RUMOURS around town are true. The Governor General, General Sir Peter John Cosgrove, AK, MC, is coming to Inverell.
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General Cosgrove will arrive in Inverell next Thursday, February 18, to spend a full day touring various groups and organisations around the community.
Inverell sub branch president Pat McMahon said the foremost purpose for the trip was to thank the Kurrajong Re-enactment committee.
“For their massive effort in remembering the departure of the Kurrajongs from Inverell,” Pat said.
He said the details have been organised by branch secretary Graeme Clinch.
The Kurrajong Re-enactment committee approached Pat for a suggestion of a person to open the week in January.
“And I said I’ll ask the Governor General,” Pat said.
After to and fro, with the office declining, Pat sent a heartfelt request.
“I sent him an email and said ‘Now come on sir, I’ve served with you overseas, the Vietnam Veterans have served with you overseas, at least you can come to us and thank the Kurrajong committee’, and it must have got to him, and he just said, 'Yes',” Pat said.
Pat served as an air transport advisor under General Cosgrove when he was Coalition Commander of INTERFET (International Forces East Timor) from 1999-2000.
He treats the lowest troop the same way he’d treat a colonel. He’s a brilliant man, people just love him.
- Inverell RSL sub-branch president Pat McMahon
Pat said the man made an impression because he was entirely indiscriminate when it came to rank and respect.
He told the story that while in East Timor, Telstra placed a big tower near the site so they had mobile reception back to Australia, though troops were not allowed to use their phones in combat.
“He went up to the frontline to see the boys one day, and this little 17-year-old soldier came out of the bush with his platoon,” Pat said.
“He came out, all covered in black and everything, been out there five or six weeks, and the general comes up and says ‘Come here son, how long since you spoke to your mum?’”
The solider said it has been four or five weeks, maybe longer.
“And (the general) pulled his mobile phone out and said go and give her a call, I’ve got business over here to do with your commanders,” Pat said.
“He treats the lowest troop the same way he’d treat a colonel. He’s a brilliant man, people just love him.”
