RAEME Association Queensland Inc

Join the RAEME Association Darling Downs for its final luncheon of the year and an early celebration of the Corps Birthday!

Members, guests, families, partners and anyone associated with the Corps are warmly invited to the Ambrose Deck at the City Golf Club in Toowoomba. It’s a great opportunity to catch up with mates, celebrate our shared Corps connection and round out the year together.

City Golf Club membership is free and lasts for three years, offering discounts on meals and drinks, along with free tickets in the monthly car draw held on the last Sunday of each month.

• Date: Sunday 15 November 2026
• Time: 12.00 pm–4.00 pm
• Venue: Ambrose Deck, Toowoomba City Golf Club, 254 South Street, South Toowoomba
• Catering: Meals and drinks available at your own cost
• Dress: Casual
• RSVP: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Organisers: Peter Pile and Clarrie Sanders

Further details will be published closer to the day.

Please pass on the invitation to anyone who would enjoy coming along. We look forward to seeing you there!

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RAQ NQ end-of-year gathering – Saturday 12 December 2026

Above: Members and guests enjoying the September 2026 gathering

Join RAQ North Queensland for an end-of-year get-together at The Vale Hotel, with an afternoon of mateship, good company and Corps camaraderie.

All RAQ members, current and former RAEME members, and friends of the Corps are warmly invited. Those travelling from further afield are encouraged to make a weekend of it and enjoy some North Queensland hospitality.

• When: Saturday 12 December 2026, from 12.30 pm onwards
• Where: The Vale Hotel, 222 Ross River Road, Aitkenvale QLD 4814
• Venue phone: (07) 4779 0100

The afternoon will include a RAEME badge raffle, a $100 member draw and bar snacks from 1.30 pm. RAEME merchandise will also be available for purchase.

Come along, catch up with old mates, meet new friends and celebrate the end of the year—RAEME NQ style!

Enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Call for Contributions – The Craftsman 2026

RAEME units and associations are invited to begin preparing articles for the 2026 edition of The Craftsman.

OCs, ASMs and Association Presidents are encouraged to identify members who can share their unit’s or association’s activities, achievements and highlights from 2026.

Articles should be submitted to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. no later than 11 December 2026.

Photographs may be embedded in the Word document, but the original image files must also be submitted separately to ensure the publisher receives high-resolution copies. Please do not submit photographs copied from other publications or the internet.

The electronic 2025 edition of The Craftsman is availalbe here.

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Operation Spanner Pack - A little piece of home

Operation Spanner Pack provides care packages, not tools, to RAEME members serving on operations, posted overseas or undertaking long-term training away from their usual support networks.

Administered by the RAEME Association Queensland (RAQ) on behalf of the RAEME National Network, the program sends familiar comforts and useful items that may not be supplied by Defence or readily available locally. Packs may include Australian snacks, biscuits, lollies, Vegemite and  RAEME merchandise.

As of the end of August 2026, Operation Spanner Pack has provided 4914 Spanner Packs, weighing 10,109 kg to RAEME personnel serving on operations.

The program supports RAEME members who are deployed on operations, posted overseas, undertaking long-term training or engagement activities, or embedded with another organisation or partner force.

Operation Spanner Pack is not state, trade or unit specific. Members can request a pack themselves, while commanders, colleagues, family members and friends are encouraged to nominate eligible RAEME personnel. 

There is no lifetime limit on receiving Spanner Packs. If you received a pack during a previous deployment or posting, you are still entitled to receive another during your current or any future deployment. For longer deployments, we would also like to send you a second pack during the deployment.

If you are deployed or serving away from your usual support network, don’t be shy about asking for a Spanner Pack, we genuinely want to hear from you.

You are not taking a pack away from somebody else. The purpose of the program is to support RAEME members like you and remind you that the Corps family is thinking of you.

To request a pack or nominate someone, contact:

MAJ (Retd) Tom Cross
Spanner Pack Coordinator
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Please provide the member’s rank and name, unit, activity, location, expected duration and an appropriate contact or postal arrangement. Operational security must always be maintained.

