14 July 2025
Self-described “maker, manager, inventor and cleaner”, Umit Erturk, 73, and his wife Evangelia Erturk, 74, have handcrafted bespoke ceremonial regalia for the ADF for 54 years, a “sovereign capability” that Warrant Officer Ceremonial – Air Force Jason Randell said should remain Australian-owned.
Mr and Mrs Erturk started their company, Spear of Fame, in 1993 when Defence decided to outsource ceremonial product manufacturing.
“Evangelia had been making and embroidering Colours for Defence since 1971 and has made multiple Queen’s Colours presented to the Air Force,” Mr Erturk said.
“When we bought the business from Defence in 1993, I was working at Victoria University’s Science Department and also running my own electronics business.
“When we took it on, I realised that it wouldn’t survive if we were just making Colours so we started to produce a wider variety of ceremonial products – hand-embroidered badges and insignia made of silk and metal bullion, flags, banners, belts, braid, ceremonial swords and academic regalia.
“We can even work with metal, timber, plastic and other materials to create custom objects such as trophies.”
In addition to producing miniature Colours souvenirs to celebrate RAAF’s 100th anniversary, Spear of Fame also designed, made and installed all the mountings and metalwork for displays of all of the RAAF’s retired Colours at the renovated RAAF Chapel at RAAF Base Point Cook.
'The quality of their work is outstanding, and you can see the care they take with every stitch.'
Warrant Officer Randell said ceremonies such as presenting Unit Colours were more than memorable events linking the past with the present.
“Ceremonies create unity and shared identity among members, contribute to members’ pride in service and elevate public respect for the ADF,” he said.
“Colours are awarded by order of the Governor-General who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Defence Force, and the work of making them should be a sovereign capability that is important to keep in Australian hands.
“Spear of Fame supplies the Army and many other government and emergency services with ceremonial regalia, an amazing feat for such a small business.
“The quality of their work is outstanding, and you can see the care they take with every stitch.”
Warrant Officer Randell said that Spear of Fame’s personalised approach allowed it to invent novel solutions to unique problems.
“After 9/11, the pace sticks carried by Base Warrant Officers and Regimental Sergeant Majors were classified as weapons and couldn’t be carried as carry-on luggage on planes,” he said.
“So Umit designed a foldable pace stick that can easily be placed in a suitcase.
“We really appreciate all the work they’ve done for us over the years.”
