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NEW MINISTER FOR VETERANS’ AFFAIRS SWORN IN The Hon. Dan Tehan MP was sworn in as the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC and Minister for Defence Materiel on 18 February 2016. Since his election to Parliament as Before entering Parliament, Dan worked in agriculture locally and the Federal Member for Wannon abroad and was an officer in the Department of Foreign Affairs in 2010, Minister Tehan has had an and Trade where he held various roles. These included working as active parliamentary career. a diplomat at the Australian Embassy in Mexico. He has a Masters Degree in International Relations and Foreign Affairs and Trade. He has held positions as the Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security; Chair of the Victorian Dan has worked at senior levels of the Australian Government, Consultative Panel for the Black Spot Programme; Chair of the including as a Senior Adviser to then Deputy Prime Minister Mark Coalition Policy Committee on Economics and Finance; Co-Chair Vaile and Chief of Staff to Fran Bailey, a former Minister for Small of the Parliamentarians Supporting Cancer Causes; Co-Chair of the Business and Tourism. He has also worked as Director of Trade Parliamentary Friends of Youth Mental Health, and; Chair of the Policy and International Affairs at the Australian Chamber of Coalition Friends of Tourism. Commerce and Industry and as the Deputy State Director for the Victorian Liberal Party. Dan has also held positions on the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia, the Standing Dan lives with his wife Sarah and their family on a small farm on Committee on Agriculture, Resources, Fisheries and Forestry and the outskirts of Hamilton, Victoria. He is a passionate supporter of the Joint Human Rights Committee. the Richmond Football Club and enjoys spending time outdoors with his family and their increasing number of pets. The Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson, Director, Australian War Memorial In April 2006 I was Australia’s minister for defence. Walking through a crowded shopping centre at Redland, Mount Gravatt, a hand firmly grasped my right elbow. Its tremulous owner said, “Dr Nelson, my best mate Kenny Gant was killed at Long Tan. Do what you can to remember him.” As if to explain his emotional and physical Many veterans returned bearing wounds state, he whispered, “I was run over by a deprived healing by significant sections tank”, then melted away into the crowd. of Australian society - shunned as reminders of a war opposed by many and In August this year, we will pause to turbocharged by conscription. commemorate the 50th anniversary of the battle of Long Tan. In doing so, we We cannot rewrite history, nor can we will honour all those who served our be held hostage to it. But we can learn nation in this conflict. from it. The Vietnam War inflicted deep On the evenings of 17, 18 and 19 of Shortly after, Kenneth Howard Gant will wounds on many the 61,000 young August, images from the Vietnam War be honoured at the Last Post Ceremony, Australians who served in it over will be projected onto the front of the half a century after his death. more than a decade. It left our nation Memorial. scarred, determined to learn from the At 6 am on the 18th of August, RMC experiences, but also mistakes – political, On the opposite façade will be projected Duntroon and ADFA cadets will read social and human. the Vietnam Honour Roll of 521 names. the Vietnam Honour Roll in the commemorative area which will be open Australia emerged from divided and On the afternoon of the 17th of August, to the public. angry. The extraordinary heroism of four John Schumann will sing I was only 19 men awarded the Victoria Cross, epic to 100 Vietnam veterans in the nation’s To the man at Mount Gravatt, we will battles at Long Tan, Coral Balmoral and secular cathedral – The Hall of Memory. remember him. theatres across land, sea and air were There is no more powerful way of often relegated in public consciousness expressing our pride nor reassuring them We remember them all. behind increasing and strident opposition that they are ‘home’ in every sense of to the war itself. the word. We always will. THE LAST POST – 2016 ANZAC DAY / WINTER EDITION 1 From the Publisher: GREG T ROSS During 2016, the Returned and Services League, the country’s largest and most powerful organisation of its type, celebrates its centenary. The Last Post, and it’s eNews sibling, TLP Morris album, Bloodstone. We also give Australian Open happening in the Gold eNews, joins with the RSL in looking at the some air to promising new Australian Coast in June. organisations great list of achievements indigenous