Patron: July 2016 - Present
Michael Slater AO, DSC, CSC is a retired senior officer of the Australian Army, who served from 1978 until his retirement in 2015. Before joining the Army he worked and studied Surveying through Queensland University of Technology.
Following officer training at the Officer Cadet School - Portsea, Mick Slater has commanded at all levels from Platoon to Division. He has served as a Platoon Commander in 8/9 RAR and 1 RAR and later as the Intelligence Officer, a Company Commander and Operations Officer in 2/4 RAR. In 1998 he was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross for his service. In 1999–2000 he commanded 2 RAR and in 2006 he was made Brigade Commander of the 3rd Brigade.
His operational commands have included the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, during International Force East Timor (INTERFET) in 1999. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his distinguished command and leadership while in command of 2 RAR. He also commanded the International Stabilisation Forces, based on the 3rd Brigade, in Timor Leste in 2006. He also served on the staff of the United States 3rd Army Headquarters in Kuwait on Operation POLLARD. In 2007 he was made a Member of the order of Australia for exceptional service as the Commander Joint Task Force 630 on Operation LARRY ASSIST and as the Commander Joint Task Force 631 on Operation ASTUTE.
He has undertaken formal education in mobilisation planning in the United States of America, and is a graduate of the Army Command and Staff College Fort Queenscliff, the Joint Services Command and Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College. Mick Slater holds Masters degrees in Strategic Studies and Business Administration.
In January 2011, Mick Slater was appointed to lead the Flood Recovery Taskforce overseeing recovery from the 2010–2011 Queensland floods. This taskforce subsequently transitioned into the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, where he remained until 31 August 2011. For his efforts in heading the taskforce, along with his stints as Head of the Defence Personnel Executive and Commander 1st Division, he was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 2012 Australia Day Honours List.
His final appointment in the Army was as a Commander Forces Command in the period 2012-15. Since retiring in April 2015, he has moved to Melbourne where he works for Linfox, another great Australian organisation.
“I believe I have an enduring obligation to the men of 2RAR, particularly those who served in INTERFRET in 1999. This is an obligation I have always taken seriously and I will continue to do so.” – – Mick Slater
PREVIOUS PATRONS OF 2RAR ASSOCIATION:
Colonel J.M CHURCH, DSO (retd)
Patron - July 2013-June 2016
57005 Colonel John Murray CHURCH DSO, 3RAR Japan (BCOF)/Korea 1950-51 WIA, Malaysia/Borneo 1963-65, 2RAR Vietnam 1970-71 WIA. CO 2RAR/NZ(ANZAC).
John Murray Church was born at Mount Lawley in Perth on 11 May 1928 and educated in Perth. He entered the Royal Military College at Duntroon in 1945 and in December 1948 he graduated as an Infantry Lieutenant and was posted to the 3rd Battalion, The Australian Regiment. The regiment was granted the title “Royal” in March after he had joined it as part of the Occupation Force in Japan. In 1950, the Battalion was about to return to Australia but was deployed to Korea in September 1950.
In Korea, he was wounded in the hand during an attack on a Chinese position, and was evacuated to Kure Japan, before being returned to Australia. While posted to Western Australia he qualified as a military parachutist, and then in June 1957, he underwent a
parachute jump instructor’s course at RAF Abingdon, UK. On his return to Australia, he was appointed Senior Army Instructor at the Parachute School and was promoted to the rank of Major. He trained parachutists for the Army, in general, and for the Special Air Service and Commando units in particular.
In 1963 John was posted to Malaysia as a company commander in 2RAR and then 3RAR. In 1964, he was posted as the Brigade Major of the 28th Commonwealth
Brigade, involved in operations against Indonesia. In 1968, he was appointed to command 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. The Battalion had just returned from its first tour of operations in Vietnam and was based at Enoggera Barracks in Brisbane, and later in Lavarack Barracks in Townsville.
John commanded 2RAR on its second tour of South Vietnam and it was during this period that John’s reconnaissance helicopter was shot down, and he and his pilot were winched from the swamp by an RAAF helicopter. John had been wounded by one of the bullets that shot them down and spent the next three weeks recovering in hospital.
He returned to resume command of the battalion until it returned to Australia.
In recognition of his service, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in
December 1971.
In 1972, John was appointed to raise the 11th Infantry Brigade at Kissing Point Barracks in Townsville and promoted to the rank of Colonel. He was then posted as
Colonel (Operations) in HQ Field Force Command, located at Victoria Barracks Sydney. He was Defence Attaché living in Islamabad and accredited to the governments of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. John returned to Australia in 1981 and retired from the Army in 1982.
He entered the Australian National University to read Archaeology in the Prehistory Department. On completion of his Honours year, he worked as a consultant in historical research at the Australian War Memorial and also completed many consultancies for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
John passed away on Tuesday 26 January 2016. We lost a remarkably accomplished soldier, leader and a wonderful Australian.