Why the Association Exists
The Association exists for ALL members who have served in the 2nd Battalion or the 2nd/4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, regardless of where that service occurred. Some have served on active service while many have had service only in Australia during those long periods of non-operational activity.
Membership is also open to members of 1RNZIR who served with 2RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Battalions on both tours of Vietnam (Victor and Whiskey Companies) and we welcome our Tasman warrior brothers to our Association.
Our Association is for all these members.
To Join
Objectives
- To provide opportunities for Association members to come together for camaraderie and mutual support with their fellow Association members under national, state and local arrangements.
- To maintain a close relationship between the Association and 2RAR.
- To provide opportunities for regular communication with, from and among the members of the Association.
- To provide timely advice of relevant support agencies to both Association members and the immediate family of deceased members requiring individual support in areas including health, relationships and personal welfare.
- To ensure the sacrifice of those who died whilst serving on duty with 2RAR is acknowledged during all collective Association activities.
- To develop a systematic program of updating and maintaining the history of 2RAR and the Association.
- To participate as a collective group on relevant occasions of national or regimental significance including ANZAC Day.
- To acknowledge the support given by non- members to the Association.
OUR PATRON Maj-Gen Michael Slater AO, DSC, CSC (Retd)
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
- Ex-members of 66 Bn AMF, 2RAR, 2/4RAR and serving members of 2RAR. Membership may include those of Corps, other than the Royal Australian Infantry Corps, eligible by Service with 2RAR and includes all or any ‘members of supporting arms or philanthropic organisations attached to 2RAR from time to time’ (including 2RAR MTF-3).
- Ex-service persons who have served with “Sister Battalions” of The Royal Australian Regiment, or persons currently serving, or will in future serve, with “Sister Battalions”, in any theatre of operations including Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Rwanda, East Timor, Solomon Islands, Iraq, Timor Leste, Afghanistan or any future theatre of operations.
- Any direct relative of a person killed in action, died of wounds, or died from illness, in any theatre of operations while serving with 2RAR, and who would have been eligible for membership of the Association; such relatives to include spouse/partner, mother, father, brother, sister, children or grandchildren of such deceased person.
Here’s few reasons why we think you should join us:
- Reconnect with and refresh army mateship
- Make new friends with a common history i.e. service in 2RAR
- Rekindle the camaraderie resulting from previous service in 2RAR
- The Association provides the opportunity to become involved in assisting other veterans in various ways.
- Contribute to and assist in the maintenance of the history of 2RAR
- Get the latest news on what’s happening inside and outside the battalion.
- Gain a better understanding of the ‘mateship’ that is the basis of military service
- Experience the warmth and compassion of the 2RAR family
- Meet other past members of 2RAR who have served with the family member.