ANZAC Day

Chair

Drew served with the United Nations as part of the Australian Peacekeeping Contingent in Rwanda,

Drew is a proud local veteran and a dedicated school teacher. Since leaving the Army in 2003, he has actively participated in organizing ANZAC Day commemorations and enjoys collaborating with like-minded individuals to strengthen our community.

Drew has been a vital member of the committee since 2016.

Secretary

Ruth serves as our vibrant secretary and displays a keen attention to detail - so critical in ensuring Buderim’s ANZAC and Remembrance Day services run like clockwork.

Ruth comes from lengthy, high-level careers in both the Commonwealth and State Government agencies, the Agriculture and Resources sectors.

She has a deep commitment to Australian military commemoration owing to a family history of service.

Vice Chair

At just 17-years-old, Brett bravely enlisted in the army, embarking on a life-defining journey that saw him rise through the ranks to become an Army Major.

Residing in Buderim with his wife and 12-year-old son, Brett pours his heart and soul into providing invaluable support to the families of Veterans who have given their lives or health through their service.

Joining Legacy Brisbane at 36-years-old, Brett became one of the organisation’s youngest Legatees.

Committee Member

Peter’s keen commitment to Australian military commemoration stems from his family’s history of service with Australian forces in Egypt, The Sinai Desert, France and New Guinea.

Upon appointment as a deputy principal of Buderim Mountain SS from 1993, Peter was indirectly responsible for the Buderim Community’s ANZAC Day service being held from the mid 1990s in the School’s pineforest.

This came about when he unforgivably neglected to direct students to wriggle their toes whilst standing for the commencement of a new whole-school ANZAC Day service on the sunny, steamy school oval. Fainting students led to future whole-school services being held in the shady pineforest. The beautiful, sheltered setting proved attractive for all subsequent ANZAC Day services by the Buderim Community.

Committee Member

Drew is keenly interested in Australian military history and its commemoration. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge matters military. Despite a longtime career in the computer industry, Drew still found time to generously give of his time and expertise to supporting RSL and Legacy services to this day.

Military Biography

• National Service in Australian Artillery CMF units from March 1968 to Apil 1974.

• Final rank Command Post Sergeant.

• 10 years establishing displays at Maroochydore RSL Sub Branch Museum

• Current Vice President of the Sunshine Coast District RSL

• Tour Guide at Queensland Air Museum Caloundra

• Member of BWMCA ANZAC Committee.

Family involvement in Australian Armed Forces:

World War 2

• Father Ron was a RAAF bomber turret gunner who was shot down in1942 and spent 3 1/2 years as a POW in Poland. It was the first plane shot down in the newely formed Pathfinders Group.

• Father’s Sister Beth was a Womens Auxilary Australian Air Force (WAAAF)  Signals Sergeant  at the Secret Intellegence unit “Central Bureau” in Brisbane.

• Cousin Maureen Wall WAAAFat  Air Force HQ Melbourne

• Mother Juanita was a Sergeant in the Womens Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC) attached to 1st Australian Army Head Quarters in Brisbane MacrAthers HQ then Mareeba

• Nita’s Brothers Served in WW2:
  Corporal Ted Copley 2/33 Btn  Syria Middle East, Kokoda, Buna.
  Sergeant Kerry Copley 34 AASC Port Moresby, Buna, Lae New Guniea

• Sapper Archie Copley 2/3 Docks Opp. Coy. New Guinea & Borneo

• Sapper Bernard Copley 2/3 Railways Construction Co

1st World War
Great Uncles

• Jim Richardson MM  - 25th Btn - France

• Joe Wall: 1st Light Horse, Egypt, Israel, was in the charge at Beersheba Thomas Wall: Camel Corps. Egypt, Israel, 12th Light Horse Beersheba

• Jack Wall: 1st Light Horse Egypt, Israel,

Post WW2.

• Mark Fallon: RAAF F111 pilot Killed in air crash at Tenterfield 1986

Committee Member

Following an extensive career as a teacher and senior principal with the Queensland Education Department, Peter demonstrated his practical keenness for Australian military history and its commemoration by leading ten-day treks of New Guinea’s Kokoda Track some fifteen times….in retirement no less!!

All this Kokoda trekking aided by PNG porters has led to Peter developing a deep fondness and appreciation for the descendants of the renowned ‘Fuzzy-Wuzzie Angels” of World War 2 fame.

For good measure, Peter has also led multiple commemorative treks on the routes of Borneo’s Sandakan Death Marches and is a wonderful ANZAC speechmaker.

Committee Member

Errol has had 37 years’ experience in the not-for-profit industry in Australia, the majority as managing Director or Chief Executive Officer of multi-discipline organizations. In addition, he has been an Industry representative on state and national bodies, a member of working party for draft industry legislation and prepared submissions to government and committees of inquiry. He is a qualified Company Director and a former Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors      

Committee Member

Committee Member