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ARMY
Principal Chaplain - Army
Welcome
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Welcome to the Royal Australian Army Chaplains' Department website.
Principal Chaplain of the Australian Army
Russell Mutzelburg  |
| PRINCHAP R.W. Mutzelburg |
Russell Mutzelburg was born in 1954 in Ayr, Queensland. Being in a police family he later moved to Pomona and then Brisbane where he completed his secondary education at Aspley State High in 1970. After working as an insurance clerk, and later with a television network, he entered Kenmore Christian College, Queensland in 1974 to undertake studies for ministry with the Churches of Christ. He graduated in 1978. After short ministry placements in Vanuatu and Queensland, he was commissioned as a full-time Army chaplain on 4 March 1987.
Over 20 years of military service, Russell has had postings to a variety of Land and Training Command units, including an operational deployment to OP BEL ISI, Bougainville in 1998. In 2001 to 2002 he served as Senior Chaplain Army Headquarters where he was granted the Chief of Defence Force Commendation (2003). Russell was promoted to Principal Chaplain - Army January 2007.
Chaplain Mutzelburg is an ordained minister of the Churches of Christ, graduating in 1978 with a Diploma in Ministry. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (majors in Religious Studies and Anthropology) from the University of Queensland (1980); a Graduate Diploma in Education (Religious Education) from the University of South Australia (1990), a Graduate Diploma in Asian Studies (majoring in Indonesian language) from the University of New England (1993); a Master of Arts in Religion (majoring in Comparative Religion and Contemporary Religious Movements) from the University of Queensland (1997); and a Graduate Certificate in Chaplaincy (1997).
In 1976, Russell married Jeanette, a native-born Indonesian. They have three adult children, two daughters, Kartika and Sari, and one son, Pria. Russell's hobbies include fishing, bonsai, and woodturning.
Principal Chaplain (Roman Catholic)
Gregory Flynn  |
| PRINCHAP G.K. FLYNN |
Gregory Keith Flynn was born in Sydney, NSW in 1947 of Norbert and Gloria (nee Coleman); eldest boy of four children: older sister, Susan, twin sister Jane (deceased), and younger brother, Christopher. Usually known as Greg, he grew up in the rural areas of western Sydney and completed schooling at Oakhill College, Castle Hill.
Greg commenced studies for Roman Catholic Priesthood in 1965 at St Columba's College, Springwood and St Patrick's College, Manly. He graduated with Bachelor of Theology (BTh) and Diploma of Pastoral Theology (Dip Past Th). He was ordained for the Archdiocese of Sydney in August 1971 and so from January 1972 was appointed to various parishes, including Clovelly, North Ryde, Mt Pritchard, Gymea (Administrator), Rozelle and Cronulla. He also undertook some part-time work for the Tribunal of the Catholic Church, Sydney.
Subsequent academic qualifications include Graduate Diploma in Religious Education (Grad Dip RE) and Graduate Diploma of Ministry (Grad Dip Min).
Greg was commissioned into the Army Reserve as a Chaplain on 6th June 1975. His appointments in the Reserve included 10 Cadet Bn, HQ COM Z, 4 RNSWR, 1 Cdo Coy and 1 Cdo Regt.
On 1st May 1984, Greg was appointed into full-time service at HQ 1 BDE for duty with 5/7 RAR (Mech), then based at Holsworthy. He was subsequently appointed into the ARA on 4th June 1984.
Greg's appointments/promotions in the ARA were as follows:
- 2nd April 1986 - 1 RTB, Kapooka.
- 15th May 1986 - advanced to Chaplain Second Class (MAJ - E).
- 15th January 1989 - 1 RAR, Townsville.
- 18th August 1989 - COORD CHAP HQ 3 BDE (including duty at 1 RAR).
- August to December 1990 - EX LONG LOOK with the British Army on the Rhine at HQ 1 Armd Div, Verden, Germany as Senior Chaplain (RC). During this period the Armd Div worked up and then deployed on OP GRAMBY (1st Iraq War).
- 15th January 1991 - HQ 7 MD, Darwin (the first full-time Army Chaplain in Darwin since World War II).
