Leonard Beadell OAM, BEM, FIEMS. (21 April 1923 – 12 May 1995) was a surveyor, road builder, bushman, artist and author, responsible for constructing over 6,000 km (3,700 mi) of roads and opening up isolated desert areas – some 2.5 million square kilometres (970 thousand square miles) – of central Australia from 1947 to 1963. Born in West Pennant Hills, New South Wales, Beadell is sometimes called “the last true Australian explorer”.
Reproduced courtesy of the Corryong Courier
Three veterans who have firsthand experience with conflict have united with a noble cause: to kayak the entirety of the Murray River, raising awareness for Soldier On and MatesHeroHelp, two charitable organizations dedicated to supporting both current and former Defence personnel.
Known as ‘Old Vets Stomping’, the team consists of Ross Boyd and Ian Errington, veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, accompanied by their dedicated support member, Tony Turner. Commencing their 2,400-kilometre journey from Bringenbrong on February 14th, their ultimate destination lies at the Southern Ocean in South Australia.
With over a century of combined army service, ‘Old Vets Stomping’ has embarked on numerous challenging endeavours post-retirement. These include traversing iconic trails like Kokoda (96 kilometers), the Larapinta Trail in the Northern Territory, Spain’s Camino de Santiago, South Australia’s Heysen Trail, the path to Mount Everest Base Camp, and Tasmania’s Overland Track. Their collective efforts have raised upwards of $25,000 for charitable causes.
Despite limited kayaking experience, the team underwent rigorous training in Brisbane and the Gold Coast last year to ensure they could safely undertake this ambitious journey. Along the way, they plan to halt at various towns and settlements along the Murray River, engaging with locals to spread awareness and garner support.
Stuart Spratt, owner of a café in Corryong, has been instrumental in facilitating fundraising connections in the North East. Additionally, he has organized walks from Lake Hume to Corryong for Soldier On, further amplifying their cause.
Beyond raising funds, ‘Old Vets Stomping’ aims to inspire younger war veterans to engage with organizations like the RSL (Returned and Services League) or other service clubs, thereby alleviating the burden on aging memberships. They intend to converse with RSL branches during their journey, highlighting the potential of this underutilized resource.
All endeavors undertaken by ‘Old Vets Stomping’ have been self-funded, with donations from supportive family and friends enabling the purchase of two expedition kayaks. Following the completion of their journey, these kayaks will be donated to MatesHeroHelp, perpetuating their commitment to supporting fellow veterans.
Visit the Supporting ADF Veterans GoFundMe page to support the cause.
A message from the Violet Town RSL Sub-Branch
An impressive mural representing women who served in, or supported, Australia’s and allied defence forces in times of war has been unveiled at the Violet Town RSL Sub-branch in Northeast Victoria.
It is the largest mural in Australia dedicated to honouring all women’s contribution to war. Painted by recognised mural artist Tim Bowtell, the largely black and white artwork tells the story of local women from the Violet Town area who served, but set in the context of Australian women’s service in all military conflicts.
The large mural is 17 metres long and nearly 2 metres high, and is located next to the town’s Boer War Memorial in Cowslip Street, just off the busy Hume Highway linking Melbourne and Sydney.
The RSL project to build the mural, which extended over several years, highlighted that while there were about 20 local women who had been identified as having served in the Army, Navy, Air Force or on the home front, they served only during the First and Second World Wars.
The project team was keen to create a mural that symbolically represented those who served across the spectrum – from the Boer War to the present – as well as those who helped on the home front.
The mural covers the major areas of conflict of the 20th and 21st centuries, and shows portraits of local women and other women, representing those who played their part. Other features are women at work in factories highlighting work on the home front, and high ranking officers, representing the rise of women in the ranks of military services. Storyboards highlight the different organisations which women joined and the roles they played.
The mural will become part of Victoria’s military history trail, extending from Seymour northward. The Violet Town RSL Sub-branch is proud that the RSL is recognising the women of the district as well as the men, as Australian women have been able to serve in all combat roles since 2016.
In a unified statement, Simon Birmingham, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Andrew Hastie, the Shadow Minister for Defence, and David Fawcett, the Deputy Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade, have issued a clear ultimatum.
