Happy 49th Birthday from RACT Head of Corps

Today marks the 49th birthday of the Royal Australian Corps of Transport. As your Head of Corps, I am immensely proud of the commitment, dedication and professionalism demonstrated by Corps members over the past twelve months, building on our strong heritage of being Par Oneri – Equal to the Task.

Our Corps has been strongly represented in the complex operational and exercise environments that the Australian Defence Force has been engaged in across the past year. Corps members have been deployed on overseas deployments including Op TONGA ASSIST, with many more deployed across Australia on Op COVID ASSIST, Op AGED CARE ASSIST and Op FLOOD ASSIST as well as concurrently supporting domestic exercises. Despite the unique and difficult tasks presented in each of these environments, Corps members have continued to demonstrate they are pro-active, innovative and motivated to meet all challenges.

Last month a number of Corps members had the opportunity to meet our Colonel-in-Chief, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal. Within the schedule of her Australian visit, Her Royal Highness was keenly interested in our Corps, personally engaging with Corps members and noting the new capabilities that have been approved by Government for realisation within the Royal Australian Corps of Transport over the next decade.

We have much to look forward to as a Corps, building on our demonstrated strengths to adapt as strategic circumstances and Army’s requirements change. Our Corps’ 50th birthday next year is a significant milestone and presents the opportunity to commemorate 50 years of distinguished service to the nation while also looking forward to ensure that as a Corps we always remain Equal to the Task. I am pleased to announce that our 50th birthday commemorations will be focussed around two events: a Corps Parade at Puckapunyal on 1 June 2023 and a Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial on 1 December 2023; with regional and trade commemorations also planned.

I close by thanking each of you for your daily contribution to the service that our Corps has given and continues to give to Army and our Nation. This is a shared commitment with your loved ones and friends and I acknowledge the close support that enables each of us.

It is a pleasure to serve with each of you and I wish you all a happy 49th Corps Birthday!

Par Oneri

Suzanne Graham CSC

Brigadier

Head of Corps