Operation Spanner Pack has recognised RAEME personnel applying their trade skills and strengthening defence partnerships during deployments to Papua New Guinea and the United States. In Port Moresby, CPL Stephen Thom and LCPL Jake Shearer supported Mobile Training Team–Bravo, providing practical guidance, mentoring and technical training to Papua New Guinea Defence Force tradesmen at the Force Support Battalion Workshop.
In Lae, six members of the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment—CPL Todd Kitching, CPL Maxwell Gerard, CFN Isaac Carpenter, CFN Angus Frost, CFN Lucas Wren and CFN Rebecca Dunnett—received Spanner Packs while participating in Exercise Puk Puk 2026. Working alongside personnel from Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Fiji, the team contributed to engineering projects, shared technical knowledge and helped strengthen professional relationships across the Pacific.
Further afield, Marine Technicians SGT Warren ‘Squizz’ Taylor, SGT Matthew ‘Doogs’ McDougal and CPL Tyler ‘Ty’ Griinke received a Spanner Pack while supporting a collaborative Australian Army–United States Marine Corps training activity in Alabama. Whether mentoring partner forces, contributing to regional engineering projects or developing Army’s future littoral capability, these RAEME members exemplify the Corps’ tradition of technical excellence, adaptability and service—Arte et Marte.
If you are currently deployed on operations, posted overseas, undertaking long-term training, or are aware of a fellow RAEME member in such circumstances, please let us know. We iwll do our best to organise delivery of a Spanner Pack, ensuring our deployed members receive a reminder that the RAEME family stands firmly behind them.
RAEME National Network
The Corps of RAEME at any one time has a number of soldiers who are serving on operations and other areas on overseas deployment. The RAEME Associations, with your assistance, send "Spanner Packs" (not tools) to our Corps Soldiers on operations. These packs contain items not supplied by Defence or locally available, which will assist our soldiers to live more comfortably and enjoy some of those favourite things they miss from home. As of the end of August 2026, Operation Spanner Pack has provided 4914 Spanner Packs, weighing 10,109 kg to locations as varied as Kuwait, Middle East, Sinai, Iraq, Afghanistan, Thailand, Pakistan, Solomon Is, South Sudan, PNG, Fiji and East Timor. Darwin (Dom OPS), Torres Strait Is., Germany, and UK, including embedded RAEME members.
We have surveyed many of our recent returned soldiers and those about to leave for overseas and we are in the process of putting together lists of favourite items most preferred by the soldiers. Some of these favourite items are food (Vegemite, biscuits and lollies), magazines, packs of cards, hygiene items, games etc. This project is not state, trade or Unit specific and it is hoped that every soldier will receive at least one pack on each rotation deployment/posting overseas.
You can assist us by individual financial donation, becoming a commercial sponsor with appropriate product and/or dollars, putting us in touch with other possible sponsors, that you know would be willing to assist us in this very important Corps project, and all of the above. We are very open to suggestions and assistance. We are sure that all of our members and contacts will be very willing to assist in some positive way. We are also sure that all returned soldiers will know the importance of this project “Operation Spanner Pack”, and will support this worthy project.
More information can be obtained from the RAEME Association Queensland Chairman of the Spanner Pack Sub Committee via
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Donations can be sent as follows:
EFT/Paypal (EFT is the preferred option):
Click on this link to donate via our online shop
- Banking Details - Defence Bank
- BSB: 833205
- Account Number: 20682037
- Account Name: RAEME Association Queensland Inc
RAQ is proud to support and administer this National Program on behalf of all Associations.