“The Albanese government must promptly elucidate its reasons for disregarding new evidence and direct Defence to halt the decommissioning of Australia’s MRH-90 Taipan helicopters,” the joint declaration asserted.
“Labor has offered various justifications for Australia’s inability to supply the Taipans to Ukraine, including assertions that it’s too late in the dismantling process to fulfill the request, concerns about the safety of the aircraft, and doubts about their suitability due to low availability.
“However, evidence presented during Senate estimates on February 14th contradicts these claims, revealing that the Taipans are indeed safe, some helicopters have not been extensively stripped, and our close allies in New Zealand demonstrate the successful operation of a reliable fleet.
“This evidence suggests that it may still be possible to pause the dismantling process and provide the helicopters to Ukraine, aligning with Ukraine’s request and offers of assistance from our allies.
“Despite the debunking of Labor’s narrative, Defence officials, during the hearing, were unable to identify who within the department provided the advice.
“What we are witnessing is a dysfunctional and confused government, unaware that the helicopters could potentially be supplied to Ukraine and lacking the resolve to direct Defence to reconsider its approach.
“The opposition urges the government to acknowledge that it’s not too late to halt the dismantling of some remaining Taipans and to consult with European allies and industry partners to explore the feasibility of meeting Ukraine’s request.”
The joint statement condemned the decision to decommission the helicopters as emblematic of weak leadership, indecisiveness, and a lack of accountability within the federal government.
The ADF MRH-90 Taipan helicopter fleet was initially grounded late last year following a series of accidents. A helicopter crashed during Exercise Talisman Sabre in July 2023, another ditched during a training exercise in March 2023, flying operations were suspended in June 2021, and a tail rotor problem was identified in 2019.
Efforts by NATO Helicopter Industries to find buyers, including a request from Ukraine in December 2023, were unsuccessful.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting Ukraine but explained that the Taipans were not suitable for the conflict Ukraine is facing.
When the shearing sheds are silent, and the stock camps fallen quiet
When the gidgee coals no longer glow across the outback night
And the bush is forced to hang a sign, ‘gone broke and won’t be back’
And spirits fear to find a way beyond the beaten track
When harvesters stand derelict upon the wind-swept plains
And brave hearts pin their hopes no more on chance of loving rains
When a hundred outback settlements are ghost towns overnight
When we’ve lost the drive and heart we had to once more see us right
When ‘Pioneer’ means a stereo and ‘Digger’ some backhoe
And the ‘Outback’ is behind the house. there’s nowhere else to go
And ‘Anzac’ is a biscuit brand and probably foreign owned
And education really means brainwashed and neatly cloned
When you have to bake a loaf of bread to make a decent crust
And our heritage once enshrined in gold is crumbling to dust
And old folk pay their camping fees on land for which they fought
And fishing is a great escape; this is until you’re caught
When you see our kids with Yankee caps and resentment in their eyes
And the soaring crime and hopeless hearts is no longer a surprise
When the name of RM Williams is a yuppie clothing brand
And not a product of our heritage that grew off the land
When offering a hand makes people think you’ll amputate
And two dogs’ meeting in the street is what you call a ‘Mate’
When ‘Political Correctness’ has replaced all common sense
When you’re forced to see it their way, there’s no sitting on the fence
Yes, one day you might find yourself an outcast in this land
Perhaps your heart will tell you then, ‘ I should have made a stand’
Just go and ask the farmers that should remove all doubt
Then join the swelling ranks who say, ‘ Don’t sell Australia out!’
Author credit- Chris Long
Far North Queensland
Following a triumphant trial period last year, the 9th Brigade’s Reserve Accelerated Training Scheme (RATS) is set to commence again in 2024. This pioneering endeavour offers part-time soldiers a flexible pathway to engage in full-time contracts spanning 3 to 12 months, akin to a ‘Gap Year’ experience.
In 2023, the 10th/27th Battalion, Royal South Australia Regiment (10/27RSAR), administered the program with resounding success, affording 37 soldiers the opportunity to immerse themselves in the dynamics of a full-time platoon within a combat brigade.
Private Lachlan McCulloch embarked on his full-time contract through RATS, commencing as a recruit. Following his induction at Kapooka in January 2023, he diligently pursued his initial employment training, becoming fully proficient just in time to join the platoon’s deployment to Indonesia for Exercise Super Garuda Shield in August 2023.
