The Categories judged on: 

1. The drill associated with carrying Assn Banners Drill and marching 
2. Dress and turn out Esprit de Corps 
3. Uniformity of overall appearance of Assn 
4. ASM’s control of the Assn

Former commanders of the 2nd Division, MAJGEN Gordon Maitland AO OBE RFD ED and MAJGEN Warren Glenny AO RFD ED (himself a former commander of the 3rd Division). Insert: Major General Sir Charles Rosenthal KCB CMG DSO VD (7 MIDs); Foreign Awards: The Belgian Croix de Guerre, the French Croix de Guerre and Officer of the Legion of Honour of France. He was the commander of the 2nd Division when it won significant battles in WWI and then commanded the Division twice before WWII. It was appropriate that these former commanders be invited to present the inaugural award along with MAJGEN Sir Charles Rosenthal’s Granddaughter, Dr Margaret Rosenthal.	Presentation of The Major General Sir Charles Rosenthal Inaugural Best Formation Award by MAJGEN Sir Charles Rosenthal’s Granddaughter, Margaret Rosenthal AM, MSc Agr, PhD, Dip Ed, Med Admin, to LTCOL Lyall Wood AM RFD, 2IC 8 BDE Parade Formation. Each 8 BDE member Assn present at the National Reserve Forces Day Parade 2009 was also awarded a copy of the certificate.
Dr Rosenthal congratulating WO1 Henry Jones, RSM 8 BDE Formation.	MAJGEN Glenny, Dr Rosenthal, MAJGEN Maitland, LTCOL Wood and WO1 Jones – following the inaugural presentation.
An example of a copy of the certificate being given to each 8 BDE member Assn – here MAJ Frank Woodhams ED (Retd), Assn President, receives the certificate for the 30th Battalion NSW Scottish Regimental Association.	Another example of a copy of the certificate being given to each 8 BDE member Assn – here GNR Jack Gwilym, Assn Standard Bearer, receives the certificate for the 7th Field Regiment RAA Association.
MAJGEN Maitland presenting the Best Standard Bearer Award to SGT Ivan McAulley, ASM, 12th/16th Hunter River Lancers & 24th Light Horse Regiments Association.	MAJGEN Maitland presenting the Special Recognition Award to MAJ Dick Adams APM RFD, OC Escort Troop of the Chauvel Squadron, Australian Light Horse Association.
Best Banner Party Award presented to MAJ Len Koles RFD, President, 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers Association.	Best Unit Assn with Fewer Than 50 Members Taking Part Award presented to MAJ Bob BROWNLEY RFD ED, President, Royal Australian Army Pay Corps.
Best Unit Assn With More Than 50 Members Taking Part Award presented to PO Doug Kane, ASM, Royal Australian Naval Reserve Association.	Best Overall Unit Association on The Day Award presented to SGT Barry Grant, President, 1st Commando Regiment Association (NSW).
Certificate of Commendation to 18th Light Anti-Aircraft Association being received by ASM, Mr Peter Moore.	Award   The button to your left will download and allow you to view the Best Formation Award.   Biography   The button to your left will download a short biography of Major General Sir Charles Rosenthal KCB CMG DSO VD.

National Parade Sydney 5 July 2009

In 2009 we were pleased to receive messages of support from the Governor General and the Prime Minister, please use the buttons below to view:

The National Parade at the Sydney Domain on 5 July 2009 was a great success. Association members enjoyed the new parade format, and Her Excellency the Governor of New South Wales gave a moving speech.

Wagga 3 July 2009

The 3rd annual Riverina RFD Commemoration was again successful with up to 200 marchers and over 500 at the Service. Although a very overcast day the Temora Aviation Museum kindly provided a "Wirraway" flypast as a tribute to the 1939 creation of the Empire Air Training Scheme. 3 RNSWR Assoc gained the distinction of being the first ex A Res Assoc to parade their Standard at the Riverina event.