Operation Spanner Pack relies on the generosity of the wider RAEME community. Individuals and businesses can support the program through financial donations, commercial sponsorship, suitable products or introductions to potential sponsors.

For information about donating or otherwise supporting the program, visit:

Operation Spanner Pack

Every contribution helps remind another deployed RAEME member that the Corps family remembers them and stands firmly behind them.

Arte et Marte

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2026 Craftsman Series - Ordering deadline extended to 31 October 2026

The 2026 RAEME Craftsman Series, featuring this year’s commemorative Craftsman Port (Tawny) and Single Malt Whisky, is available to purchase.

In recognition of several significant milestones within both the Australian Army and the Corps, Army Headquarters (AHQ) has proudly sponsored this year’s release in partnership with Chief’s Son Distillery, a proudly Australian veteran-owned business renowned for its premium handcrafted spirits.

The 2026 Craftsman Series commemorates:

• 125 years of the Australian Army
• 84 years of the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
• 40 years of the Prince Philip Banner

This special release honours the dedication, professionalism, and enduring legacy of RAEME soldiers past and present, while celebrating the proud history and traditions of the Corps.

Special recognition should also go to WO1 Marcellin Chee and WO1 Marc Craigie, who have been instrumental in driving and coordinating this year’s release. Their work behind the scenes has helped bring together a fitting commemorative product that reflects the heritage, pride, and craftsmanship of the Corps.

Produced in collaboration with Chief’s Son Distillery, the Craftsman Series offers members and supporters an opportunity to secure a unique commemorative item while also supporting an Australian veteran-owned business.

Product Details

• 700 ml Craftsman Port (Tawny) – $60.00 - Available
• 700 ml Single Malt Whisky – $87.00 - Available
• Postage – $19 (up to 6 bottles)

• PLEASE NOTE – Maximum purchase of six bottles per order, in any combination.

Delivery will occur in batches throughout 2026.

How to Order

To place an order, please scan the QR code or click on this link.

All orders will be delivered directly to your door.

Orders are now open, with final orders closing on 31 October unless sold out sooner.

This release provides a unique opportunity to secure a high-quality commemorative product while supporting a veteran-owned Australian distillery and celebrating the enduring heritage of the Corps.

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Chief of Army Symposium ‘Hardwired for Adaptation’ - Perth

Above: From left: Admiral Mark Hammond, AO, RAN, Chief of the Defence Force; the Hon. Richard Marles MP, Acting Prime Minister; and Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, AM, CSC, DSM, Chief of Army, during the symposium’s fireside chat on Wednesday 7 October 2026. Click on the image to view.

The Chief of Army Symposium 2026 (CAS 2026), the Australian Army’s premier annual event, was held in conjunction with the Land Forces 2026 International Land Defence Exposition on 7–8 October at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The event brought together representatives from defence, industry, academia and government, alongside international military leaders from more than 20 nations, to examine the changing character of war.

Above: Regimental Sergeant Major-Army, Warrant Officer Bradley Doyle OAM,and Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Susan Coyle AM CSC DSM answers questions during the Junior Leadership Fellowship as part of the Chief of Army Symposium 2026.

Under the theme ‘Hardwired for Adaptation’, presenters explored how Army must embed continual adaptation across its roles as a profession, a fighting force and a national institution. Discussions moved beyond theory to address the practical realities of professional culture, foresight, force design, funding and industry collaboration.

The programme included a fireside chat featuring the Hon. Richard Marles MP, Acting Prime Minister; Admiral Mark Hammond, AO, RAN, Chief of the Defence Force; and Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, AM, CSC, DSM, Chief of Army.

For the RAEME community, the theme resonates strongly. Technical ingenuity, practical problem-solving and the ability to sustain equipment in changing conditions remain central to the Corps’ contribution. These skills will continue to play an essential role as Army adapts to future operational demands.

Article adapted from information and photographs supplied by Defence.