Reflecting on his experience, Private McCulloch remarked, “The RATS program has provided me with unparalleled exposure. The calibre of training and camaraderie within the community has been exceptional. It has ignited in me a desire to turn what I once viewed as merely a job into a career.”
RATS participants were afforded the opportunity to expedite their individual training, acquiring a plethora of corps qualifications, combat behaviour training, promotion courses, and specialized certifications such as protected mobility vehicle driving and direct fire support weaponry operation.
The augmented training and heightened readiness of the platoon empowered its soldiers to actively contribute to advanced collective training sessions and security cooperation endeavours, including participation in Exercise Super Garuda Shield 23 and the combined-arms platoon live-fire exercise on Exercise Rhino Run 23. Furthermore, they served as a high-readiness force element for domestic response contingencies.
Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Jackson, Commanding Officer of 10/27RSAR, hailed the initiative for its capacity to afford part-time soldiers the flexibility to complete training under full-time contracts, thus expediting capability delivery. “The Reserve Accelerated Training Scheme presents a remarkable opportunity for Australians keen on serving their community to sample the rewarding careers available in the ADF,” remarked Lieutenant Colonel Jackson. “Participants not only acquire invaluable skills in leadership and teamwork but also undergo significant professional development. Moreover, this initiative underscores the battalion’s prowess and its effective utilization in exercises and operations.”
A noteworthy outcome of the 2023 RATS program is that one in five participants are transitioning to Service Category 7 full-time service. However, many, including Private McCulloch, intend to revert to Service Category 5 part-time service following the conclusion of their contract.
Lieutenant Colonel Jackson expressed optimism for another fruitful year of the program in 2024, anticipating continued success and positive outcomes for both participants and the Australian Defence Force as a whole.
The Bombing of Darwin, a pivotal event etched into Australia’s wartime history, unfolded on the fateful day of 19th February 1942, forever known as the Battle of Darwin. This date marked the gravest assault ever launched by a foreign power upon Australian soil during World War II. In a staggering display of military might, 242 Japanese aircraft descended upon Darwin in two relentless waves, targeting not only the town itself but also the ships nestled within Darwin Harbour and the crucial airfields that served as lifelines for Allied operations in the region. The objective: to cripple Allied capabilities and thwart any resistance against the Japanese advance towards the strategic territories of Timor and Java.
Darwin, though strategically significant, stood inadequately fortified against the ferocity of the Japanese onslaught. The defenders found themselves vastly outnumbered and ill-prepared for the scale of the attack. The Japanese, exploiting this vulnerability, unleashed a barrage of destruction upon Allied forces, inflicting heavy losses with alarming efficiency. The casualties mounted swiftly, both among military personnel and the civilian populace, as bombs rained down indiscriminately, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake.
The repercussions of the bombings extended far beyond the immediate carnage witnessed on that harrowing day. The fabric of Darwin’s urban landscape bore the scars of war, with buildings reduced to rubble and infrastructure crippled by the relentless assault. The toll on civilian lives was equally profound, as families were torn apart and communities shattered by the chaos of conflict. In the aftermath of the attack, a palpable sense of fear and uncertainty gripped the populace, prompting a mass exodus as more than half of Darwin’s residents fled the area in search of safety, their lives forever altered by the trauma of war.
The Bombing of Darwin, however, was not merely an isolated event but rather the ominous prelude to a sustained campaign of aerial bombardment that would haunt Australia’s shores for years to come. Over the course of 1942-1943, more than a hundred air raids would rain down upon the continent, leaving a nation grappling with the harsh realities of war on its doorstep.
Significantly, the timing of the attack added to its seismic impact, coming a mere four days after the catastrophic Fall of Singapore. The surrender of a combined Commonwealth force to the Japanese marked a humiliating chapter in British history and sent shockwaves rippling across the Allied powers. The proximity of these two events served as a stark reminder of the formidable adversary confronting the Allies in the Pacific theatre and underscored the urgent imperative for unified action against the advancing tide of Japanese aggression.
In retrospect, the Bombing of Darwin stands as a sombre testament to the relentless brutality of war and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unspeakable adversity. It serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who endured the horrors of conflict and a solemn vow to never forget the lessons learned amidst the ashes of devastation.
