Last night the Defence Minister and a range of other senior defence figures came to dinner at my residence, Westminster House. They joined us to bid farewell to my Defence Adviser, Brigadier Will Taylor, at the end of his tour in Canberra. They enjoyed supping from my range of British ales, including Spitfire and Bombadier.
Their presence was a tribute both to the respect in which Will is held, and to the very warm relationships between our two militaries, whose close cultural familiarity is rooted in a shared history in peace and war around the globe. There are many personnel exchanges, as we both seek to learn from each other’s experience. And in recent years British and Australian forces have worked closely together on operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Last year Will was instrumental in the conclusion of the new UK/Australia Defence Cooperation Treaty.
For a High Commissioner it’s very useful to have a senior military officer on your team. Will, who leaves the service at the end of his posting here, brought to the job an expertise and credibility derived from his lengthy military experience. As a Royal Marine he has seen action in some of the most challenging trouble spots of the last three decades. Here in Canberra he has developed an excellent understanding of Australian defence policy and strong networks across the system. He also works closely with other members of the High Commission team, including UK Trade & Investment to support wider British interests in Australia, from foreign policy to business.
DAs – as they’re known in the trade – turn up at our meetings and receptions in a bewildering array of uniforms. They add a lustre to our events and often leave the humble diplomats feeling positively dowdy in our business suits. The Royal Marines’ dress uniform is in a class of its own for smartness. Will hands over to Commodore Richard Powell, a highly experienced Royal Navy officer – who I am sure will continue to add a splash of colour to our lives with an equally exotic range of uniforms.
I am a former member of the FCO and ex Director International of Rolls Royce. I would like to send an email to the High Commisioner about commemorating pilots from 54 Squadron RAF who were killed during the war in operations from Darwin. The email address contained in the High Commisions website, rejects my effort as being too long!