Reserve Forces Day 2006

The National Parade was conducted in Sydney on Sunday 2 July 2006.  The Parade was a great success, it featured those who had seen service overseas, the cadets, the military police, including overseas visitors, and reservists past and present celebrating their day.  There 89 photos in the gallery covering the event.  The video segment shows the 2nd Military Police Company and overseas MP visitors, there is also a gallery of the training of the horses that took part in the parade; the horses and riders were trained on Saturday 1 July by the NSW Mounted Police.  The Video is an 888 kb .wmv file.

The USA sent 20 Military Police, the UK 10 and Canada 5 to they took part in our National Parade in Sydney on 2 July 2006, helping to celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the Australian corps of Military Police.

Melbourne Parade Sunday 2 July 2006

Sunday 2 July 2006 saw the Melbourne skies overcast with low cloud and drizzle. At 1045 hrs the flypast by both the Roulettes and the RAAF museum were cancelled due to the cloud ceiling below the tops of the buildings and still deteriorating. At 1115 hrs the convenor Capt. Peter Wertheimer made an executive decision against other advice that the March would proceed. Step off was at 1130 hrs for up 1500 marchers - all well turned out and ready to go.

The March was led by 3 new BMW motorcycles from 3 MP COY and the WW1 horse drawn ambulance. The March leader was MAJGEN Jim Barry AM MBE RFD ED National President of the Defence Reserves Association and the leading contingent was 21 SQN RAAF celebrating their 70th anniversary. 3MP COY RACMP (90th anniversary) led the Army contingent with the Army Cadets celebrating their 100th anniversary following. The Chief of Army LTGEN Peter Leahy AO took the salute on the march past and was given a General Salute on the marchers having formed up. Weather conditions were further deteriorating with steady precipitation and freezing conditions prevailing. COL John Wertheimer AM RFD Chairman of the Victorian Reserve Forces Day Council commenced the Ceremony by welcoming all those present. LTGEN Peter Leahy AO Chief of Army presented the Defence Reserve Association book prizes to 3 outstanding Reservists one from each Arm, and, a shield to an outstanding school cadet.  The March and Ceremony was conducted in the presence of the Victorian Patron of the Reserve Forces Day Council the Governor of Victoria Professor David de Kretser AC and Mrs de Kretser.

The day's activities concluded with an informal reception for the VIP's in the Visitors Centre of the Shrine of Remembrance whilst the Salvation Army provided hot soup and drinks for the marchers and the public present.  All present believed it was the best March the Council has run to date even though the number of marchers was probably less due to the weather conditions. The March was seen on all Victorian TV Channels and had considerable exposure in the Melbourne dailies on Monday 3 July 2006. We believe the Chief of Army was so moved by the lack of warm ceremonial dress for Army personnel and school cadets he suggested one of his first jobs on returning to Canberra would be to alter the block scale for winter ceremonial dress for the southern States to include long sleeves and a pullover. Our latest advice is that he done just that. Thank you Chief.

Wondai

I will take this opportunity to thank all the committee and supporters off the Wondai Reserve Forces Day a special thanks must go to Noel Selway who for a first time event, he did a great job. Good on you noel it takes a special person to take on a task like you did and achieve the results you did on the day. The feed back I got back from my members that we will be back next year with a lot more members and more organised than this year. A special thanks must go to LT Craig Irwin who has just been made up, nothing like been put on the spot sir, you will make a great media tart and I will buy you a beer next year.

IN ATTENDANCE FOR 25TH /49TH BATTALION RQR
      LT Craig Irwin
      CPL Noel Osborne
      SGT Andrew Sampson
      L CPL Robert Meharg
      PTE Brad Gillam
      PTE Chris Timmins
      PTE Paul Huston
      PTE Des Crane

PAST MEMBERS 25TH/49TH BATTALION RQR WHO MARCHED ON THE DAY
      LT John Mullaly Banner Bearer
      WO2 Les Lamb
      SGT Ron Battzloff
      CPL Bruce Web Banner Bearer
      L CPL Ray Davison
      PTE Maurice Garrett
      PTE Kaylene Mullaly
      PTE Kerry Hagan 25th Battalion

Ray Davidson

Community Service Announcements

Adelaide Launch

Reserve Forces Day 2006 was launched by the Governor of South Australia, Her Excellency Marjorie Jackson-Nelson AC, CVO, MBE, as Patron of the South Australian Council, at a Reception held at Government House on Friday evening 19th May 2006. This was the 7th occasion that the Governor of South Australia had launched Reserve Forces Day.

100 persons representing Reservists, past Reservists, peacekeepers, parliamentarians and leaders of Industry were welcomed by Her Excellency, who outlined the activities to be held in South Australia on Sunday 2 July 2006. The gathering was also addressed by the Chairman of Reserve Forces Day Council – SA, Major General Kevin Duggan and the Attorney-General, Mr Michael Atkinson MP, representing the Premier of South Australia.

