Publication:Sea Talk Spring 2005/Reserve Forces Day 2005
Reserve Forces Day 2005 saw some of the largest attendances - both in terms of Reservists and spectators - since Reserve Forces Days were introduced in 1998. Major east coast centres including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Newcastle held marches in July.
The 2005 parade marked the 90th anniversary of the recruiting marches after the terrible loss of life at Gallipoli, the raising of Special Forces units, and service of women in the Reserve.
In Brisbane, Reserve Forces day followed the theme "Women in the Reserve" and had, as its keynote speaker Queensland Supreme Court judge and Navy Legal Reservist, Justice Margaret White.
Commissioned as a Second Officer in the WRANSR in 1967 to provide expert lectures to final year cadets at the RAN College, on international law and the laws of war, Judge White has the distinction of being the first WRANSR officer commissioned since WWII.
In 1970, she moved to Brisbane where she was a full time lecturer at the University of Queensland Law School and she continued to serve in the Navy Legal Panel until 1974. In 1983 she began full time practice at the Brisbane Bar and was appointed Master of the Supreme Court in 1990. She was appointed a Justice of the court in 1992 and has been a member of the Senate of the University of Queensland since 1993. Her particular legal interests are legal education and international law in national courts. Judge White was recommissioned into the RANR with the rank of Commander. She is married to Dr Michael White, QC, a retired submariner and their daughter, Sophie is currently serving as a Lieutenant legal officer in the RAN.
In Melbourne, the Navy platoon, led by Director Naval Reserve Support - Victoria, CMDR Joe Lukaitis was the first contingent to give the Reviewing Officer, the Governor General, Maj-Gen Michael Jeffery, eyes right as the march proceeded towards the Shrine of Remembrance.
In all, more than 1500 Reservists paraded before a crowd estimated at between 4000 and 5000.
CPOMT Graeme Layton (below) has achieved a rare milestone this year on reaching his 40th year of continuous active Naval Reserve service. His career continues as a senior sailor in Mine Warfare Group 54 which conducts its operations out of Melbourne (OIC LCDR Graeme Furlonger). CPO Layton is a qualified charge on both Attack and Fremantle class patrol boats and even earlier in his Navy career worked on the various attached vessels of Melbourne Port Division. A quiet achiever, CPO Layton is a highly respected professional who continues to contribute to the RAN. PIC SHOWS: Chief of Army Lt-Gen Peter Leahy presenting CPO Layton with an award from the Defence Reserves Association at a Reserve Forces Day Ceremony in Melbourne on July 3. The award cites him as the outstanding Navy Reservist in Victoria for 2005, thus recognising a remarkable 40 years of service.
