True Blue Conversations Podcast

On this week’s Episode 101:  I spoke with Rod Henderson former 3RAR Paratrooper & Army Aviation Loadmaster. Rod spent a total of 22 years within the Australian Defence Force both serving as a paratrooper with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, he was part of Operation Interfet, in 1999 the Australian-led International Force East Timor. Rod then transferred to Army Aviation, working with Black Hawks and Chinooks, including as a door gunner.

Rod has deployed on warlike and humanitarian operations to Timor, Pakistan, New Guinea, and Afghanistan. He’s now a volunteer guide at the Australian War Memorial. Recently Rod published his autobiography called “Stop Screaming I’m Scared Too” An Australian Soldier’s Story, out now!!

Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Rod Henderson Editor: Kyle Watkins Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

On this week’s podcast Episode 100: Part 3 the Final part of a 20 years of service in the Special Forces.

I spoke with former Australian Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment operator Craig Hamburger who enlisted into the Australian Defence Force in 1999; and served his country proudly for 20+ years. During his posting to 4 Royal Australian Regiment as a Commando, Craig deployed on multiple operations, including Timor Leste, Iraq, and Afghanistan. During one of his deployments in Afghanistan, he was awarded a Commendation for Gallantry. The citation reads "Corporal Hamburger’s gallantry in the face of heavy, accurate and sustained enemy fire ultimately ensured the safety of the other members of his team, and allowed them to regain the initiative, forcing the enemy to withdraw. His actions were of the highest order and in keeping with the finest traditions of the Australian special operations forces, the Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force.” We spoke of the highs and lows of his service, losing mentors and mates, and the challenges many veterans and first responders face when they transition from service…. Part 3 of the 3-Part Series tells Craig’s raw, insightful, and gallant story.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Craig Hamburger

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

On this week’s podcast Episode 100 part 2:

I spoke with former Australian Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment operator Craig Hamburger who enlisted into the Australian Defence Force in 1999; and served his country proudly for 20+ years. During his posting to 4 Royal Australian Regiment as a Commando, Craig deployed on multiple operations, including Timor Leste, Iraq, and Afghanistan. During one of his deployments in Afghanistan, he was awarded a Commendation for Gallantry. The citation reads "Corporal Hamburger’s gallantry in the face of heavy, accurate and sustained enemy fire ultimately ensured the safety of the other members of his team, and allowed them to regain the initiative, forcing the enemy to withdraw. His actions were of the highest order and in keeping with the finest traditions of the Australian special operations forces, the Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force.” We spoke of the highs and lows of his service, losing mentors and mates, and the challenges many veterans and first responders face when they transition from service…. This is Part 1 of a 3-Part Series telling Craig’s raw, insightful and gallant story.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Craig Hamburger

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

On this week’s podcast Episode 100: I spoke with former Australian Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment operator Craig Hamberger who enlisted into the Australian Defence Force in 1999; and served his country proudly for 20+ years. During his posting to 4 Royal Australian Regiment as a Commando, Craig deployed on multiple operations, including Timor Leste, Iraq, and Afghanistan. During one of his deployments in Afghanistan, he was awarded a Commendation for Gallantry. The citation reads "Corporal Hamburger’s gallantry in the face of heavy, accurate and sustained enemy fire ultimately ensured the safety of the other members of his team, and allowed them to regain the initiative, forcing the enemy to withdraw. His actions were of the highest order and in keeping with the finest traditions of the Australian special operations forces, the Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force.” We spoke of the highs and lows of his service, losing mentors and mates, and the challenges many veteran and first responder face when they transition from service…. This is Part 1 of a 3-Part Series telling Craig’s raw, insightful and gallant story.

Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Craig Hamburger Editor: Kyle Watkins Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

On this week’s podcast, I speak with Television Journalist Amelia Adams. Amelia has been a journalist for more than 21 years; more than 14 of those with the 9 Network.

Before joining the 60 Minutes team in 2022, she was Nine’s Senior Foreign Correspondent in North America. Amelia’s live reporting from the US Capitol during the January 6 insurrection saw her win two Kennedy Awards and a Walkley nomination. She has also reported from war zones in Ukraine and Iraq. Amelia covered the volatile final year of Donald Trump’s presidency and led the 9News coverage of the unprecedented 2020 presidential election. She reported from the ‘Black Lives Matter’ protests and the ‘Make America Great Again’ rallies. She was Nine’s London-based Europe and Middle East Correspondent, reporting on Brexit, the fall of Theresa May, and the 2019 UK election. In the Middle East, she covered the Turkish incursion into Syria and the US assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani.

She has reported directly from crisis zones around the world including the Fukushima nuclear disaster and the Christchurch earthquake.

Over the years Amelia has also regularly filled in hosting the Today Show and Nine’s 6 pm News. Amelia knows how to tell a story, share a story, and put words to paper. We spoke in depth of Amelia’s love for all things military history, the balancing act of being a working Mum and traveling around the world for work and the dangers that reporters face on the frontline.

Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Amelia Adams Editor: Kyle Watkins Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

On this week’s podcast, I speak with a former Australian Army veteran serving in the Royal Australian Infantry 2RAR and Royal Australian Armoured Corps 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment and 2nd Cavalry Regiment current Queensland Fire Service Station Officer Luke Smith. 

