5Th Brigade - Australian Army

Fourteen Indigenous Elders had the chance to go deep inside the Holsworthy Military Area on Wednesday 29th August to see a site of significance thousands of years old. The site, usually off-limits to civilians, had animal inscriptions and sharpening grooves.
“It tells a story, like a page in a book,” said Daniel Chalker of the Cubbitch Barta National Estate Area. “You come here to this site to learn this story, and as you move through the land you can take in all the learning... that goes with that story.”
The intent of the visit was to nurture the local Indigenous Elders’ connection to country. It is hoped in the future to foster a sense of belonging and shared culture between part-time soldiers of Indigenous background and the local Indigenous communities. The gathering together of so many elders was a formidable expression of collective will in support of the initiative.
“I would like to move forward,” said Brigadier Michael Bond, Commander of 5th Brigade, “to the point where next year we can have our young Indigenous soldiers, under your tutelage, come on a visit to country like this and learn from you about this place, and the others like it.”
The visit to country is a significant step towards creating an Indigenous network for part-time soldiers and their local communities.
“This is the start of something,” said Mr Charles Mundine, Chairperson Tharawal Land Council. “It’s about looking after each other. We can teach your soldiers about the land, and help look after them at home, help them feel a part of a community.”
The visit to country was a joint initiative between 5th Brigade and a united group of Indigenous Elders from the Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council, Wiradjuri Country, the Tharawal Land Council, the Cubbitch Barta National Estate, and Bundjalung Country. Coordination of the initiative was done by 5th Brigade’s Indigenous Liaison Officer, Warrant Officer Class 2 Michael Ali.
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Officers and senior soldiers had the opportunity to recognise some outstanding military service last night. Sergeant Karen Bates of 5th Engineer Regiment was awarded a commendation for Excellence in Governance for her work as the Senior Quartermaster of 5 Combat Engineer Squadron. Warrant Officer Class 1 Ed Senini was awarded his Defence Long Service Medal with Federation Star and five - count them, five! - bars after 43 years of service to the Army.

The men and women of the 5th Brigade warmly commend the life and times and service of Private Nicholas Turvey of the 2/17th Battalion of the Royal New South Wales Regiment. Nick, (Turvs to his Charlie Company mates), was killed in a road accident and was laid to rest on Thursday. Turvs joined the Army last year and was already fully qualified as an Rifleman. He did the Telopea series of exercises and most recently Exercise Hamel. Turvs gave more service to his country than most people will give in a lifetime. Much loved by his devastated Army mates.
He was 20 years old.

It was great training, and we were very glad to have our friends at the Leader come along and get some pictures. The soldiers of 4th/3rd Royal New South Wales Regiment are keen to get back out onto the range!

A new crack shot in our ranks! Private McCabe, pictured here, won the Skill-at-Arms award at Kapooka, the Army's recruit training centre. He was given his award this afternoon. Private McCabe will be joining B Company, 4th/3rd Royal New South Wales Regiment, where he will take his next steps into a larger world.

How did you spend your Friday night? Watching the lunar eclipse? Netflix and chill? Training with the Army's Direct Fire Support Weapons, the MAG58 and the Maximi? The team from 4th/3rd Royal New South Wales Regiment, 5th Brigade, were working hard to improve their skills ready with these very cool, very effective, very loud weapons. (I hope they got time to watch the eclipse afterwards!) 5th Brigade. Now Ready. Now deploying.
... Want to know more about the Army's Direct Fire Support Weapons and how they are used? https://www.army.gov.au/…/equipment-and -cl…/small-arms/mag58 https://www.army.gov.au/…/equipment-and -c…/small-arms/maximi
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"It sure beats walking!" We use Protected Mobility Vehicles (PMVs) to move our soldiers around the battlespace to perform mounted and dismounted patrols*. (* = Drive to area in PMV; dismount and perform task; get back in PMV; rinse & repeat.) Our soldiers had the chance to practice these drills with soldiers from 7th Brigade and the USA in QLD during the HAMEL-ISLS exercises, working with their full-time counterparts in a combined arms training activity. 5th Brigade. Now Ready. Now Deploying.

The soldiers of 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers, 5th Brigade, were very proud to be able to help this young Australian. Anyone else needing a taxi ride like this, please call us on 131901, and - after some training - we'll arrange it; we can even let you drive one!

One perspective on Exercise HAMEL...
https://www.couriermail.com.au/…/a2b683 9932013b9d3455f0a519…

It's on! Well done to all 5th Brigade - Australian Army members taking part.

What will the future of logistics look like? The Army Logistic Training Centre is looking for YOUR ideas.
https://www.cove.org.au/…/competition-a rmy-logistic-traini…/

"You put in the hard yards, you make the effort you and you get the rewards.”
Read the story of this part-time soldier, just returned from operational service. She is one of the many part-time soldiers of 5th Brigade who are serving their country overseas and around Australia.
https://www.northernstar.com.au/…/army- reserve-off…/3432801/

Congratulations and thank you to Westpac who, this week, won the 'Private Sector Large Business' category of the National Employer Support Awards for their supportive policies towards our part-time soldiers.
https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/…/239 1-reservists-employe…
Soldiers of 5th Brigade, be sure to engage with your employers about the possible benefits available to them by supporting your work in the Army. Ask your chain of command, or look at the Defence Reserves Support website (http://defencereservessupport.gov.au/) for further information on what is possible.

Well done NSW Blues, 22-12! 1 down, 2 to go. #stateoforigin

This was the scene at sunset for some of 5th Brigade's cavalry soldiers currently on the Battle Group Warfighter exercise in QLD. Soon, hundreds of their mates from around NSW will join them on HAMEL 2018.

“This is the start of something we can build on between the ADF and NSW Ambulance,” said Paramedic Inspector Andrew Keshwan. The Ambulance Service of NSW made the offer to conduct further combine trained in the near future.
Soldiers from 5th and 8th Combat Service Support Battalions, joined by members of the Navy’s Maritime Operational Health Unit and the Army Emergency Response team, for some training with members of the Special Access Casualty Teams (SCAT) from Ambulance Se...rvice of NSW last weekend. The organisations shared notes on pre-hospital management, packaging and transportation of casualties, and vehicle extractions.
“It’s very similar concepts,” said Warrant Officer Pitstock of the Army Emergency Response team. “We just have to deal with people shooting back.”
All 5th Brigade soldiers present enjoyed the training and looked forward to working further with the SCAT members through ride-alongs, combined training and short-term placements for medically trained military personnel.
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