The photos show:

1. Major General Kevin Duggan, Chairman of Reserve Forces Day Council – SA with Her Excellency Marjorie Jackson-Nelson, Governor of South Australia and the Attorney-General, Mr Michael Atkinson, MP.

2. Major General Kevin Duggan, Chairman of Reserve Forces Day Council – SA with Captain Barrie Newman, Deputy Chairman, Reserve Forces Day Council – SA (centre) and Group Captain John Teager, Commander Aerospace Operational Support Group, RAAF Edinburgh.

Hobart Reception

A reception for reserve forces day was given by the honourable William Cox AC, RFD, ED Governor of Tasmania at Government House – on Monday 24th April 2006,

National Launch

The Honourable the Prime Minister Mr John Howard MP sent a kind message (downloadable below) to be read out by Senator the Honourable Sandy Macdonald who launched Reserve Forces Day in Sydney on the evening of Wednesday 22 March 2006.  Over 100 VIPs, Unit Commanders and Association representatives attended.

It was a great night,  cadets from 233 Community Based Unit, the Navy, Air Force and a number of schools laid out the flags of the nations where reservists have recently seen service, and cadet standards.  Representatives from 22 Sqn RAAF and 2 MP Coy laid out their banners.  Sir Lawrence Street hosted the guests, former cadet Winston Khong spoke of how cadet service gave him experience that he is now using in the workplace, Sergeant Michael Johnstone a reservist with overseas service spoke of his time on operations in Somalia, Major General Ian Gordon Deputy Chief of the Army spoke about the Reserve Forces' bright future.

Chris Jenkins from ADI Limited presented a cheque with a substantial donation to the organisers of the event.  John More thanked all sponsors including governments at all levels.

Links below take you to the Prime Minister's Message, Senator Macdonald's speech, and photos of the night.  Please bear in mind that the speech delivered were not identical to the final drafts.
 

 
These Cadet Units were there - click on the picture to see enlarged image (close window before opening next).

Sydney Launch

The National Launch on Saturday 3 December 2005 highlighted the work of Reservists who voluntarily leave their civilian employment and travel overseas on operations with the three services. These may be peace-keeping operations or disaster relief, civilians will also be acknowledged at the Launch. Other operations including those who served in Malaysia as part of the Rifle Company Butterworth will also be acknowledged.

Historically part time members of the Defence Force have been involved in most overseas deployments since the Boer War, the Boxer Rebellion, the capture of German New Guinea in WWI and in WWII the now famed Militia units (the forerunner of the Army Reserve) halted the Japanese advance in New Guinea on the Kokoda Track. We believe it is timely to recognise publicly the Reserve members who volunteer readily for such service and to thank the employers and families for their support. We will highlight the contribution made by civilian employers, the self employed and families who support the “release” of their volunteers to go overseas.

The Sydney parade and others throughout Australia on Sunday 2nd July 2006 or the weekend before will acknowledge serving and former members from the three services. In addition the Reserve Forces Day Council and its members will be proud to acknowledge civilians from volunteer organisations who have served overseas, in many cases along side the Australian Defence Force members. These volunteers come from Non Government Organisations like Red Cross and others affiliated with Australian Council for International Development (ACFID).

The celebrations will also acknowledge the 90th Anniversary of the formation of the Military Police and the 70th Anniversary since the formation of 22 City of Sydney Squadron RAAF and 21 City of Melbourne Squadron RAAF.

In addition the celebration will acknowledge the 100th Anniversary of the Australian Army Cadet Corps and recognition of Navy and Air Force Cadets.

The Honourable Teresa Gambaro MP the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Defence representing the Prime Minister conducted the National Launch for the 2006 celebrations. The Chief of Defence Force Chief Air Marshal Angus Houston AO AFC and other senior ADF members plus VIPs and supporters were in attendance. Sir Laurence Street, the National and NSW Chairman of Reserve Forces Day Council, hosted the Launch.

The Reserve Forces Day Council is asking for all former and serving members of the Forces and civilians who have served overseas with aid agencies to take part in the recognition celebrations next year.

Reserve Forces Day is to be conducted on either the last weekend of June or the first weekend in July, with major celebrations on Sunday 2 Jul 2006 across Australia. It is the annual commemoration of serving and former members of the 1.25M Australians who have served in the nation’s Reserve Forces.

The links below take you to a message by the Prime Minister, final drafts of the speeches delivered by the Parliamentary Secretary and the Chief of Defence Force; photos of the day, and write-ups in the Sydney press. Please bear in mind that the speeches delivered were not identical to the final drafts.  Photos show the launch including the re-enactment members dressed in the Provost Corps uniform of 1916. The members will take a part in the parade with serving and former members of the Military Police celebrating the 90th Anniversary of the formation of the Corps.

Sydney press write-ups and TV Coverage (their support is appreciated).  SBS Coverage is an excerpt from the News of 3 December 2005, a .wmv file of 904 kb.  Channel 9  (not broadcast), a .wmv file of 1,089 kb.