Abalinx 1 February 2018 Peter Adamis.
What can a bloke say when confronted with another bloke wearing an Akubra style hat. A copy of the article may be downloaded by clicking on:WARREN ONE OF MY MANY UGLY COBBER DIGGER MATES
Well in this case it looks like my mate is wearing a slouch hat gone wrong. First met young Warren (he is younger) back in 1971 or 1972 (memory is fading fast) in the First Battalion The royal Australian Regiment. A great soldier, athlete, boxer and family man. We never had much to do with each other back then as we were in different companies. Both trained hard under extraordinary men whose skills and knowledge we inherited. (WW2, Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam, Indonesian Confrontation).
Over the years we went on our separate paths accumulating skills and knowledge in the art of warfare and mismanagement losing mates along the way. We both missed out on Vietnam due to changes on the Australian political landscape.
However we both had experiences overseas, Rhodesia for Warren and Singapore/Malaysia for me. Raising our young families we finally meet up again at 8/7 RVR in Victoria. Warren was with Linda and their two children and I as a single Dad with four boys. Warren was the RSM and I was the Chief Clerk. (Chief).
This unit was to be a turning point in the friendship between the families that is still alive to this day. Over the years we have kept in touch, talking about our families, our illnesses, mates and the future.
Warren is a tough little bloke, no two ways about it and if our old Jack Currie RSM of 1 RAR was alive today he would have been proud of Warren. Warren in fact has emulated Jack Currie to a “T”. Tough as nails, firm, fair and compassionate to a point.
I have witnessed Warren in a tough and tense situation where ones loyalty and duty was at stake. He did us all proud by doing what was the right thing and set the example to all the ARA Cadre staff.
I do know that the ARA Cadre staff were all recommended for honours for extraordinary achievements but only the CO received the award. The CO was kind enough to thank all his ARA Cadre staff stating that the award was for them as well.
Warren went onto be posted to another unit and I to Melbourne. Later I found that Warren decided to separate from the Defence Force as his family came first. He had completed his 20 years plus, done his bit and did not ha e to prove nothing to nobody. I am of the belief that he also turned down posting that would have assured him the job of RSM of the Army.
Such was and still is the mettle of the man that it has been my honour to have served alongside him. A great bloke, a bonzer of a man that you would want in your trench and go to war with. In other words he is a cobber digger mate and his blood is worth bottling. A typical Aussie bloke who will probably kill me when he reads the article. I still think he is a copycat in trying to emulate me wearing my Akubra. Goodonya cobber.
Peter Adamis is a Journalist/Social Media Commentator and writer. He is a retired Australian military serviceman and an Industry organisational & Occupational (OHS) & Training Consultant whose interests are within the parameters of domestic and international political spectrum. He is an avid blogger and contributes to domestic and international community news media outlets as well as to local and Ethnic News. He holds a Bachelor of Adult Learning & Development (Monash), Grad Dip Occupational Health & Safety, (Monash), and Dip. Training & Assessment, Dip Public Administration, and Dip Frontline Management. Website: abalinx.com Contact via Email: [email protected] or via Mobile: 0481 342 791