Wagga RSL sub-Branch vice-president David Abbott leads Wagga’s first-ever MEAO Commemorative Service on Thursday in front of a healthy crowd at the Victory Memorial Gardens. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Veterans of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have had their services honoured this week, with the Wagga RSL sub-Branch holding an inaugural Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) Commemorative Service.
The 11 am service was held at the Victory Memorial Gardens on 11 July, which marked four years since every Australian troop was withdrawn from Afghanistan.
Despite no official national service being recognised Australia-wide, RSL NSW announced in 2023 that sub-Branches across the state would be honouring MEAO veterans.
“The RSL’s first commemoration for the Middle East Area of Operations, which began over 20 years ago and is Australia’s longest serving military engagement, honours the service of some 40,000 Defence Force personnel who serve and supported the commitment to those operations,” Wagga RSL sub-Branch president Rod Cooper said.
“We at the RSL believe that commemorating the service of these men and women formally fits very well with a tradition of our commemoration of all veterans and their service from way back in 1915, right up until the current date.
Veterans, local leaders and serving men and women all laid wreaths to honour the MEAO veterans. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
“The decision to hold the commemoration began during the RSL NSW annual meeting in 2023. It was unanimously supported by all the sub-Branches who attended the AGM following consultation with RSL NSW with contemporary veterans. We agreed that the 11th of July 2024 should be the day that we should be commencing commemorations.”
The keynote speaker for the MEAO Commemorative Service was Major Jennifer White, who grew up on a farm between Wallendbeen and Cootamundra and served in Afghanistan for nine months in 2008.
The service concluded with the traditional playing of the Last Post and a moment of silence. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Major White said it was an honour to speak at Wagga Wagga’s first-ever MEAO service to commemorate those who served in the Middle East between October 2001 and July 2021.
“It was listed that more than 40,000 Australian men and women across the Australian Navy, Australian Army, the Royal Australian Airforce and the Australian Federal Police, served during this time,” she said.
“Of that number, in Iraq 27 people were wounded and two died. In Afghanistan, 641 were wounded and 41 were killed.”
Major White said it was important to honour the service of the men and women who served and died in the MEAO.
“Every service person I know is really proud of the history of the Anzacs, but having a separate day that remembers those who served in the MEAO is really special,” she said.
“Having the RSL put forward that date to allow for the opportunity to have these MEAO commemorative services is really important and hopefully, is a way to see more of the younger generation of veterans involved with the important work of the RSL.”
To learn more about the history of the MEAO and the inaugural commemoration services around the country, visit RSL NSW.
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