A member of the Australian Defence Force taking a breather in the Middle East with a gift donated by Vogue magazine for ANZAC Day care packages
Earlier this year I sent out a call to my mates in the media asking if they would like to contribute to my inaugural ANZAC Day care package drive for our 3000 soldiers, sailors and airmen and women currently deployed overseas in Afghanistan, East Timor and the Solomon Islands.
Everyone jumped at the opportunity and donated magazines and books and even some treats and toys for the dogs of the Explosive Detection Dog Section, the highly-trained hounds who are saving lives in Uruzgan Province by sniffing out dangerous improvised explosive devices and roadside bombs – the Taliban’s weapons of choice.
The editor of That’s Life! magazine, Linda Smith, donated dozens and dozens of puzzle books that kept the Australian Defence Force personnel in crosswords and Sudoku for months.
Lizzie Renkert, Jackie Frank and Kirstie Clements – the stylish editors of fashion magazines, Madison, marie claire and Vogue donated the latest editions of their glossy monthlies, as did top bloke Stephen Corby, the editor of the top-selling Top Gear magazine.
Helen McCabe, who helms The Australian Women’s Weekly and her team contributed several boxes of magazines and puzzle books, as did Felicity Harley from Women’s Health. GQ did its bit – obviously for the more stylish soldier!
The Australian book publisher of the year, Allen and Unwin, (who also publish my latest book, Saving Private Sarbi, donated a pile of books a metre high, as did my literary agent, Selwa Anthony.
I have received some of the most moving letters from soldiers in Afghanistan, East Timor and the Sollies expressing how much it means to them that the Australian public is thinking of them, supporting them and grateful for their service overseas. We thank them for making huge sacrifices by being away from home for months at a time, particularly at important times of the year such as ANZAC Day and Christmas.
Here’s a selection of their comments.
Phil, Warrant Officer Class Two in Afghanistan:
“You would be surprised at how much a boost it gives each and everyone of us to receive mail and gifts from home. We are currently very busy here as this is the peak time of year for the Taliban due to the good weather (they don’t like to be out and about in the cold weather), but that said, we will always have time for a good read and you can be sure the magazines and books will get read from cover to cover and many times over.”
Some of the sailors with their ANZAC Day care package treats donated by my media mates
And this, from Able Seaman Julie;
“I’m emailing as I was the lucky recipient of one of your ANZAC Day Packages. Thank you very much, it was much appreciated! Both myself and the other girls were glad to receive some feminine reading material. It was also humbling to know that people appreciate our work over here.”
This one in particularly poignant and moving, from a female RAAFie, Middle East:
“Thank you so much for your package. We appreciate it. Everyone had a flick through them, I even found the boys reading the Women’s Health mag 🙂 I especially loved the girly ones as they were a reminder of all the fashion, makeup and girly things back home I am missing out on! 🙂
“As I am only young, I know I haven’t had a great deal of experience in many jobs, but from what I have seen over here, I doubt you would find this sort of support in any other organisation, my experience here has allowed me to see this, and definitely makes me proud of being part of it. Let me set the scene for you……
“Its 9pm, I have no idea what day it is because you lose track of what day is which. We had plenty of work on the planes as the major maintenance team had a long 12 hour shift ahead to get them fixed to fly at 6am the following morning. If all went well, we would have one fixed and good to continue with missions over Afghanistan. Normally up our end of the tarmac it’s pretty empty and apart from the firies, not many people around. Tonight, there is a large gathering of Army personnel just waiting. About an hour later, a C17 lands. This is nothing unusual, there are planes coming and going 24 hours a day here, but then something out of the ordinary happened. The C17 shut down its engines, and the group of Army personnel started to move towards the aircraft.
“As the back door of the C17 drops, the crowd come to attention. A large camouflage vehicle rolls silently out the back of the C17. The air is silent, and almost eerie. Never is the tarmac quiet, but tonite, you could hear a pin drop. This C17 has arrived carrying the body of our lost Soldier from Afghanistan. The vehicle drove out, and was escorted to the morgue, where it is to be under tight security until the Repatriation Ceremony the following day.”It’s now almost 11pm, the temperature is about 38 degrees and more humid than Darwin. The Army have all grouped quietly around the edge of the tarmac and begun practicing for the Repat Ceremony the following day. This had to be the most respectful thing I have ever witnessed. For hours, the group of Army boys marched around stood at attention, carried out drill until it was nothing but 150% perfect. Never have I witnessed such a sense of honour and brotherhood among a group of Military personnel.
“I was more amazed and proud of the way in which that soldier was being escorted home. What was important was that the body of our fallen soldier would be returned home respectfully. Our fallen soldier would return home a hero, he would return home in the most honourable and respectful way. It was at that point that I realised how proud I am to be part of the Australian Defence Force, and it is such a comforting feeling to know that if anything were to happen to me, no matter where I was, or what I was doing, I would not just be forgotten about, I would be returned home to my loved ones honourably, and they would be offered all the care and support they needed during that time.”
Now that’s something to think about.
A loyal mutt guards the piles of ANZAC Day care packages to be sent to her hero-hounds from the Explosive Dog Detection Section
As the festive season approaches, the same generous editors and publishers have come to the party again for the Christmas Day care package drive, and this time the talented writer Tara Moss has sent a pile of her books, as did prolific authors Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson and broadcaster and all-round great girl, Libbi Gorr. Men’s Health have sent copies of their mags for the boys in uniform, and Harper Collins (who published my book about an SAS war hero in Afghanistan, 18 Hours) have donated a stack of books.
One of my favourite Australian singers, David Campbell, has donated a couple of signed copies of his newest CD, Let’s Go, which was released this week. And super prolific Aussie author, sports commentator and all-round good bloke, Peter FitzSimons delivered 10 signed copies of his best-sellers.
Another great friend, Alex Olsson, has also donated a pile of her absolutely glorious body products from her OP Therapy range for our female soldiers. And Australia’s best columnist, Miranda Devine from The Daily Telegraph and Melbourne’s Herald Sun – the biggest selling daily newspaper in the country – donated two huge boxes of lollies as a Christmas treat.
The Christmas Day care packages will be sent in early December to make it to the troops who will receive them at random on Christmas Day. It’s the least we could do to let them know we are thinking of them at this special time of year.
For more information about how you can thank our brave men and women of the Australian Defence Force, visit the ADF website or go here to the direct link.
Lest we forget.
UPDATE: Thanks to the generosity of all of the above, we managed to send 205 individual Christmas Day care packages to our soldiers, sailors and airmen and women serving in Afghanistan, East Timor and the Solomon Islands.
