Photo essay: Middle East Area of Operations Commemoration 2024

Highlights from an inaugural commemoration service for veterans of 21st-century conflicts, and why young veterans are embracing the day.

By Lachlan Haycock

At a glance

The Middle East Area of Operations Commemoration, initiated by members and hosted by RSL NSW, was the first of its kind in the country.
The commemoration was held three years to the day after it was announced that all of Australia’s Defence personnel had withdrawn from Afghanistan.
Services were also held across the state by RSL sub-Branches.

RSL NSW is committed to commemorating and supporting veterans of all conflicts.

The inaugural Middle East Area of Operations Commemoration, the first of its kind in the country, was held on 11 July. Initiated by members and hosted by RSL NSW, it is designed to foreground the remembrance of veterans of recent conflicts, and the concurrent and ongoing sacrifice of their families.

Check out a selection of photos from services in Sydney and elsewhere in NSW below.

Sydney CBD commemoration

Corporal Ron Schultz (below), RAAF Base Richmond Indigenous Liaison Officer, provided an Acknowledgement of Country.

Major Sarah Winter (above) of the Australian Army’s 2nd Health Battalion, illustrated the scope of challenges faced by personnel during deployment.

“Our job was intense and stressful, but equally essential to the lives of those [we protected].”

Present at the event were Her Excellency The Hon Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of NSW; The Hon Chris Minns MP, Premier of NSW; and RSL NSW President Mick Bainbridge, who read The Ode.

“Each veteran here today and across our state will hold different memories [and] reasons to commemorate,” said Bainbridge. “Please leave today carrying the memory of our fallen comrades with you. We will never forget their commitment or their legacy.”

Junior Legatee Ziggy Till (above, second from right) recited This Ode, a poem by Rupert McCall that mentions the name of every Australian who did not return home – including that of his father Brett Till, who was killed in Afghanistan in March 2009.

The day prior, Minns had announced a $2 million investment by the NSW Government to build a new war memorial dedicated to honouring the service and sacrifice of those who served in the Middle East area of operations, and their families.

While there are often resources spent commemorating wars with no living veterans, RSL NSW is committed to directing resources to returned veterans and their families.

Kane Hall (above left) laid a wreath representing the ex-service personnel who have died by suicide.

“It’s great to see RSL NSW and other organisations coming together to support my cohort of veterans,” Hall said after the event. “It was also great to see a modern service with its roots in older commemorations.”

“We need to continue looking towards the future.”

“It was the first time I’d heard This Ode by Rupert McCall,” said RSL NSW member Nathan Murphy, who served alongside RSL NSW President Mick Bainbridge. “Hearing those names being read by Tilly’s son was something else.

“It was very poignant.”