RAA Liaison Letter 2025/2026 Edition 5 Letters to the Editor Positive Feedback Got the above today. It must be a nightmare bringing this together from such a vast array of contributors. The result is a very professional production that you can be justly proud of. I look forward to being able to visit the Army Museum Puckapunyal next year. Great Work, LTCOL Bob Lowry (Retd) Editor. Thank you for your wonderful feedback, yes at times it can be a tad frustrating, however comments like yours make it all worthwhile. Widow’s Message On the passing of John Elliott. I would like to record that John always enjoyed the Liaison Letter. Read it cover to cover, and appreciated the work involved by you. Many thanks Margaret (Maggie) Elliott A Proud Gunner For many years I have been on the mailing list for RAA Liaison Letter. I have also been a member of RAAHC. I am a retired Army Reserve officer. Although commissioned as an infantry officer in Melbourne University Regiment about two thirds of my army career was spent in artillery, until I reached the rank of LTCOL. After that it was all non-corps postings. However I remain a gunner and that’s where my friends still are. In civilian life I practised as a solicitor in Melbourne for over 50 years. I turn 80 years of age this year. I now struggle to keep up with what is going on in the Royal Regiment. I am part of a quarterly gunner luncheon group that Colonel Jason Cooke is a member of, and Jason keeps us up to date and that really is sufficient for me. I am conscious of the cost (not to mention the enormous effort) that must go into putting the Liaison Letter together and circulating it and feel uncomfortable that sending it to me adds in a small way to that cost. For the benefit I get from it the cost is not justifiable. I ask that I be removed from the mailing list but thank you for keeping me on it for so long. Kind Regards LTCOL John Henry (Retd) RAA National Memorial Update Dear fellow gunners and supporters on behalf of the Regimental Committee, many thanks again for your contribution to the Royal Australian Artillery National Memorial extension project. I write to provide a brief update. In retrospect, 2025 was a very good year for us. We began with an agreed concept for an extended Memorial but not much beyond that. We now have a: • group of eminent Australians including two former Governors General, an Australian Senator, and the President of RSL Australia, who have lent their names and support to the project; • network of working level supporters from Army and the corporate sector; • developing understanding of regulatory requirements; • maturing suite of drawings and technical specifications; • more refined order of magnitude fundraising target of $600,000; • good understanding of the DVA grants under the Saluting Their Service program; and • growing bank balance that is approaching the level we need to apply for a DVA grant. Our next steps include: • finalising our document suite; • securing necessary regulatory approvals; • going to tender to identify a preferred builder and confirm a price for the works; and • finalising fundraising including applying for a DVA grant. While there is still much to do, we are hopeful that we’ll commence construction in late 2026 or early 2027 and plan to rededicate the Memorial in 2027, the 50th year since its original opening. As the project has unfolded, we have been greatly encouraged by the support of the gunner community and some extraordinary generosity from several private and corporate benefactors. That said, we’re not there yet on fundraising, and we’d very much welcome any further taxdeductible donations you might be able to make. We’d also greatly appreciate you continuing to talk about the project and encouraging other donors. May I also acknowledge the efforts and achievements of our very hard-working project team. Many thanks again for your support and warm regards, Michael Crane DSC & Bar, AM
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