OPERATION SOLACE 25 TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION

The Governor of New South Wales, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley, AC, DSC (Retd) is planning on holding a 25 th Anniversary Reunion for members of units who deployed to Somalia on Operation Solace in 1993. This includes members of Headquarters Australian Forces Somalia, the 1 RAR Battalion Group and ships crews of HMAS Tobruk and HMAS Jervis Bay (1993). Members of UNOSOM 1 and 2 are also invited to attend the Reunion to recognise their service in Somalia 25 years ago. 

The Reunion will be held in Sydney over the ANZAC Day period in 2018 and will revolve around two major activities, namely:

1. March as a formed body in a position of prominence, led by the Governor of NSW, in the ANZAC Day Parade on Wednesday 25 th April 2018.
2. Reception at Government House, hosted by the Governor of NSW, on the afternoon of Thursday 26 th April 2018. (There will be a small cost involved in attending the Reception).

A casual ‘Meet and Greet’ function will be held in Sydney at a location TBA on the evening of Tuesday 24 th April 2018. As well, there will be time over the two days for sub-units to hold their own individual group reunions.

The Reunion is not restricted to ex-members; partners and families are most welcome and are encouraged to attend.

Whilst there are no restrictions on numbers participating in the ANZAC Day Parade, attendance at the Reception will be limited to approximately 300 attendees (including family members). Attendance at the Reception will be based on the order of registration by ex-members.

Ex-members are requested to indicate their attendance by replying to opsolace25@gmail.com, stating simply who they served with, that they will be attending, whether or not they will be accompanied by family members (numbers only, names are not required as yet) and provide contact details.

We are aware that the 1 RAR Association is holding a 25 th Somalia Reunion (in conjunction with the 50 th Anniversary of the Battle of Coral/Balmoral) in Townsville around Coral Day (12 May 2018) to coincide with the presentation of new Colours to the Battalion. We in no way wish to impact on these commemorations, rather we wish to complement them.

We are in a unique position where the Commanding Officer of the 1 RAR Battalion Group in Somalia in 1993 is now the Governor of NSW and can lead the Somalia veterans in the largest ANZAC Day Parade in Australia. Our involvement in the Sydney ANZAC Day Parade will highlight to the rest of Australia the professionalism and expertise displayed by all of us who served in Somalia in 1992/93 and brought, for a period of time, normalcy to that country.

You all have formal and informal networks out there, so please spread the word of the proposed Reunion to your compatriots. A Facebook page will be set up and other Social Media will be utilised to keep ex-members informed.

Points of contact regarding the Reunion are Glenn Crosland at glenn.crosland1@defence.gov.au, 0439 506 410 and Vince Creagh at vincecreagh@gmail.com, 0429 324 542.