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RAEME Annual Get Together 24 - 26 Feb 2027 - BP Dam

The RAEME Annual Get Together returns in February 2027 and will celebrate its 10th Anniversary, with another great weekend of mateship, food and Corps camaraderie planned.

Bookings are now open, with a range of meal options available, including the special $50 Value Pack PLUS, which includes Friday and Saturday meals together with 10th Anniversary commemorative items. A special anniversary port and a major raffle featuring a $5,000 Flight Centre voucher will also form part of the weekend.

Accommodation at BP Dam is filling quickly, with cabins, villas and powered sites already booked out, although unpowered camping and some alternative accommodation remain available.

Book online:
https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1614051

The RAEME Association Queensland warmly invites you to Women in RAEME 2026, celebrating the achievements and contributions of women across RAEME, Defence and industry.

Everyone is welcome, including veterans and their families, serving ADF members, Defence and industry representatives, members of the wider business community, friends and supporters.

Join us at The Ship Inn, South Brisbane, on Friday, 27 November 2026, from 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm, for inspirational speakers, canapés and a lucky door prize in a relaxed and welcoming setting.

Tickets are $25 per person. Places are limited, so early registration is strongly encouraged.

Our latest guest speaker: Melanie Annand, President of Women Veterans Network Australia

 

We’re pleased to announce Melanie Annand as our latest guest speaker. A Royal Australian Navy veteran, mental health support worker and advocate, Melanie brings more than 16 years’ experience supporting veterans and their families across Australia.

As President of Women Veterans Network Australia, Melanie provides national leadership focused on recognition, connection and better outcomes for women who have served. Her work spans veteran wellbeing, welfare advocacy, crisis support and community connection, with a strong commitment to trauma-informed, person-centred support.

Melanie has also contributed to national discussions and submissions on veteran wellbeing, military sexual trauma and service system reform, including contributions to the Australian Human Rights Commission and parliamentary inquiry processes. She is an Associate Investigator with Phoenix Australia and an advisory partner with La Trobe University on research relating to military sexual trauma among serving and former Australian Defence Force members.

Melanie’s contribution to the veteran community has been recognised through several honours, including Life Membership with RSL Australia for more than 15 years of dedicated service to veterans and their families.

We look forward to hearing Melanie’s perspectives on supporting women veterans, strengthening community connections and advocating for meaningful, long-term change.

Also joining us: Julie Fedorniak, retired Warrant Officer Class Two

Julie’s 21-year Australian Army career encompassed vehicle maintenance, technical leadership and training. After initially serving in the Royal Australian Corps of Transport, she transferred to RAEME in 1988 and qualified as a vehicle mechanic.

Her postings included Townsville, Bandiana and Darwin. At the 5th Aviation Regiment, she became the regiment’s first female “black trades” Artificer Sergeant Major. Following her Army service, Julie moved into civilian fleet management as Fleet Manager at James Cook University.

Julie will share her experiences of life in RAEME and the transition from military service to civilian fleet management.

Lieutenant Colonel Alison Lee, CSM (Retd)

An aeronautical engineer and former senior Army officer, Alison’s distinguished career included operational service in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.

As Officer Commanding Technical Support Squadron at the 5th Aviation Regiment, she coordinated aviation maintenance, supported operational deployments and oversaw the introduction of the MRH-90 Taipan. She was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal in recognition of her achievements and service.

After retiring from the Army in 2013, Alison held senior defence industry roles and is now Head of Logistics – Australia for PentenAmio. She brings valuable insights into military service, aviation engineering and defence industry leadership.

Event details

• Date: Friday, 27 November 2026
• Time: 6.00 pm–8.00 pm
• Venue: The Ship Inn, South Brisbane
• Cost: $25 per person
• Includes: Inspirational speakers, canapés and a lucky door prize

Everyone is welcome. RSVP is essential as places are limited. Register for Women in RAEME 2026.

Women in RAEME 2026 is proudly sponsored by the RAEME Association Queensland Inc.

