Michael Dawes
6th Battalion Royal_093_20Nov2010
6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR)
The 6th Battalion was first raised at Enoggera on the 6th of June 1965. The Battalion has served twice in Vietnam and has recently served in East Timor and currently has members serving in Iraq. The Battalion was involved in the famous battle of Long Tan and one of its companies received the United States Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation.
From ABC
A sea of people, including family and friends of returned Australian soldiers will line the streets of Brisbane on Saturday to welcome home the soldiers of the 7th Brigade and to mark the end of their contribution to operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor in 2010.
The Welcome Home Parade will honour the Brisbane based 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR) who are returning from active duty in Afghanistan.
The march across the city will be made up of Artilleryman, Signallers, The Light Horse Brigade, 6 RAR and The Engineer Regiment.
Starting in Southbank, returned soldiers will march over the Victoria Bridge and make their way into the CBD, marching down George St, Adelaide St, and looping around to Ann St where they will finish up at King George Square.
Graham Smith from the 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment Association says this is an important time for the returned soldiers.
"We are so highly thought of all around the world in terms of soldiering and these boys have represented themselves very well.
"They've been in arduous (and) very dangerous circumstances, they haven't complained, they have acquitted themselves in the greatest traditions of 6 RAR and the Australian Army and I think they deserve to be acknowledged for what they have done, on this day, rather than waiting for Anzac Day, when we acknowledge the Australian contribution to defence right around the world", he says.
Speaking to ABC Local Radio in Brisbane Mr Smith explained that the march also was a time to honour the memory of the soldiers from 6 RAR that have fallen in the line of duty.
As a result of the Australian defence support in Afghanistan this year, six serving Queenslanders won't be returning home.
In August 2010 6 RAR Private's Grant Kirby, 35, and Tomas Dale, 21, were killed by a roadside bomb.
One month earlier another 6 RAR Private, Nathan Bewes, 23, was killed and the Brisbane-based 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment also lost Sappers Jacob Moerland, 21, and Darren Smith, 25, in June.
Whether you agree or disagree with Australia's involvement in overseas defence, Mr Smith, who was part of the original 6th Battalion that was formed in 1965, says the march is particularly important for the soldiers themselves.
"The significance of this march brings me back to when I returned from Vietnam in 1967, and we marched through Brisbane...that was such a proud occasion and it just made me feel, and I'm sure it was the same for all my mates, that what we endured for the 12 months previous was worthwhile that we were appreciated.
"It will be special, and I'm travelling from my home in Wide Bay to attend", he says.
6th Battalion Royal_093_20Nov2010
6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR)
The 6th Battalion was first raised at Enoggera on the 6th of June 1965. The Battalion has served twice in Vietnam and has recently served in East Timor and currently has members serving in Iraq. The Battalion was involved in the famous battle of Long Tan and one of its companies received the United States Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation.
From ABC
A sea of people, including family and friends of returned Australian soldiers will line the streets of Brisbane on Saturday to welcome home the soldiers of the 7th Brigade and to mark the end of their contribution to operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor in 2010.
The Welcome Home Parade will honour the Brisbane based 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR) who are returning from active duty in Afghanistan.
The march across the city will be made up of Artilleryman, Signallers, The Light Horse Brigade, 6 RAR and The Engineer Regiment.
Starting in Southbank, returned soldiers will march over the Victoria Bridge and make their way into the CBD, marching down George St, Adelaide St, and looping around to Ann St where they will finish up at King George Square.
Graham Smith from the 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment Association says this is an important time for the returned soldiers.
"We are so highly thought of all around the world in terms of soldiering and these boys have represented themselves very well.
"They've been in arduous (and) very dangerous circumstances, they haven't complained, they have acquitted themselves in the greatest traditions of 6 RAR and the Australian Army and I think they deserve to be acknowledged for what they have done, on this day, rather than waiting for Anzac Day, when we acknowledge the Australian contribution to defence right around the world", he says.
Speaking to ABC Local Radio in Brisbane Mr Smith explained that the march also was a time to honour the memory of the soldiers from 6 RAR that have fallen in the line of duty.
As a result of the Australian defence support in Afghanistan this year, six serving Queenslanders won't be returning home.
In August 2010 6 RAR Private's Grant Kirby, 35, and Tomas Dale, 21, were killed by a roadside bomb.
One month earlier another 6 RAR Private, Nathan Bewes, 23, was killed and the Brisbane-based 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment also lost Sappers Jacob Moerland, 21, and Darren Smith, 25, in June.
Whether you agree or disagree with Australia's involvement in overseas defence, Mr Smith, who was part of the original 6th Battalion that was formed in 1965, says the march is particularly important for the soldiers themselves.
"The significance of this march brings me back to when I returned from Vietnam in 1967, and we marched through Brisbane...that was such a proud occasion and it just made me feel, and I'm sure it was the same for all my mates, that what we endured for the 12 months previous was worthwhile that we were appreciated.
"It will be special, and I'm travelling from my home in Wide Bay to attend", he says.