Other ACT recipients
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An unidentified Australian soldier who drew enemy fire to protect his mates in Afghanistan has become only the seventh person to be awarded the Star of Gallantry since its inception 23 years ago.
“Private B”, a special forces member, is one of only three soldiers to receive an award for gallantry in the Queens Birthday Honours List.
Two Commendations for Gallantry have also been awarded, well down on the numbers usually announced in recent years and a reflection of the drawdown of Australian troops from Afghanistan.
Private B’s citation states he “repeatedly exposed himself to sustained heavy fire in order to support his team during operations in Uruzgan”.
“On seeing his team under enemy fire he rendered assistance without regard for his own safety, which undoubtedly saved lives.”
The Star of Gallantry ranks second only to the Victoria Cross in the pantheon of gallantry awards.
Canberra-based soldiers, sailors and RAAF members were well recognised in other areas, however, with Major-General John Caligari DSC AM being made an Officer in the Military Division of the Order of Australia.
Seven Canberrans were made members of the Military Division of the Order of Australia.
They included Warrant Officer David Ashley for his services as Regimental Sergeant-Major for forces command, for combined team Uruzgan and for the entire army.
“Warrant Officer Ashley’s steadfast professionalism, dedication to duty, outstanding leadership and moral courage has had a lasting impression on thousands of officers and soldiers,” his citation states.
Lieutenant Colonel Brian Robert Campbell was honoured for what must rank as one of the most difficult jobs in the Australian Defence Force.
As the “staff officer – fatalities with the chief of staff branch” he has worked with the families of all 40 Australian soldiers killed in Afghanistan.
“His commitment and empathy have helped the families understand something of the work and conditions their loved ones experienced,” his citation states.
Another Canberran, Major-General Michael Peter Crane DSC AM, was awarded a bar for his Distinguished Service Cross for his leadership of Joint Task Force 633 in Afghanistan from October 2012 to September 2013.
Other Operation Slipper participants, Brigadier John Shanahan, Colonel Simon Stuart and Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm Wells, were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
One Canberran was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and six others received commendations for distinguished service.
Eight ACT ADF members were awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal. They included Group Captain Deanne Gibbon, who directed the review into the treatment of women in the Australian Defence Force.
“Group Captain Gibbon’s tireless efforts to facilitate implementation of the review ... have contributed significantly to cultural change in Defence,” her citation states.
“Her selfless, outstanding devotion to duty, professionalism, contributions to advancing diversity, and support provided to women in the ADF are in the finest traditions of the RAAF and the ADF.”
Lieutenant-Colonel Bradley Kilpatrick, the chief instructor in the undergraduate branch of the Australian Defence Force Academy, was also awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
He, too, has been at the forefront of culture change in the wake of the ADFA Skype scandal.
“He has ably led the implementation of numerous new training elements emanating from Defence culture reviews while simultaneously reinvigorating the Academy’s leadership development training continuum.”