POSTED 21 JANUARY 2023
FAREWELL FOR SOLDIERS DEPLOYING TO TRAIN UKRAINIANS
Australia continues to stand with the people of Ukraine and is providing ongoing support in response to Russia’s continuing violation of international law. Deploying to the United Kingdom in January 2023, a contingent of up to 70 ADF personnel will join partner nations in the UK-led and based training programme for Ukrainian recruits. The contingent conducted mission specific training in Darwin in December 2022 to prepare for their deployment.
Watch the video
POSTED 8 JANUARY 2023
2 UNKNOWN DEPOSITS
On Friday 2 December, 2022, two members of the association deposited $50.00 into the Association bank account with the reference ‘Membership renewal’ and 'Membership and stickers', but without names. We would like to credit the payment to the person’s record but it is very hard to do so.
Please contact Gary Townsend at garyt.5rar@gmail.com or on 0412 767 975 and tell him which bank the money was deposited at so that he can correct your record.
Gary Townsend
5 RARA Membership Officer/Tiger Tales Editor
POSTED 7 OCTOBER 2022
HANDS OFF THE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL
From the petitioner:
The Chairman of the Council of the Australian War Memorial recently declared that "the Memorial's governing council had decided that they would have a much broader, a much deeper depiction and presentation of the violence committed against indigenous people, initially by the British, then by pastoralists, then by police and then by Aboriginal militia".
The purpose of the War Memorial is to honour the thousands of Australian men and women who died in the defence of this nation and its values.
This proposal is contrary to the charter of the Memorial as expressed in the Australian War Memorial Act 1980 which defines its functions as to maintain the memorial in remembrance of Australians who have died on or as a result of active service, or as a result of any war or warlike operations in which Australians have been on active service. It is not a generic history museum.
There is no doubt that violence was committed against Aborigines as a result of colonization but it does not fall into this remit. Supposed colonial wars, the very existence of which is highly contested, have nothing to do with our defence tradition.
This proposal, which attacks and denigrates the very foundation of our nation, is highly offensive to the large majority of veterans who survived our wars and more so to those who did not - those to whom the Memorial is dedicated.
I ask concerned citizens to join me in opposing this divisive proposal.
Peter O'Brien
Lieutenant Colonel (rtd) and Vietnam veteran
The link is here: https://chng.it/qQwCQL9Sy7
Note: The above information is posted in the interest of the veteran community and 5 RARA does not have a position on the petition and that is a matter for each individual that responds.
POSTED 26 JULY 2022
Exposure Draft Legislation: Taxation of Military Superannuation Benefits
The Full Federal Court decision, Commissioner of Taxation v Douglas (the Douglas decision), changed the tax treatment of certain superannuation benefits paid to veterans from the Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits (DFRDB) and Military Superannuation Benefits (MSB) schemes.
The Government is introducing legislation to ensure that the Douglas decision only affects the schemes and benefits specifically outlined in the decision and that no veteran faces worse income tax outcomes because of the decision. A draft bill, Treasury Laws Amendment (Measures for a later sitting) Bill 2022: Taxation of military superannuation benefits, and associated draft explanatory material, have been released for public consultation. More Here
The Link to the Treasury website on the document is broken. You can access the website by clicking on this link: https://treasury.gov.au/consultation/c2022-297409
POSTED 10 JUNE 2022
Our ADF veterans deserve a voice. We must restore Veterans’ Affairs to Cabinet.
My name is Neil. I am a third-generation Australian military veteran. I am extremely disappointed that the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs has been removed from Cabinet by the Albanese Government.
This decision is an insult to those who have served our country, and disrespects the peace and prosperity secured by their service.
This is why I am calling on the Federal Government to include the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs in the National Cabinet.
Military veterans have made a huge contribution to this country and we deserve to have a seat at the table. The exclusion of Veterans’ Affairs from Cabinet, especially while a royal commission into veterans suicide is still underway, feels like a slap in the face.
This isn’t about politics. It’s about respect. Important care initiatives such as the NDIS, housing and social services are front and center on the national stage. Why aren’t veterans being given the same level of attention?
This decision will go a long way to honour and respect our veterans and their families. If you support a #VoiceForVeterans, please sign this petition.
Many thanks
POSTED 7 NOVEMBER 2021
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DEFENCE & VETERANS LEGAL SERVICE
This nationwide service will provide free and independent information and legal support to assist Australian Defence Force personnel and veterans, as well as their families, carers and supporters, to safely share their experiences with the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. The service commences from 1 November 2021. For your convenience, please see attached further information about the service, including contact details. Further detail about these services can also be found at:
POSTED 31 OCTOBER 2021
ROYAL COMMISSION INTO DEFENCE AND VETERAN SUICIDE
POSTED 3 APRIL 2021
5RAR STATEMENT ON VETERAN SUICIDE COMMISSIONS
After significant discussion the Committee of the 5th Battalion Association has chosen to make a public statement on this issue, in so doing, we support the recent statements of the national RAR Association and the Alliance of Defence Service Organisations on this issue. To read the Statement >>Click Here.