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RAEME Corps History - Operation Palate – A RAEME Officer in Afghanistan, 2003–2004

Above: LTCOL Chris Mead with 'The lads'!

Not every RAEME member deployed to Afghanistan enjoyed the comradeship and support of members of the Corps. One RAEME officer, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Mead, deployed to Afghanistan in April 2003 as the first, and at that time, the only Australian Military Advisor to the UN Assistance Mission Afghanistan (UNAMA). Operation PALATE was the name given the mission until May 2004 which was the duration of Mead’s deployment. After the return of ADF combat troops to Afghanistan during mid-2005, Operation PALATE II was raised as a two man mission; later further expanding to a four man mission. While UNAMA was a political mission, it came under control of the UN’s Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and it was decided that a uniformed component of the Mission was required to assist the civilian component in interacting with and coordinating the heavy foreign military presence building in Afghanistan.

There was a very healthy level of scepticism within the UNAMA leadership over the usefulness of five military officers in what they saw was essentially a civilian political mission (forget about the militarised Afghan environment).

Above: Field repair Afghan style

Soon after arriving in Kabul I was deployed north to the city of Mazar-i-Sharif to assist resolve severe factional fighting between local warlords. After a bumpy flight over the Hindu Kush, I arrived at the old Soviet airfield outside Mazar. The UNAMA Office in Mazar was responsible for the five northern provinces, Balkh, Samangan, Sar-i Pul, Jawzjan and Faryab. The Head of Office (HOO) gave me my ‘marching orders’ to take a two-vehicle convoy to the western town of Maymana in Faryab province, approximately 280 km away and assist in the establishment of a cease-fire. A quick lesson on Afghan geography; a road on a map does not necessarily mean a road on the ground and six hours later we arrived. I spent a month in and around Maymana negotiating with factional leaders and local commanders to get the two warring parties separated, their heavy weapons contained and to return to the negotiating table. At the end of the month, I returned to Kabul, before returning to Mazar at the request of the UNAMA (civilian) Chief of Staff who now saw the utility of having a uniform in a regional location.

Above: Chris Mead with General Rashid Dostum (left) and deputy VIII Corps Commander Juma Khan Hamdard.

Back in Mazar I quickly established relationships with the commanders of the two warring factions (VII and VIII Afghan Army Corps). Both Corps could field combat-ready and proven troops equipped with numerous heavy weapons. The control of the military forces in the Northern region while nominally under the MOD in Kabul resided in reality with both General Rashid Dostum (an Uzbek) and Mohammad Ustad Atta (a Tajik). Both hated each other intensely and used their troops frequently in attempts to seize each other’s territory.

As the concept of a military advisor (MA) in regional offices had commenced with my deployment to Mazar, there was no ‘duty statement’ guiding what I was supposed to do, and it quickly became apparent that the scope of my duties was mine to establish. Having established good relationships with the various militias, I turned my attention to the police. UNAMA had no Police Advisors in the Northern Region so applying the Afghan rule that a uniform will open doors I started a career as Police Advisor. Both RAEME training and my experience as a Workshop OC were useful as I negotiated and cajoled my way around a range of issues concerning security sector reform in the lead up to the elections.

Above: Russian jeeps mounted with MI-8 rocket pods (left) and BM-12 rocket launcher (right)

At the end of May 2004 I flew out of Afghanistan after 13 months’ service. Frequently those I was dealing with would be astonished to discover that I was a Logistics officer rather than a member of an Arms’ Corps. On reflection, my time in Afghanistan was one of the most demanding but rewarding jobs I had in 27 years of service. It always brought a smile to my face when asked: ‘But how come you know so much about (topic)?’ My response, with a smile of course, was: ‘I’m RAEME, it’s part of our job to know’.

Source: With Skill and Fighting – Craftsmen of the Australian Army 1942–2014. Photographs provided by Chris Mead.

Copies of the Corps History Book are available to order through the RAQ Online Shop.