Above: L-R Brian Daley OAM at his Honorary Life Member Award ceremony, presented by RAQ Chair Peter Matthews
It was my great honourer, alongside RAQ Patron COL (RTD) Tony Borg to present Brian Daley with Honorary Life Member No.12 at the All Ranks Luncheon on Sunday 30 November 2025.
His award reads as follows:
In recognition of his outstanding and enduring contribution to the Association, our Corps, and the wider community.
A member since the Association’s foundation days, Brian has been an active and dedicated contributor. In his current role as Apprentice News and Functions Officer, his leadership, enthusiasm, and ability to connect across generations embody the very spirit of RAEME.
Brian has been instrumental in preserving the memory and heritage of Bulimba Barracks. During the redevelopment of the site, he dedicated countless hours working with local council representatives, developers, and elected officials to ensure the Bulimba Memorial will be respectfully relocated and preserved for future generations. His determination and advocacy have safeguarded an important piece of RAEME history and ensured that the service and sacrifice of our Corps members will continue to be honoured in perpetuity.
Through his vision, dedication, and selfless service, Brian exemplifies the finest values of RAEME and the spirit of our Association.
On behalf of the RAEME Association Queensland, congratulations Brian on a very well deserved award.
Arte et Marte
It’s a wrap… Women In RAEME plus friends and family 2025 - what a night!
Honoured once again to organise our annual event - this year being our 3rd and encouraged even more so to keep them coming.
Our why? To build connection, inspire the next generation, share stories, encourage more women into trades and engineering and the military in general.
Thank you to Michelle Lafferty for your support and help coordinating our night and a special thanks to the RAEME Association of QLD for sponsoring - we couldn’t do it without you!
Our numbers are growing steadily from the first one in 2023 and last night over 40 registered.
And what an extremely special night it was.
My gift - was meeting up again with friends I hadn’t seen in probably 20 years or more.
Above: uest speaker Joanne Cornelius
We also had a special guest Joanne Cornelius who flew in from Melbourne to share her amazing career story as well as other current serving women who shared their insights and wow, what exciting adventures they have ahead of them.
After last night they now know that they are not alone and are part of a special cohort here to always support and encourage each other along the way.
Above: Jessica Hampton and Alina Hutton guest speakers.
Thank you to the Quilts of Valour Australia for presenting the special gifts to some of our veterans.
Thank you to the Women Veteran Network of Australia Inc and Melanie Annand for sharing the work you do to support women veterans nationally.
For those that blazed the trail … thank you
For those … that seek connection … you will always be a part of our special bond and sisterhood. The Camaraderie lives on.
For the men that advocate and support us… thank you!
For our friends in adjoining corps and services … you are most welcome and will always be included as part of our family.
I cherish with fond memories my time in the army - the foundation of resilience, the training platform in which I have established a successful career and most importantly the life long friends that have become my family. I will be forever grateful.
Calling all bluebells for 2026 and bring along a friend …
Suzanne Shipp
ARTE ET MARTE
RAQ 2025 AGM and Monthly Meeting
Above: Members enjoying a catch up after the AGM and monthly meeting
As a member based community organisation, we value and welcome all our new members of the Association.
Thank you to all our members who support our mission to promote and reinforce the spirit and reputation of the Corps in Queensland.
There will be many items that will come out in the respective minutes, however I wanted to highlight some of the key achievements at the AGM and monthly meeting, these included:
- Provision for a Community Service fund donation to Quilts of Valour
- Funding for Spanner Pack locked into next year's budget
- Financial statement & Auditor’s Report FY24/25 Treasurer
- Appointment of an auditor
- Public liability insurance determination
- Statement of Remuneration
Thankyou to everyone who attended and contributed to the discussions on the night.
Operation Spanner Pack - PNG
Above: Top clockwise: LTCOL Arron Kinleyside, MAJ Chris Pike, WO2 David Shepherd, MAJ Matt Scanlon & LTCOL Tony Evans
Good Afternoon Tom,
Hope all is well with you and the board.
Thank you all so much for the Spanner packs for myself and the other RAEME Personnel posted to PNG. We really appreciated it.
Just to make yourself and the readers aware, of the five personnel receiving the Spanner Packs, only two had received a Spanner Pack before.
First Time recipients of the Spanner Packs were:
- LTCOL Tony Evans – PNG ADA
- MAJ Matt Scanlon – PNG DCP OC LAE (King of the North)
- MAJ Chris Pike – PNG DCP SO2 LOG
The three first timers were very appreciative and humbled to be receiving a spanner pack and Christmas card.
Unfortunately, due to work commitments we were all unable to catch up at the same time on the glorious day that is RAEME Birthday, but we did all get to open the Spanner Packs on the day and get a pic.
To all the Board and committee of the RAQ, Thank you and have a great Christmas and New Year. Wishing all the Brothers and Sisters of the greatest Corps in Army a Merry Christmas and a Wonderful 2026 from us all here in PNG.
I look forward to working with you again in the new year to again provide Spanner Packs to the RAEME personnel that deploy on MTT rotations in 2026.
WO2 David Shepherd
Hello Shep,
Thank you for the photos and the kind words for the RAQ and the RAEME network.
We appreciate the feedback and hope the personnel that have received the Spanner packs for the first time can assist us in ensuring future deployed or posted RAEME personnel can get the similar care packs to show how the veteran RAEME organisation looks after our people.
I truly hope the rest of RAEME DCP Staffs’ posting is successful and you all have a safe and merry Christmas and a happy new year.
P.S. Thank you Shep for all your help in letting me know when RAEME Pers are in your Loc. and ensuring they get the Spanner Packs when I send them. I will look forward to working with you again in 2026.
Kind Regards,
Editor's Note: The RAQ proudly administers this program on behalf of all RAEME Associations in Australia.
As of the end of Nov 2025, Operation Spanner Pack has provided 4891 Spanner Packs, weighing 10,065Kg to locations as varied as Kuwait, Middle East, Sinai, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Solomon Is, South Sudan, PNG, Fiji and East Timor. Darwin (Dom OPS), Torres Strait Is., Germany, and UK, including embedded RAEME members.
If you'd like to know more or to donate, go to the Operation Spanner Pack webpage.
6th Aviation Brigade Parade - Townsville
Above: Officers and soldiers of the 16th Aviation Brigade stand on parade at Hamel Lines in Townsville, Queensland.
In December 2025, the 16th Aviation Brigade conducted a number of ceremonial parades to recognise significant changes to the force disposition of the Brigade. These events included parades in both Darwin and Townsville to mark the relocation of the 1st Aviation Regiment, the Layup of A SQN 5th Aviation Regiment, and the establishment of the 16th Aviation Support Battalion.
Image and information reproduced courtesy of Defence