Much appreciated support also from Ex Reservists, NSAA Sub Branches from Wagga Wagga, Eurobodalla-far Sth Coast, Queanbeyan-Canberra and South West Slopes, Vietnam Vets Assoc's, Leeton NS and CFAA, Leeton, Tumut and Wagga Wagga RSL's, contingents from RAN and RAAFAR, Army and Air Force Cadets plus Rep's from DRSC, Legacy, Permanent ADF, 21st "Riverina Horse" and 7th Harden-Murrumburrah LH Troop.

Ald Kerry Pascoe (City Mayor) delivered a very informed and pleasant welcoming address.

Col the Hon Dr Mike Kelly AM MP honoured the Riverina by his eloquent and very dignified commemoration address, his attendance very much appreciated by all.

An informal luncheon at the Riverina Australian Football Club was enjoyed by all.

2009 was again a magnificent recognition for serving and Ex Reservists from the City of Wagga Wagga.

All Rehearsed and Ready

On Sunday 21 June 2009 the Sydney Domain rang with the commands that will fill it on 5 July.  Command parties were briefed, standard parties drilled and everything made ready.  Even Sydney's recent rainy weather cleared-up.  As you can see from the illustrations below, all that is necessary is dignified formal clothing , flash of medals and the expected great turn-out of Reserve association members for a truly great spectacle.

Community Service Announcements

Community Service Announcements have kindly been prepared by the Chief of the Army Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie, AO DSC CSM to publicise the 2009 Reserve Forces Day. They can be accessed by using the buttons below. The NSW CSA is showing on TV stations in NSW, and provides information on NSW parades, the National CSA covers the rest of Australia.  The Audio was kindly recorded bt Steve Price, it has been sent to about 225 radio stations including community stations throughout Australia.

Sydney Launch

A presentation and briefing night was held for all Association representatives on Thursday evening 26 March 2009.

Sir Laurence Street presented certificates to the Associations judged to be the best in the certain categories of marching, dress, esprit de corps etc in the 2008 parade. Click HERE for the categories and winners for 2008.

Association representatives were presented with certificates of dedication for their Association standards they now hold and an personal one was presented to the Standard Bearer.

The new parade and Vice Regal Review format for Sydney was explained by Lieutenant Colonel Moore and the parade RSM Harry Crampton. CLICK HERE to download the parade invitation, HERE for information to marchers, HERE for the parade layout, HERE for the history of parades in the Sydney Domain.

You can view a few photos of the launch parade, using the button below. Thanks very much to Peter Butterworth for the photos.

The 2009 Reserve Forces Day commemoration was launched nationally at Shore School, North Sydney on Saturday 29 November 2008 by Colonel The Honourable Dr Mike Kelly AM MP Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support.

The parade was a dedication ceremony of the Regimental Association Standards kindly funded by the Pratt Foundation by the Principal Chaplain of the Royal Australian Navy.  The parade acknowledged the "thirtyniners, men and women who served in the Reserve Forces prior to WWII.

This was followed by a series of speeches in the Playfair Hall where the standards were displayed commencing with a welcome by the Headmaster of Shore School Dr Timothy Wright, and culminating in the launch of Reserve Forces Day 2009 by Colonel Mike Kelly.

In 2009 it will be 70 years since the commencement of World War II.  Special recognition will be given at Reserve Forces Day celebrations to those men and women who served part time in the Royal Australian Navy Reserve, the Citizen Military Forces and the Citizen Air Force  prior to World War II.

You can view a few photos of the launch parade, or an extended slideshow of the event by using the buttons below. Thanks very much to Peter Butterworth for preparing the slide show. (The slideshow requires Macromedia Flash).

Coverage of the Launch in the Sydney Morning Herald on 1 December 2008 can be viewed by activating the button "Article" below.

Reserve Forces Day 2009 is in the planning stage. It will comemorate the remaining 39ers, those wheo were mmbers of the reserve forces in 1939, served during World War II and beyond, and are still alive today. . Watch this space for information as it comes to hand.