LEST WE FORGET
The USS Constellation (CV-64) stands as an emblem of American naval prowess, boasting a storied legacy that stretches across more than four decades of service. Commissioned on October 27, 1961, this majestic aircraft carrier quickly solidified its reputation as a cornerstone of U.S. maritime power. Throughout its illustrious career, the USS Constellation played an integral role in safeguarding national interests, projecting military might, and fostering global stability through a myriad of engagements and deployments.
From the turbulent waters of the Vietnam War to the tense standoffs of the Cold War era, the USS Constellation exemplified resilience and resolve in the face of adversity. Its deck became a launching pad for countless sorties, delivering decisive air support and striking deep into enemy territory when called upon. The carrier’s strategic presence and unmatched capabilities underscored its significance as a linchpin of American military strategy, earning it respect and admiration among allies and adversaries alike.
Beyond its combat missions, the USS Constellation served as a beacon of diplomacy and cooperation through its participation in multinational exercises and joint operations. Its presence in various regions around the globe underscored America’s commitment to upholding peace and security, while also strengthening alliances and partnerships with nations sharing common interests.
The USS Constellation’s impact extended far beyond the confines of its steel hull. It served as a training ground for generations of sailors and aviators, instilling in them the values of honour, courage, and commitment. Its crew, comprising dedicated men and women from all walks of life, formed a tight-knit community bound by a shared sense of duty and camaraderie.
As the USS Constellation was decommissioned on August 7, 2003, its departure marked the end of an era but not the conclusion of its legacy. Even in retirement, the carrier continues to inspire future generations of naval personnel, reminding them of the enduring importance of maritime supremacy and the indispensable role played by the United States Navy in safeguarding freedom and security around the world.
In the annals of naval history, the USS Constellation (CV-64) remains a testament to the unwavering dedication and sacrifice of those who served aboard her. Its name will forever be synonymous with excellence, resilience, and the proud tradition of American naval power.
Photo: Soldiers from 8th/12th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations via Zodiac as part of Operation Resolute in the Kimberley Marine Park, WA. Story by Captain Annie Richardson. Photo by Corporal Gregory Scott.
In a departure from its traditional role rooted in conventional gunnery, the 101st Battery of the 8th/12th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, has embraced a pioneering mission in the littoral space.
Established in 1916 as the 101st Howitzer Battery, originating from the 1st Field Artillery Brigade at Gallipoli, the unit underwent disbandment after the war, only to be reconstituted in the 1920s and again in 1957.
The 2023 Defence Strategic Review (DSR) advocated for a strategic pivot towards a light-littoral brigade, prompting the 101st Battery to specialize in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations within archipelagos and coastal regions.
Major Jack Bagwill, the battery commander, expressed confidence in their ability to tackle ISR challenges in coastal territories. “Our team comprises highly trained joint-fires observers and artillery-command-systems operators, individuals well-versed in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance methodologies, and the coordination of joint operations,” Major Bagwill remarked.
He added, “Their proficiency in observation and target acquisition seamlessly translates into the littoral domain, where our focus shifts from hills to managing tides, beaches, and rugged coastal terrains.”
Despite encountering challenges during the transition, members of the 101st Battery enthusiastically embraced the opportunity. They dedicated themselves to mastering small watercraft operations and refining their intelligence photography skills to support Operation Resolute, the ADF’s mission to safeguard the nation’s borders and maritime interests.
“Embracing the evolving battlespace, the 101st Battery has pioneered advancements in littoral operations,” Major Bagwill noted. “We conduct ISR operations around the clock, providing crucial intelligence to the Australian Border Force to address potential illicit activities in the region.”
As the Army prepares for the integration of long-range fires following the DSR, the 8th/12th Regiment is also adapting to its new role as the Army’s light-littoral combat brigade. Major Bagwill highlighted their unique contribution, stating, “We have established a dedicated brigade reconnaissance element, marking a significant step forward in our capabilities.”
In essence, the transformation of the 101st Battery underscores the Army’s commitment to innovation and adaptation in response to evolving security challenges in coastal environments.
Photo: Soldiers from 8th/12th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, prepare to conduct Zodiac patrols at night as part of Operation Resolute. Photo by Corporal Gregory Scott.