MEDIA ALERT
DPR 42/97 Friday, 21 February 1997
SOLDIER SWAPS RIFLE FOR THE CROSS
After more than 22 years as an Infantry soldier, Major Rob Sutherland will swap his rifle for the Cross of Christ on Sunday February 23, 1997 when he is ordained as a Deacon in the Anglican Church.
The ordination and start to a new career will take place at 4.00pm at the ANZAC Memorial Chapel of St Paul within the grounds of the Royal Military College Duntroon, the very place where Rob started his Army career in 1974.
Major Sutherland will become the first Defence Force member to be ordained into the Anglican Church, whilst still serving in the Australian Defence Force.
Rob is currently studying full time at St Mark's College, Canberra, and will be ordained as a Priest in November.
He will then return to the Army in March 1998, not as a soldier but as a Chaplain providing spiritual and pastoral welfare for men and women of the Australian Defence Force and their families.
During Rob's career as an infantry soldier he has seen service as an instructor at the Battle Wing Land Warfare Centre Canungra, served on exchange with the British Army in Berlin in 1983, and was the Guard Commander for the Guard of Honour at the 75th Anniversary of the landing at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli.
The ordination will be conducted by the Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn, Bishop George Browning, with assistance from the Army's Anglican Principal Chaplain, Archdeacon Bruce Horton.
Rob is married with three teenage children and resides in the Canberra suburb of Flynn.
Further Information:
Barry Davies 0418 228 131 (mob)