There are incidents that occur on deployments that as a first priority require everyone's immediate attention and then get to the paperwork of informing those who need to know first. Our families are the first among these. Sometimes, however, news gets out before all the facts are known, especially if the incident occurs some distance from the task group base. That info is generally just speculation and very unhelpful to those of us concerned about who might be involved, but it sells news! Rest assured we deal in fact and that takes a little time to get right. We'll tell you as much as we can be sure of, as quick as we can. Keep in touch with your unit duty staff / Unit Welfare Officer and know your soldier's PMKeyS number!

We will have a 'Grand Opening' by the President of Townsville RSL Sub Branch - Rod McLeod, after things settle down, like soldiers from Afghanistan and Timor Leste have got back to work and we have completed our Combined Arms Training Activity in June. Most likely date is Sunday 20 Jul.

Our men and women are doing a great job in Afghanistan (RTF3 bsed on 3 CER) and Timor Leste (TLBG3 based on 2 RAR) and in throughout the Middle East (FLLA4 based on 3 CSSB). We have also just launched the Battle Group to replace TLBG3 (TLBG4 based on 3 RAR from Sydney). The first two are due home by end of April and will head off on a well earned rest. We are planning for a big welcome home for 24 May on the Strand (big concert!). FLLA4 is due home in 3rd Quarter of this year, followed soon after that by TLBG4.