POSTED 26 FEBRUARY 2021
Research into experiences of ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF)
personnel in corrective services systems in Australia
The Open Door: Veteran Transition Integration Wellbeing research initiative at Flinders University has been contracted by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to undertake the first national study of veterans in corrective services systems in Australia. This is a one-year study being conducted across South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland
Advisory Flyer Here/Support Flyer Here
POSTED 15 DECEMBER 2019
MEMORIES ……AND COLLATERAL DAMAGE
POSTED 11 NOVEMBER 2018 ( Still Accepting Donations as at October 2022)
RAR Corporation Funding Campaign to Support Legal Matters
At the RAR Associations National Council Meeting in Townsville in October it was determined to establish a fund to obtain legal positions and/or defend any legal matters which have the capacity to bring into disrepute the good standing of the RAR and its associations. The national HQ of the RAR Association has now established a "crowd funding" mechanism whereby members and supporters of all associations can donate as they see fit to support any legal matters confronting the organisation. Further background to the purpose and need to establish this contingency fund is provided on this link. https://chuffed.org/project/protecting-the-rar# The link does not mention any specific cases but there is an ongoing legal matter that is of direct interest to 5RARA members as it involves one of our own. Some of you would be aware that Michael von Berg MC, OAM is being sued for defamation by an ex 8RAR Sergeant cook, who on a nomination form for appointment as an RSL Director in SA, made some highly questionable claims of "being and acting Platoon Sergeant and Platoon Commander of 8 Platoon, C Company 8RAR on Operation Hamersley, Long Hai Mountains". He also claimed to have been "a Liaison Officer with the Americans at Long Dien". All claims are disputed by members of 8 Platoon and C Company 8RAR in general. Mick, in his capacity as Chairman of the RAR Corporation and President of RARA SA, wrote to the RSL to alert them to these facts and the former Sergeant cook on that basis has sued Mick for defamation. The legal costs in defending this action are already in excess of $60,000. If you see fit to support this fund which has already received some considerable donations, you can do so on the link above.
POSTED 19 MAY 2015
AUSTRALIA'S VIETNAM WAR
Explore the Combat Actions of 1st Australian Task Force
A new interactive website created by the Defence Force Academy about
the Vietnam war.
The 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) operated in Vietnam from March
1966 until November 1971. Some of its battles have become well-known to
the public through film and literature. Many however, have not.
This website is the product of over twenty years of research. It
provides unprecedented access to information on nearly all ground combat
actions Australians fought in during the Vietnam War, numbering over
4,500. Through the use of modern Web technologies, veterans, researchers
and the general public now have the power to understand the Vietnam War
at a scale and depth not previously possible.
The Battle Map provides an ideal way to catalogue and share veterans’
stories, keeping them accessible to current and future generations. Our
aim is to enable Vietnam veterans to record their stories, perspectives
and images against contacts on the Battle Map. In doing so, we hope to
develop the ‘ground truth’ picture of what happened at the tactical
level, revealing the human dimension of the War.
>>More Here
20 February 2019
5RAR ASSOCIATION MEMBER OFFER
From Robert Brett MC (Officer Commanding 2 Platoon A Company 2nd
Tour).
"I own a tour company that specialises in Vietnam and Siberia. The
Vietnam Tours cover leisure and golf but in the main are military
focused. The company is HIGHFLYA TOURS and the web site
www.highflya.com.au
I am prepared to offer any association member a 5% discount on any tour
plus donate $100 to the Association for each person booked. For groups
of over 20 I will provide a 10% discount and $120 donation per person."
POSTED 21 DECEMBER 2014
THE RSL VIRTUAL WAR MEMORIAL
The RSL Virtual War Memorial is to be the definitive resource and
repository for anyone wanting to research, study or contribute to the
commemoration of South Australia's and the Northern Territory's
socio-military history, from the Boer War to the present day.
The RSL Virtual War Memorial has four key foundation principles:
Education - local context for school students studying under the
National Curriculum
Commemoration - give greater depth of meaning to our memorial
infrastructure.
Community Engagement - crowd sourcing of community family and personal
information, and
Accessibility – connect 24/7 anywhere with internet access via mobile
devices.
to visit the RSL Virtual War Memorial >>Click Here
------------------------------------
From a RSLVWM Moderator:
Dear all,
We have now been granted access to the above nominal rolls so everything
should be in place by Christmas, in the meantime you can help by logging
in to look at or interact with the site.
As you know those men and women who during their service were KIA, DOW,
etc. have, as they should, their names carved in stone. Lest we Forget
This site provides all of us with a unique opportunity not only to put a
face to their names and forever remember them but it also allows us to
remember the service and sacrifice of all who died later.
You can open any name (including your own) herein so please take the
opportunity and do so in order to leave an enduring legacy by ensuring
our descendants will have a good start point at which to find what you
and yours did during your service overseas.
Currently there are only a hand full of moderators so please help by
adding your service details, a photo (preferably in uniform) and a story
if you wish.
For examples please place a name in the search box provided; If you do
log in, your email address and whatever password you make up is secure.
Please forward this to your mates
Volunteers of the RSL Virtual War Memorial
Telephone: 8100 7300
Email:
virtual.memorial@rslsa.org.au
Website: https://www.rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au
POSTED: 14 JANUARY 2013
NAMES WANTED
Photograph of the original A Company 5RAR on the grass verge at Holsworthy in March 1965. A Company had been re-formed from the old E Company 1RAR. The larger image can be >>Here
POSTED: 29 NOVEMBER 2008
BATTLE WING INGLEBURN 1965
We are endeavouring to put names to the many faces in the above photograph. How many served with 5RAR? To see a larger image >>Here
POSTED: 2 MAY 2007
C COMPANY MEMBERS 1ST TOUR
Roger Wainwright and Gary Townsend are trying to put 'names to faces' on a photograph of C Company that was taken at Nui Dat in February 1967. At this point we believe that we have named 35 out of the 94 in the line up and it would be great to get as many as we can. If any one feels that they can help, or thinks they would like to, please contact Gary and if needed, a photo and list of names will be emailed to them. We know that our memories are not as good as they were but even if we get a contribution of only one new name from each member it is possible that we could succeed and preserve some history of C Company 1966-67.
View larger image Here.
Email Gary At: garyt.5rar@gmail.com