True Blue Conversations Podcast

During his recent visit to the battlefields of the Western Front, Adam visited the medieval town of Ypres (modern day Ieper), and sat down with the chairman of the Last Post Association, Benoit Mottrie.

The Last Post Association is an independent voluntary, non-profit organisation who founded the Last Post Ceremony back in 1928. It is still responsible for this unique daily act of homage to this very day.

The mission of the Last Post Association is to honour and remember the soldiers of the British Empire who gave their lives during the Great War. The daily Last Post Ceremony seeks to express the lasting gratitude which we all owe to the men who fought and fell for the restoration of peace, and the independence of Belgium.

Every evening just before 8pm, the local Police halt the traffic passing through the Menin Gate to the east of the town centre. For a brief moment the modern world is brought to a stop, as the solemn Last Post Ceremony allows us to reflect on the men who passed through this gate on their way to the deadly battlefields of the Ypres Salient.

The cost of war is all too evident as we stand under the Menin Gate where 54,000 names to the missing are recorded. Men who have not had the honour of a proper military burial. No grave for family to visit and tend. We pause and remember their sacrifice.

In the words of Field Marshal Plumber, pronounced during the unveiling of the monument in July 1927 " HE is not missing, he is here".

These men still lie in Flanders Fields. We owe it to them to remember their ultimate sacrifice they made for our freedom. Lest we forget.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Benoit Mottrie

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

Adam is joined by former special operations team commander, SASR Major Mark Wales (RET). Among his many career achievements Mark is the author of "Survivor: Life in the SAS", the founder of fashion label, "Kill Kapture", and the winner of the TV phenomenon, "Survivor".

Mark shared his experiences of his time away on multiple deployments, his life after service, particularly in building resilience and finding purpose again.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Mark Wales

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

Tim Thomas is a former special forces Australian Commando serving in the 2nd Commando Regiment, Tim was one of the first to take part in the Special Forces Direct Recruiting Scheme (SFDRS) in 2004, The SFDRS aims to attract 23-29 year old males with high fitness levels and a proven ability to excel. The higher recruitment standards aim to assist not only in enlisting people of the desired quality, but also in accelerating them through the training system.

A Commando Regiment is a Special Forces Unit that conducts large-scale offensive operations beyond the scope and capability of other ADF elements. These include, but are

not limited to, special recovery, special reconnaissance, offensive operations and support operations. Tim served in Timor and saw combat in Afghanistan in 2009, following his discharge in 2010 he experienced Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) that saw him ultimately become heavily involved in the 'Veteran Recovery' field assisting others effectively deal with their experiences. Tim is the author of the book Fight Flight Feel, and as the cover says he is the Commando In Your Corner.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Tim Thomas

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike

Tim Thomas is a former special forces Australian Commando serving in the 2nd Commando Regiment, Tim was one of the first to take part in the Special Forces Direct Recruiting Scheme (SFDRS) in 2004, The SFDRS aims to attract 23-29 year old males with high fitness levels and a proven ability to excel. The higher recruitment standards aim to assist not only in enlisting people of the desired quality, but also in accelerating them through the training system.

A Commando Regiment is a Special Forces Unit that conducts large-scale offensive operations beyond the scope and capability of other ADF elements. These include, but are

not limited to, special recovery, special reconnaissance, offensive operations and support operations. Tim served in Timor and saw combat in Afghanistan in 2009, following his discharge in 2010 he experienced Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) that saw him ultimately become heavily involved in the 'Veteran Recovery' field assisting others effectively deal with their experiences. Tim is the author of the book Fight Flight Feel, and as the cover says he is the Commando In Your Corner.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Tim Thomas

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike

Kane Vandenberg Digger Day

Digger Day was founded in 2012 as a fundraising event in support of veterans in the local community who had sustained physical or psychological disability from their military service. It is organised through the totally and Permanently Incapacitated Ex- Servicemen & Women Association and the RSL.

It is an event unlike our two current commemorative events Anzac Day and Remembrance Day, both of which primarily commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of all our veterans and fallen in all our past wars and conflicts.

Digger Day is a day of celebration rather then commemoration, showcasing our current serving men and women and more importantly our Nation's and Commonwealth's highest award for valour, the Victoria Cross.

Whilst this event is and always will be for veterans, it has highlighted that the term Digger is not always about veterans, but is a term synonymous with mateship, camaraderie, doing what is right and helping your mate in any situation no matter the cost.

As such, the day also honours our civilian heroes, those recipients of the George Cross and Cross of Valour. These heroes performed acts of gallantry and valour, often on the spur of the moment in saving fellow Australians. For this they should be recognised and given the same accolade and respect as their military counterpart.

Digger Day is about honouring and celebrating these Australian heroes.

Adam is joined by Founder of Digger Day and Chairman of the Keith Payne VC Veterans Benefit Group, Rich Meehan OAM JP, formed in 2018 to talk about Digger Day 2022 the first in 3 years due to Covid.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Rick Meehan OAM

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike

Hailing from Melbourne George Petrou is a successful graphic designer and acclaimed portrait artist. Passionate about ordinary Australians who have served our nation with gallantry and sacrifice, George captures the eye and gives voice and further life to their incredible stories. George's portraits proudly hang in museums in France, Government House Canberra, and a range of military institutions across Australia

As a patron for TPI Victoria Inc, George assists in supporting the interests and welfare of ex-servicemen and women, their families and dependents. In June 2020 George was awarded an OAM for "Services to the Visual Arts and to Veterans", and in the same year he released his amazing book, The Art Of Sacrifice. – a haunting and poignant exploration of George's life and the Anzac Spirit.

With over 70 portraits, 63 stories, and numerous serendipitous moments, George explores the idea of valour, of courage, bravery, and of sacrifice. Using images of the past and stories of today, he connects the past with our present within a unique and powerful environment.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: George Petrou

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike

Pete Rudland joined the Australian Defence Force on 21 March 1989. He spent 28 years in the Royal Australian Infantry and served in 3RAR, 4RAR, The Parachute Training School, SASR and 2CDO Regiment.

Pete deployed to Cambodia as part of UNTAC in 1993, to Iraq with the SASR during the 1997 bombing campaign, East Timor in 2001 as part of the 4RAR (CDO) deployment, Iraq in 2003 as part of an exchange with British forces, Timor Leste in 2006 with 4RAR (CDO) and Afghanistan in 2010 as part of ACOY 2CDO.On 21 June 2010, three Australian Commandos and a US soldier were killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. Pete was wounded in the crash and received multiple muscle-skeletal injuries and a frontal lobe bleed. As a result of the injuries, Pete was discharged from Defence on 08 November 2017.

Since being wounded he started a company counselling soldiers, police and emergency services for PTS, depression and associated illnesses. Peter is now a national ambassador For RSL Australia.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Peter Rudland

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike

The remarkable wartime experiences of Kit McNaughton Kitty's War is based upon the previously unpublished war diaries of Great War army nurse Sister Kit McNaughton. Kit and historian Janet Butler grew up in the same Victorian district of drystone walls, wheatfields and meandering creeks, except many decades apart. The idea of this young nurse setting out on a journey in July 1915 which would take her across the world and into the First World War took hold of Janet Butler and inspired her to research and share Kit's story.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Dr Janet Butler

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike

Carly Box served in the Australian Army for 11 years, where she became the first female to enlist into a Combat Corps as an operator of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs, commonly known as Drones).

She deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 as a ScanEagle UAV operator, racking up over 1000 operational flying hours, returning in 2013 as a Shadow mission commander.

Carly now co-owns the successful Barracks Gym in Brisbane, and hosts the Becoming Badass podcast.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Carly Box

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike