The second RAEME Sunshine Coast Chapter casual get-together for 2026 was held on Sunday, 26 July, with members and guests gathering at the Brightwater Hotel for the first time.
A perfect winter’s day allowed everyone to enjoy the hotel’s covered outdoor area overlooking the lake. The relaxed setting proved to be an excellent choice, providing plenty of space for conversation throughout the afternoon, even as the refreshments encouraged a little more enthusiasm and volume.
Attendance was slightly lower than usual, due mainly to the seasonal winter ailments doing the rounds. Nevertheless, around 35 members and guests enjoyed an afternoon of good company, conversation and Corps camaraderie. The combination of the new venue, outstanding weather and relaxed atmosphere made it one of the Chapter’s most enjoyable gatherings to date.
It was also wonderful to welcome several new faces to the Sunshine Coast group, and we hope to see them again at future activities.
A special thank you goes to Lynette Yates for managing the raffle tickets and expertly keeping everyone organised. Thanks are also extended to Peter Yates and John Dack for their efforts in arranging another successful Chapter event.
All images of the day are on our social page or in the photo gallery.
The next Sunshine Coast casual get-together will be held at the Brightwater Hotel on Sunday, 22 November 2026.
Annual Sunshine Coast Luncheon — Tickets Available Now
Members and friends of RAEME are invited to attend the annual RAQ Sunshine Coast Luncheon at the Maroochydore RSL on Saturday, 12 September 2026.
This year’s guest speaker will be Suzanne Shipp. Suzanne is a highly accomplished executive with more than 30 years’ experience across engineering, asset management, operations, maintenance and strategic leadership. As Energy Queensland’s first female Chief Engineer, she provides technical stewardship across one of Australia’s largest electricity networks, supporting more than two million customers.
Suzanne began her career in the Australian Army as a member of the 46th Apprentice intake, qualifying as an Electronics Technician before commissioning as a RAEME Engineering Officer. She completed more than 14 years of service and concluded her military career as a Captain.
Since leaving the Army, Suzanne has held senior leadership roles across the energy, manufacturing, digital and defence sectors. She is also a strong advocate for engineering, veterans, men’s health, mentoring and greater diversity across technical professions.
At the September RAEME Luncheon, Suzanne will share insights from her military service and her journey into executive leadership.
The luncheon will include a three-course Gold Plate meal, a presentation by Suzanne, and an update on current RAEME and Association activities.
Tickets are available now through the RAQ website and cost:
- $34 per person for RAQ financial members, serving RAEME members and eligible guests; and
- $54 per person for non-members.
With the standard meal price being $64, the luncheon represents exceptional value through the generous support and subsidies provided by the RAEME Association Queensland and the Maroochydore RSL.
Attendance is limited to 100 guests, so members are encouraged to book early and avoid missing one of the highlights of the Sunshine Coast Chapter calendar.
Arte et Marte
RAEME Sunshine Coast Chapter
Bushmaster Power Pack change in action
Video and image credit: Sisters in Arms Australia, @sisters.in.armsau, on Instagram. The original post can be viewed here.
A video shared by Sisters in Arms Australia provides an impressive close-up view of technicians undertaking a power pack change on a Bushmaster PMV.
The footage shows the scale of the power pack assembly and the teamwork, planning and technical expertise required to remove and refit such a major component. It is a great example of the important work undertaken behind the scenes to keep Army’s protected mobility vehicles operational and ready for tasking.
The Bushmaster is an Australian-built protected vehicle designed to transport personnel across a wide range of environments and operational roles.
Source acknowledgment is provided for the footage only and does not imply RAQ endorsement of any associated products or services.
Exercise Southern Jackaroo - NQ
Above: Video highlights of Exercise Southern Jackaroo. Editor's Note: We love s sneaky tri-colour!
Over 3,000 soldiers from Townsville’s 3rd Brigade and other supporting elements from throughout Army, together with force elements from the United States Army, United States Marine Corps (Marine Rotational Force – Darwin), and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force participated in Exercise Southern Jackeroo within Townsville Field Training Area from 29 May – 03 July 2026. Consisting of a Field Training Exercise (FTX) and Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise (CALFX), Southern Jackeroo aims to enhance interoperability through large-scale collective training. The trilateral exercise is held annually and reflects the strength of our enduring military relationship with the United States and Japan. As part of the 3rd Brigade’s Combined Warfighter, bilateral exercises Mallee Bull with the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Tiger Dingo with the Republic of Korea Army, and Wantok Warrior with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, occurred concurrently within Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. These exercises demonstrated Australia’s commitment to regional security and strengthened interoperability with key partners through realistic and complex training.
Image and article adapted courtesy of Defence
