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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-06-01 Daily Xml
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Dunlop, Mr M.

Ms HUTCHESSON (Waite) (15:39): I would like to take this opportunity to talk about a local hero of my community, Mr Moose Dunlop OAM, AIMM. Moose Dunlop has given a lot of his life to serve his country, his veterans and our community. In 1962, Moose joined the Army, having won a scholarship to the Royal Military College in Canberra to commence a military career that would span 25 years. He married his sweetheart, Minnie, in 1966, commencing a 56-year marriage that is still going strong.

During his period of service, he served in four Australian states and New Guinea in a range of appointments and ranks, from leadership positions to training and managerial or staff positions in various headquarters and units. He completed a tour of Vietnam during the war in 1969-70, seeing a lot of action as lieutenant or platoon commander, completing the last month of his deployment as the second-in-command of a rifle company in the battalion.

In 1988, Moose resigned from the Army and settled his family in SA, commencing a successful business as a registered builder for his company, Moose Constructions. He remained in the industry until 2010, when he retired from building. Moose's commitment to the service did not stop when he resigned from the military, going on to do what he could to help veterans. This is an area in which Moose's strong and thoughtful leadership has resulted in huge advances in the status and profile of the Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) in South Australia.

The status of the local association has also helped the national body to gain better recognition. In 2000, Moose became the President of the Royal Australian Regiment Association, a position he held for 12 years. Moose was faced with challenges when he assumed the presidency. The membership was in decline with 117 members, some of whom were not financial. Membership grew to over 500 after three years of his presidency.

The association has now emerged as one of the most significant ex-service organisations in South Australia. Moose set about building a better, more representative association and headed a committee of individuals who were prepared to expand their horizons for the benefit of the members. Together, they have been instrumental in shifting emphasis from the social and ceremonial aspects only to addressing the many and varied issues involving veterans and families.

Perhaps the most significant windfall to the association was the acquisition of the Burnside RSL and its opening in 2005 as the regimental home. Moose tells the story of a meeting in 2004, when the proposition was tabled for discussion and subsequent vote. The rental contract offered by the RSL was good, but this was a huge commercial step for an association that had little in the bank. Nonetheless, after his very honest assessment of the committee's risk-taking style, the vote was carried. The club is now a wonderful asset for the membership and those battalion associations who wish to avail themselves of it. In addition, it provides a steady income stream through the Friday night trading and promotes a very friendly atmosphere for members, families and serving members.

Other significant milestones that Moose has achieved have been the publication of The Infantryman, a monthly paper to the association members with the initial lone skilled help of Ian Ward, an ex-battalion member, and its continuing improvement; the formation of an RSL sub-branch, thus enabling the association to have a voice and vote in RSL matters; and the beautiful and significant commemorative events conducted by the RAR Association on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Long Tan and the Last Great Hurrah at St Peter's Cathedral. The latter service was a salute to the diminishing number of scarcely known Korean War veterans.

He was also involved in the enhancement of the Regimental Prayer to a hymn, arranged beautifully into a haunting and moving version by Catherine Lambert. It was also composed under his encouragement and support. Moose was appointed as the Honorary Colonel for the South Australian Army Cadets in 2003. He held this position for seven years, having had several extensions to his term of appointment. He was well respected by the cadet officers, who used his extensive experience as a sounding board on leadership matters. He has established a rapport with the cadets who, at ceremonial occasions, approach him on unit and personal matters. He remains a great fan of cadets, realising the value of personal enhancement to the youth of Australia through such programs and challenges.

In 2009, Moose recognised that the recognition and support to veterans suffering with stress-related conditions, particularly PTSD, were not effective and could be improved. Under the auspices of the RAR Association, he set about forming an organisation that he knew from his study of other world experience would provide better outcomes for those suffering from this insidious illness, so Trojan's Trek was born. The Trojan's Trek Foundation is now a recognised not-for-profit charity with gift-deductible status. The patron is the Governor of South Australia, the Hon. Frances Adamson AC. The program operates in South Australia and Queensland and attendance is free.

The primary work of the foundation is to assist younger male and female military veterans and first responders suffering from stress, illness, to be able to return to life with their families and in the community; 2022 is the 13th year of operation. Approximately 35 staff are involved in the program delivery in both states. The program transports participants to remote places in SA and Queensland which are free from distraction, in particular mobile devices, for a six-day period.

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