On July 11, returned veterans, families and community members gathered at Veterans Memorial Park, Aberdare, to honour Australian military personnel involved in Middle Eastern conflicts from 2001 to 2021.
This inaugural commemoration coincides with the withdrawal of Australian troops from Afghanistan, marking the end of Australia’s longest-running war. The commemorative service was led by Max Lewis, President of the Cessnock RSL Sub-branch, and Reverend Nicole Baldwin of the Parish of Cessnock.
“Today we commemorate and celebrate the 41 lives that were sacrificed,” Max Lewis said.
Michael Collaros, who served in the Royal Australian Engineers and now balances his roles as a Church Pastor while managing his farm, shared his thoughts on the importance of support networks for reintegration and healing.
“Talking about our service is helpful. Building relationships with support services and being heard is imperative in supporting both physical and mental restoration upon return from service,” he said.
Sam Sneath, who served as an Avionics Technician and is now studying for his Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Newcastle, fondly recalled the Afghan young women who constructed ventilators from Toyota Corolla parts during the covid pandemic. “Their ability to innovate with such limited resources shows the power of education and resourcefulness,” he said.
Both Sam and Michael also spoke of their proud moments in Asia Pacific humanitarian efforts—Michael’s work during the Indian Ocean tsunami in Banda Aceh and Sam’s assistance during Cyclone Yasi—highlighting the rewarding and memorable aspects of their service. They expressed gratitude for this commemoration and for the Cessnock community’s support.
“This inaugural commemoration marks the beginning of something important for Middle East Area of Operations veteran support,” Max said.
The event concluded with community discussions and refreshments and with confidence that July 11 will grow in recognition and support. “We need to honour the freedoms provided by our veterans’ sacrifices”, Reverend Nicole Baldwin said.
