera, the war and his bonding friendship with Sean. In February I attended the 5th Annual Elder Abuse Conference in Sydney. Numerous representatives from sectors that deal with elders spoke on the matter over two days at Sofitel Wentworth. I interviewed conference ambassador Sue Pieters-Hawke on the floor of the conference area and Jane Caro by phone a few days later. Both Sue and Jane speak with me about the areas of potential and real examples of elder abuse and ways as a society we can improve the lot of those over a certain age who are or feel vulnerable. Glenn Kolomeitz and I first met in 2015 when I interviewed him in his role as the then recently appointed CEO of RSL NSW. Now fighting for improved veterans funding and greater recognition and support for female veterans, I interviewed Glenn again. Our discussion covers areas that he is hoping to have improved by an awareness campaign and lobbying. We offer our support to Glenn as he, through his legal firm, offers pro bono support for veterans. In Music, Arts + Entertainment I interview former number-one radio announcer in Australia, Gary Mac. As part of the 3AK Good Guys team of the early ‘70’s, Gary was at the forefront of an exciting time in Australia’s radio history. Gary talks about the then, the now and why his chat with Paul McCartney was like catching up with an old friend. In Music, Arts + Entertainment we also feature David Tiley’s tribute to former South Australian Film Corp head, Gil Brealey who helped stir a sleeping industry by arranging funding for Australian movies Sunday Too Far Away, Picnic At Hanging Rock, Storm Boy and others. We also feature the continuation of Jeremy Roberts’ magnificent 50 Ways Into Vietnam and a tribute from Michael Leunig and Ranald Macdonald to the late cartoonist and artist Ron Tandberg. In these times of some finding it difficult to discriminate between real news and “fake” news through the influence of social media, the definition of journalism has changed. There are people who disseminate information without checking the source and call themselves journalists but are not. And there are real journalists trying to uncover the truth that are being jailed, threatened or harmed physically and in some instances, even killed by those with an interest in keeping the truth camouflaged. In 1964 Ranald Macdonald was appointed Managing Director of The Age at 26. He ushered in a new era of openness and opinion based on fact. His appointment of Graham Perkin and editors after Graham helped transform the struggling, conservative broadsheet into a publication that set new standards in the Australian newspaper industry. I spoke with Ranald about all these things, including the importance of an open and free press, an independent ABC and his beloved Collingwood Football Club. The people of Robe, South Australia have established a practical, helpful and loving way to assist veterans in their successful Robe to Recovery program. We feature that towns story as well as that of local chemist and former Vietnamese refugee, An Thien Vo Tran. In Sport we interview rugby legend Roy Masters and feature Roy’s story and tribute to the late Graeme Langlands. We also look at the Invictus Games and in Gardening speak with famed horticulturalist Michael Keelan about the benefits of getting a green thumb. Tony Wright appears with his Life is Brief, looking at the importance of recognising the rewards that can come from seizing the moment. Our biggest edition yet with 116 pages, The Last Post continues to be enjoyed by a large cross-section of Australians. We hope you enjoy this edition. Greg T Ross G r egEditor and Publisher www.thelastpostmagazine.com THE LAST POST – 2018 ANZAC DAY / WINTER EDITION 1 We are proud to be a part of the Defence landscape in Australia during such an integral and important time in our history. dha.gov.au 139 342 foreword THE HON. DR BRENDAN NELSON AO, DIRECTOR, AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL The First World War was a cataclysm of unheralded proportions, one that Australia joined willingly and with good cheer. The mettle of our nation was tested at Gallipoli in 1915, it was on those steep hills and in those gullies and ravines that the ‘Anzac Spirit’ was born. GEORGIE MACRIS, Our young nation’s innocence was brutally lost in the bloodbath at Fromelles and hard-earned victory of Pozieres in 1916. RSL NATIONAL CEO The bitter conscription referendum rendered us a deeply divided Welcome to the ANZAC edition of The Last people facing the new year of 1917. The year that followed was the Post magazine. It is always so refreshing to worst in our history – 77,000 casualties; 22,000 dead and missing read of all the great initiatives and hard work in the dreadful battles of the Passchendaele campaign alone. undertaken by RSL’s across Australia, and the By early 1918 victory seemed further away than ever, additional activities and projects being worked recruitment at home had stalled and in March 1918 the on by the broader veteran community. Germans smashed through Allied lines. A year’s long stalemate I would particularly like to take this opportunity to becoming a rout almost incomprehensibly quickly. congratulate the recent appointments of Lieutenant The men of the 1st AIF finally stopped the Germans on Anzac General Angus Campbell AO, DSC as Australia’s Day 1918 at the French town of Villers-Bretonneux, now the next Chief of Defence and Major General Liz Cosson site of the main Australian memorial on the Western Front, AM,CSC (retd) as the new Secretary for the Department it proved to be decisive. The Germans were spent and the of Veteran Affairs. RSL National has worked closely Allies, though battered themselves, went on the offensive that with both Angus and Liz over many years and we summer. Led by the Australian troops of Sir John Monash the welcome the opportunity to continue building on Allies broke the back of the German army at Amiens in August the strong relationships already established. and over the coming months pushed them back further. Among many other anniversaries of interest, this year By November the Germans called for an armistice and at 11am marks the Centenary of ANZAC and the Centenary on November 11 1918 silence descended on the battlefields after of Armistice. The Returned & Services League of four years of the most destructive and bloody warfare ever seen. Australia evolved from the Great War to support our wounded and ill Australian servicemen returning Soldiers, sailors and airmen lay down their arms from the horrors of this global conflict. We have and nations began to count the cost. since developed into the largest ESO in the country, We had emerged victorious yes, but inconsolably mourning we have the widest reach, we represent the most 62,000 dead. Our country had become embittered by years of members, have a combined forty million volunteer loss and grief and deeply divided by conscription and social hours donated per annum and over one hundred issues. Yet we remained true to our democracy and ourselves, years of experience in providing real support for we had emerged with a greater belief in ourselves and a veterans and their families. We are known and deeper understanding of what it means to be - Australian. respected regionally, nationally and internationally as an organisation of pride, strength and valour. The 100 year anniversary of the armistice that ended the First World War provides an opportunity for Australians to remember On every level, and in every State and Territory, and reflect on the armistice and the service and sacrifice that the RSL has been examining and modernising came before it. It is also a time to remember the suffering that internal practices, governance structures and followed it, the grief of families and the pain of wounds both compliance frameworks to ensure we are preforming physical and psychological suffered by many who returned home. our duties, and meeting our legal and regulatory obligations, as a charity organisation. Personally The Australian War Memorial will lead the nation’s I am privileged enough to meet with Government national commemorations of the end of the cataclysm officials, high ranking delegates and the grass roots which inflicted deep wounds on our young nation. We membership on a daily basis and I can assure you will be joined around the nation and indeed around the we have their ongoing understanding, support and world by many other organisations and people. encouragement as we evolve our organisation.