artist, Jason Dale and feature and the promise of what lays ahead. In an excerpt from former Dingoes bass In EDUCATION and SCIENCE we take a look this edition we look at RSL National, RSL player John Bois’ book, Dingoes Lament. at The Hutchins School in Tasmania and SA, RSL WA and RSL ACT and the work We also look at the legendary Gympie their role in helping student develop social they do for veterans of all ages and their Music Muster as it’s about to celebrate and community skills and responsibility’s families. it’s 35th anniversary later this year. in modern Australia. In embracing a broad demographic and Bob Walter takes us to his Tantalising In our new section, FOOD we speak with playing a modern role in Australia as it Tasmania in TRAVEL with a great story popular chef Simon Bryant and his views stands in 2016, the RSL continues to help and pics. As well, we have a look at on the new pop culture that has evolved Australia’s returned men and women of Albany in WA and NSW’s Blue Mountains through media coverage of chefs. We all ages and backgrounds. Around the as places readers may like to explore. In go to Wimmera in Victoria and look at country, whether through live music, Travel we also chat to Expedition Leader, Sarah Pearce and her amazing Wimmera good dining, acting as a meeting place Steve Cox from Coral Expeditions about Cultural Foods store. Sarah’s store offers a for family and friends, engaging with local the company’s new role in remote parts great range of products and specialises in schools or assisting in community affairs, of Myanmar, Burma and Tibet as well as ethnic and indigenous foods and fashions. today’s RSL shows that it has something allowing travelers an intimate look at the Check it out. to offer all Australians. site of the infamous Burma Railway. One of the most intriguing and interesting As we approach the third decade of the Michael’s Story by Darrin Barnett is a stories from the First World War comes millennium, the RSL has enacted this worrying look at the harsh, impersonal from Newcastle University historian, modern focus with the appointment role of security staff in relieving Australian Professor Victoria Haskins. Maud Butler’s of youthful and engaging CEO’s, both merchant sailors of their jobs aboard Anzac Day tells the story of a NSW country nationally and in states. Serving veterans ships carrying cargo between Australian girl’s stowaway attempts to join the war of all ages by providing help, assistance ports. You make up your own mind but effort. The first Anzac Day marked Maud’s and information, The Last Post and the we feel there must be a better way of last appearance in military uniform. RSL ask you to join all Australians in preserving dignity for all and Australian celebrating this important milestone. jobs. We also feature excerpts from Ruth Have a happy and safe and peaceful time Clare’s new book, Enemy a harrowing, until we catch in November. In the 2016 The diversity and richness of this country intimate look at one family’s and one Remembrance Day edition we look back is reflected in the RSL membership and in person’s involvement with PTSD. Ruth’s at the last five years (Yes!) of The Last the men and women who help keep the father, Doug had gone to Vietnam and Post and the great Australians that have Anzac spirit alive. returned a different man. featured in our magazine. In our cover story, we interview Australian As usual, we feature HEALTH and FINANCE of The Year, Lieutenant General (retired) and in SPORTS we interview Collingwood- David Morrison AO. In an engaging chat tragic, the Australian Rules supporting with this magazine, David discusses Jeff Corfe or Joffa as he is better know. his feelings on veterans, diversity, Joffa speaks of his work with charities inclusiveness, equality and the treatment including the Epilepsy Foundation, his of women in the ADF. He speaks also of belief that football saved his life, his his time at ANU and the path that led to ongoing love for the Magpies and his where he is today. philosophy. It is a touching and brave G r eg interview and reveals a man of worthy In MUSIC, ARTS and ENTERTAINMENT character. We again feature the AFL and Greg T Ross The Last Post’s Craig T Ross interviews NRL and a childrens’ sporting foundation Editor and Publisher Australian music legend Russell Morris Footys4all. Our suburban football club in www.thelastpostmagazine.com and provides an obituary for the late this Anzac Day/Winter edition is Reynella, Jon English. As usual, Jack P Kellerman in South Australia. We also feature Golf gives us a look at a song from the past and Bowls and take a look at the return and his memories from that time.

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