Commando Edition 17 2023

COMMANDO WELFARE TRUST
CWT Chairman’s Report: 2023 Wrap Up
Iam very proud to present to you the Chairman’s
Report which wraps up a strong year for the
Commando Welfare Trust (CWT) especially with a
record-breaking year in terms of fundraising, which has
been critical to this year’s success.
One of our primary focuses is financing the
education of 33 children. We believe every child from
a Special Forces family deserves access to a quality
education, regardless of their financial circumstances.
I would like to thank our donors, notably Roy Hill,
Omni Executive, Sitzler Constructions, Provactus, and
Next Peak whose generosity allowed us to fulfil our
mission of providing emergency and long-term
financial assistance to Special Forces soldiers, veterans,
and their families where the system cannot.
It is also important to thank our Board of Trustees
who volunteer their time to give the CWT strategic
guidance and ensure we are heading in the right
direction.
In addition, I would like to thank our small, but
effective, operational team, formerly under the leader -
ship of Major Steve Pilmore OAM RFD (Retired) and
currently led by Major Paul Dunbavin OAM. They play
a crucial role in ensuring the support and well-being of
our beneficiaries.
Despite a strong year, on 28 th July, our community
was met with one of the biggest tragedies since 2010,
which saw us lose four brave soldiers from the 6th
Aviation Regiment where during a training exercise for
Exercise Talisman Sabre, the MRH-90 helicopter
carrying Captain Daniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell
Nugent, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock,
and Corporal Alexander Naggs crashed into the waters
near Hamilton Island.
jetflightsimulatoradelaide.com.au
The brave soldiers we lost this year in the MRH-90 crash, from left,
Captain Daniel Lyon, Corporal Alexander Naggs, Lieutenant
Maxwell Nugent and Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock.
These courageous men made the ultimate sacrifice
while serving our country, leaving behind devastated
family members who have lost their loved ones.
The families of these fallen soldiers are now
grappling with grief, emotional pain, and financial
uncertainty. The loss of a loved one is often an over -
whelming burden, especially when it comes to
managing immediate expenses and planning for the
future.
We remain dedicated to helping these families
through out their long journey and ensuring the five
children receive the education needed to overcome
the challenges associated with growing up without a
father.
If there are any silver linings in these kinds of
circumstances, it is how quickly Australians banded
together to support the family members of these
soldiers. The generosity we saw was enormous and it
makes me proud to know Australians are always willing
to help those who have served our country.
As Christmas time draws near, we are now sending
out Christmas and back-to-school payments to our
beneficiaries. Given this, the recent funding will play a
critical role in supporting this increase.
For this reason, we will look to build upon our
strong platform in 2024 to ensure we can better serve
our Special Forces community.
The MRH-90 Crash served as a timely reminder of
the dangers Special Forces soldiers face; even when
there is no conflict. Special Operations Command
members train under extremely dangerous conditions,
66 COMMANDO ~ The Magazine of the Australian Commando Association ~ Edition 17 I 2023