RAA Liaison Letter 2025/2026 Edition 9 Editors Comment Hello and welcome to the Liaison Letter 2025 / 2026 edition. Whilst not wishing to sound like John Farnham and his many retirements … I thought this would be my last Liaison Letter as the editor when I started drafting it. It has been a journey that commenced in 2000 and has continued ever since for 26 years and 42 editions. I started as editor whilst I was still serving full-time at the School of Artillery and have continued throughout my part-time service. After a chat with Brigadier Andrew Langford the new HOR over a cup of coffee it now looks like I will be continuing as editor for a few more editions as the honorary editor. The Liaison Letter has afforded me enormous pleasure and reward over the years with the occasional sprinkle of frustration and a dash of ‘why am I doing this’ especially during the time I co-owned and operated a 32, 500 acre cattle property in Central Western Queensland. My colleague Major Gary Down who is also retiring at the end of this year, likewise has agreed to stay on in an honorary role, as the Regimental Gunners Fund treasurer. It is now some 25 years since Army Headquarters realised that with the disbandment of the Corps Directorates, they had lost a key aspect of ensuring Corps were able to maintain and manage those aspects of Regimental life that did not sit comfortably in strategic and capability plans, namely Esprit de Corps and the importance of all that comes with this concept including those unwritten intangible factors and how it contributes to capability. Sadly there are people who cannot grasp that what the HOR and their staff bring to the table is a very important part of capability. In my view this contribution to capability has never really been fully understood or embraced by those in command. Certainly there is regular talk about taking care of the Regimental family, but where the rubber meets the road when it comes to resources for the role it is always at the bottom end of the priority list. I must say that there are a few individuals who do appreciate the importance and are prepared to resource this capability such as our new HOR and DHOR. From the beginning the HOR staff has been a “rag tag” bunch comprising initially two SO2s (one SERCAT 5 and one SERCAT 7) who were tasked with supporting several senior SERCAT 7 appointments who were allotted essentially HOR “Extra Regimental” appointments. These were HOR, DHOR and RMG. About eight years ago the SO2 SERCAT 7 position was disbanded and the position used elsewhere. The RAA has the current HOR to thank for being the motivating force behind creating another SO2 SERCAT 5 position. The downside to this very proactive move was the position came without additional HOR ARTS from AHQ. There must come a time when the Army realises it cannot have it both ways. The HOR cannot be expected to deliver both the tangible as well as the intangible goals of their CA Head of Corps Directive if they are not resourced correctly. The resourcing of the HOR area has basically not changed in many years, however the expectations of what HOR and their staff are expected to deliver increases. A casing point is the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Whilst I feel we have been well ahead of the pack in regard supporting some of the findings, this takes time and resources Whilst I am more than happy to continue in an honorary role as is Major Gary Down, the reality is it should not be necessary. In addition to SO2 staff even today HOR is supported in delivering his responsibilities for both the serving and retired members of the Royal Regiment by other SERCAT 5/7 individuals and most critically volunteers e.g. RAAHC, Regimental History Committee, national and state associations along with a range of miscellaneous heritage and history organisations as well as unit and subunit’s associations. It is not just about supporting HOR but volunteers under pin and / or assist with the preservation of history and heritage along with welfare for retired members especially for their mental health, general well-being and Esprit de Corps. Whilst volunteers are exactly that ‘volunteers’ there comes a times where if not carefully nurtured, volunteer fatigue can set in and if not managed will have a detrimental effect on the wider Royal Regiment.
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