- 11th January 1993 - advanced to CHAP3 (LTCOL - E) and appointed SCHAP HQ 1 Div, Enoggera.
- 31st January 1995 - appointed Senior Chaplain Queensland Region.
- 15th December 1995 - advanced to CHAP4 (COL - E) and appointed Senior Chaplain HQ LOG COMD, Melbourne.
- 18th May 1998 - appointed Senior Chaplain HQ NORCOM, Darwin.
- 18th January 1999 - appointed Senior Chaplain HQ TC-A, Sydney.
- 19th January 2004 - appointed COMD CHAP HQ TC-A.
- 31st January 2005 - transferred to the Army Reserve, advanced to Principal Chaplain (BRIG -E) and appointed Principal Chaplain (Roman Catholic) Army Headquarters, Canberra.
Since February 2005, Greg has worked at the Chancery Office of The Catholic Military Diocese, Campbell ACT. He was also the Administrator of St Thomas Mores, Campbell from 1st May 2005 until 31st December 2006. In addition, during this time he provided RC pastoral care to students and staff at ADFA and AFG.
On 31st March 2005, PRINCHAP Flynn was appointed a Prelate of Honour with the title "Reverend Monsignor". The appointment was confirmed by a Parchment signed by the Cardinal Secretary of State on 31st March in Rome. It indicates the high regard the Holy See has for military Chaplains and is also an affirmation of the outstanding contribution the Australian Army continues to make in promoting peace, stability and security.
His interests include reading, music, gardening and cooking.
Deputy Principal Chaplain of the Australian Army
CHAP Geoff Webb  |
| CHAP G.C. Webb |
Geoffrey Claude Webb was born in Bowral NSW and grew up and was educated in the neighbouring Southern Highlands town of Moss Vale. After completing school he worked on the family dairy farm. Interspersed with that he served as a National Serviceman in 1969 and during 1981-82 was a member of 4 Bn RNSWR.
In 1985 he entered Moore Theological College as a candidate for ordination in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney. He was ordained in February 1988 and was posted as the curate to his home town of Moss Vale where he served until 21 January 1991, when he enlisted in the ARA as a Chaplain. His first posting was to DSU Liverpool for service at SME and then Moorebank Logistic Group (now DNSDC). In 1995 he was posted to 5/7 RAR and in that year visited Rifle Company Butterworth. In July he went to the UK on Exercise Long Look to serve with 3 UK Div at Bulford and then 1 Royal Tank Regiment at Tidworth.
At the end of 1995 Chaplain Webb transferred to the Army Reserve and was posted as the Reserve Chaplain to the newly formed 4 RAR which, in 1997, became 4 RAR Commando. During this time he was the Associate Minister in the Parish of Denistone East/Marsfield with responsibility for St George's Church Marsfield. In February 1999 he reenlisted in the ARA and was posted to 1 Field Hospital at Holsworthy on promotion to Chaplain 2 (Major). On 20 September 1999 Chaplain Webb deployed to East Timor as part of Interfet with the Forward Surgical Team (Light) which became in October FST (Heavy) with the arrival of the remainder of the Hospital. In 2001 Chaplain Webb was posted to RMC. In 2004 he was promoted to Chaplain 3 (Lieutenant Colonel) and posted as the Senior Chaplain HQLSF (now 17 CSS BDE). At the beginning of 2007 he was posted as the Senior Chaplain HQ Land Warfare Development Centre.
Chaplain Webb was collated Archdeacon to the Australian Army on 18 November 2007, and accepted the appointment of Head of Denomination-Anglican from 1 January 2008. In Jan 2009 he took up the posting of DPRINCHAP-A.
Chaplain Webb holds the degrees of Bachelor of Theology 2nd Class Honours and a Master of Arts (Theology.). His interests include history (particularly military history), science fiction and fantasy, and movies (especially old war movies, although his all time favourite movie is Ben Hur). His theological interests are in the area of Biblical Studies and Ancient Greek.
Chaplain Webb is married to Ann. They have four adult children; David, Melissa, Amy and Katherine, and one granddaughter Emily.