COMMANDO News Magazine - Edition 16, 2019

AUSTRALIAN COMMANDO ASSOCIATION
Australian Commando Association Inc.
PRESIDENT – MAJGEN Greg Melik AO. RFD. SC.
aca_president@commando.org.au
SECRETARY – MAJ John Thurgar, SC. OAM. MBE. RFD. (Retd)
aca_secretary@commando.org.au
VICE PRESIDENT – MAJ Steve Pilmore OAM. RFD. (Retd)
aca_vpresident@commando.org.au
TREASURER – MAJ Bruce O’Conner, OAM. RFD. (Retd)
aca_treasurer@commando.org.au
PUBLIC OFFICER – MAJ Brian Liddy, OAM. (Retd)
aca_publicofficer@commando.org.au
Web Address – www.commando.org.au
Contact - aca_secretary@commando.org.au
NATIONAL VICE-PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Hello Members,
I am writing this editions Presidential Report as
I have a pleasant duty to perform.
On behalf of you all, I am pleased to offer our
collective congratulations to our President on the
occasion of his election as National President of
the Returned & Services League of Australia.
Before he accepted this new role GEN Melick,
as we would expect of a senior Barrister, a Major
General, an Integrity Commissioner, a Wine
Producer and a former Special Investigator for
Cricket Australia, examined all matters relevant
to any perceived or actual conflict of interest in
holding the same position at both the RSL and the
ACA.
Given all those roles, I am surprised that our
President found time to look at anything extra, but
he did and fortunately for us he found no reason
why he cannot fulfil both roles as well as all of
the others he handles on a regular basis. Recent
events indicate he will have plenty to do in his new
role as well!
Both the President and most members of the
National Committee attended the now traditional
Op Rimau Commemoration held mid- July. This
event in recent years has been held on the aft
deck of the original HMAS Diamantina – now a
decommissioned River Class Frigate and one of
the major attractions at the Queensland Maritime
Museum.
The service featured an emotional call of the
Roll of Honour of all Commandos lost in both
training and combat operations post WW II whilst
young schoolboys came forward with a small white
cross bearing the name of each soldier lost. It is
a moving service attended now for many years
by the Governor of Queensland, His Excellency
the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC QC, as well as
senior Special Operations Command members.
The National Committee then takes the
chance to gather for one of our quarterly National
Committee Meetings.
Many issues were addressed and your State
delegates to the National Committee will fill you
in on the major points but it is worthwhile here
reporting that one matter addressed was that of
E-membership – a sure sign that the Australian
Commando Association is moving, albeit slowly
and carefully, into the modern era of internet and
social media platforms.
From the Commando Welfare Trust news desk
– a Black Tie Dinner is being held in Sydney on
Friday 13th September 2019 at Doltone House
Hyde Park Sydney – the booking form is available
elsewhere in this edition of Commando News. It
would be great to see some support from ACA
Members (see attached flyer).
Finally, if you’re going to be in the Wilsons
Promontory region of Victoria around the 15-17
November 2019 period be sure to find out about
the ACA Vic Tidal River Pilgrimage as this year
it will feature some VIP guests at what is already
another wonderful ACA traditional event.
Commando 4 Life
Steve Pilmore
National Vice President
Australian Commando Association
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 16 | 2019 5