 Luke deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2011 he applied for the Queensland Fire Service for a position as a firefighter and was accepted. After finishing recruit training, he was posted to Bowen where he spent his first 13 months as a firefighter.  Luke transferred to Townsville in 2013 and got heavily involved in the rescue side of fire and rescue becoming highly skilled in swift water, vertical, confined space, trench, and urban search and rescue. He is now also a state instructor for vertical rescue. After promotional courses, he attained the rank of Station Officer/OIC in 2018. In 2021 after a couple of traumatic events from service, he suffered PTSD depression, and anxiety. Luke took 12 months off and worked through that with great support from the Queensland Fire Service and found a way back, we spoke of the challenges faced by veterans and first responders and how important purpose is…

Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Luke Smith Editor: Kyle Watkins Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

Part 2 of our chat with former Australian SAS soldier and officer, Brigadier Dan Fortune, DSC and Bar (Retd).

Dan joined the Army at 17 years old as a private soldier and served for over 42 years before discharging for medical reasons. Between 1982-1992, Dan completed the SAS selection course three times (Yep wait for the story. He served in a Sabre Squadron for four years as an operator/gunslinger in both HALO / Freefall and Land Assaulter Counter Terrorist roles. We spoke of Dan’s early years in the regiment and his growth as a soldier. We spoke of Dan's time at RMC becoming an officer and then after a short period in 1RAR reattending the entire SAS selection again and passing the course as a LT. We spoke of his service as a Troop Commander and on exchange with US SF then his time as an SAS Officer Commanding on multiple deployments, Bougainville, East Timor, Afghanistan, and Dan’s time as the ADF Tactical Assault Group for the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

We discussed his more senior appointments including as CO RMC and as CO of the SOTG (2008) then, when serving in multiple year-long deployments to Afghanistan in senior ISAF SOF Command role, SOHQ as a Brigadier. We discussed his transition from the Army to the Commonwealth SES Public Service appointment in AGSVA and the cost of service to one's family and the challenges facing contemporary SF veterans and their families. For Dan’s leadership in action (under fire, outside the wire..) in Command in Afghanistan, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (2008)and Bar.(2014)

Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Dan Fortune Editor: Kyle Watkins Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

On this week’s podcast, I speak with former Australian SAS soldier and officer, Brigadier Dan Fortune, DSC and Bar (Retd).

 Dan joined the Army at 17 years old as a private soldier and served for over 42 years before discharging for medical reasons. Between 1982-1992, Dan completed the SAS selection course three times (Yep wait for the story.. He served in a Sabre Squadron for four years as an operator/gunslinger in both HALO / Freefall and Land Assaulter Counter Terrorist roles.  We spoke of Dan’s early years in the regiment and his growth as a soldier. We spoke of Dan's time at RMC becoming an officer and then after a short period in 1RAR reattending the entire SAS selection again and passing the course as a LT. We spoke of his service as a Troop Commander and on exchange with US SF then his time as an SAS Officer Commanding on multiple deployments, Bougainville, East Timor, Afghanistan, and Dan’s time as the ADF Tactical Assault Group for the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

We discussed his more senior appointments including as CO RMC and as CO of the SOTG (2008) then, when serving in multiple year-long deployments to Afghanistan in senior ISAF SOF Command role, SOHQ as a Brigadier.

 We discussed his transition from the Army to the Commonwealth SES Public Service appointment in AGSVA and the cost of service to one's family and the challenges facing contemporary SF veterans and their families.  For Dan’s leadership in action (under fire, outside the wire..) in Command in Afghanistan, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (2008)and Bar.(2014)

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Dan Fortune

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

On this week’s podcast, I speak with former Royal Australian Navy veteran Jennifer Wittwer CSM.

Jennifer Wittwer joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1981 as a supply officer. She went on to have an international career as a thought leader, humanitarian, and advocate for women’s rights, equality, and empowerment. Some of her roles in uniform have included being the first ADF Gender Advisor to NATO Operations in Afghanistan, and a secondment to UN Women in New York. She is also the Author of Against the Wind How women can be their authentic selves in male-dominated professions.  We spoke about being a female in the Navy during the '80s and '90s and the changes that Jen saw over her 40-plus years of service.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Jennifer Wittwer

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

On this week’s podcast, I speak with former Australian Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment Commanding Officer Brigadier Ret Ian Langford DSC & Bars.

Ian served for 30 years as a senior officer in the Australian Defence Force, Ian had the challenge and opportunity of leading large and small teams in complex and ambiguous environments.

Ian held a range of appointments in the Army and Special Forces throughout his career.

commanded the 2nd Commando Regiment, as well as multiple Special Operations Task Groups in Afghanistan, Iraq, and on domestic counter-terrorism duties. Ian has also led at the strategic level, responsible for the Army’s future strategic investments, future concepts and capabilities. His deployments include East Timor, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Afghanistan, and the South West Pacific. We spoke about commanding troops in battle the loss of mates in battle, and transition and what comes after service. For Ian’s service, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross on three occasions the only person to date to receive that honour.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Ian Langford

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway