OOSJ Charity Dinner / 13th July 2011
The 2011 OOSJ Charity Dinner was held at the Perth Exhibition and Convention Centre 2010 on Wednesday 13th July 2011. This is the 5th Dinner arranged by the Orthodox Order of the Knights Hospitaler of St John of Jerusalem (OOSJ). The 2011 Dinner Committee this year was co-chaired by Hon Graham Kierath & Mr Allan Downs and they, and their very hard working Dinner Committee are to be congratulated on providing a first class event. This Dinner has now become a “must attend” event and tickets to Charity Dinner become highly sought after.
This year we were very fortunate to have as the Guest Speakers, Cpl Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG and Hon John Howard AC, former Prime Minister of Australia.
Mr Drew Searle, Master of Ceremonies / Hon John Howard AC
Wines for the Dinner were again generously supplied by Harmans Ridge Wines and our sincere and grateful thanks to Allan & Beverley Waters for their continued support of this Event. Apart from arranging the wonderful wines Bev Waters also works tirelessly in obtaining the very beautiful flowers for the table centre-pieces and the jewellery for the silent auction!
The Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Mr Drew Searle and his professionalism ensured the evening ran very smoothly. Drew is a very good supporter of the Charity Dinner and we are very grateful for his continuing support. The Army Band was sensational and provided wonderful music as well as looking splendid in their red jackets. This year there were 3 vocalists who entertained the guests with great music.
The first Guest Speaker was Cpl Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG who gave a soldier’s insight into the war in Afghanistan and the bravery of all Australian diggers who are over there. Ben sincerely thanked the Hon John Howard AC for his support of the SAS Regiment during his time as Prime Minister of Australia.
In his Speech the Hon John Howard AC told the assembled 370 guests of what it is like to be Prime Minister and knowingly send Australian troops into dangerous areas. Mr Howard assured the guests the Australian SAS Regiment was the finest in the world and was very well respected by all our Allies. In times of troubles our Allies were very fortunate indeed to have the men of the Australian SAS at their side.
In his Address the Chairman of the Trust, Hon Peter Blaxell told guests how the monies raised at the function were to be utilized. A new SAS Trust “Project Excalibur” was recently established for the purpose of “promoting the comfort, recreation and welfare of current serving members of the SAS Regiment who, in the opinion of the Commanding Officer taking into consideration the mental, physical and emotional welfare of the members, require it as a result of service in the Regiment”.
The need for this new Trust has arisen from the Regiment’s very high operational tempo over the past decade or more. Some soldiers who have completed 10 successive rotations in and out of active rotations have now accumulated combat time well in excess of that experienced by servicemen in WW11. These demands have placed considerable stresses on some of the men as well as on families who have had to cope with the long and repeated absences of their husbands and fathers. A number of families have broken up and there have been instances of Post Traumatic Stress Disorders which have resulted in retirements from the Regiment.
It is to this Trust all monies raised tonight will go and the Chairman urged guests to dig deep for the Auctions.
The guests certainly did their best and about $100,000 has been raised from the Dinner. Thanks must go to Auctioneers Mr Ron Farris and Mr Peter Lawrance who did a double act and made sure no bid was missed. They were lively and entertaining and no-once escaped their notice!
Mr Glen Steed, Head of Business Development & Strategic Planning for Qantas Aviation Services and his wife Diane came across to Perth especially for the Dinner. Glen was formerly an Air Commodore with the Royal Australian Air Force. In his Speech he too praised the work of the SAS Regiment and said Qantas was proud to be represented at the Dinner.
A special presentation was made to one of the guests, Mr Peter Salmon who was one of the legendary Rats of Tobruk. The delightful elderly gentleman (now aged 90) is a very proud old Digger and graciously accepted his Rat of Tobruk Award from the Hon John Howard AC. Mr Salmon had been an original member of the 2/28th and was wounded at El Alamein in July 1942. However he was able to rejoin the Battalion for action in New Guinea and Borneo and ended the war with the rank of Lieutenant. Mr Salmon was pleased to meet Cpl Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG who also congratulated Mr Salmon on his contribution during WWII.
A wonderful evening, fabulous food (compliments to the PECC and their chefs), fine wines (all courtesy of Harmans Ridge Wines & Howling Wolves Wine Group), lively conversation and the knowledge the funds raised went to support the SAS Regimental family via the SAS Resources Trust made for a perfect evening.
Again our thanks go to the hard-working members of OOSJ, Priory of Western Australia for their on-going support of our Trust. This support enables us to continue our work in support of the SAS Regiment and the SAS Regimental family.
Hon John Howard AC, Mr Peter Salmon & Cpl Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG
Cpl Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG
Hon Peter Blaxell, Trust Chairman