PRESIDENT                 (since21 May 24)

Warren Walsh 

Previously Treasurer & Sec 

Warren was previously the Association Treasurer for 3 years and Secretary in 2024.

He currently serves in the Army Reserve as a Major and has been with the 41st Battalion all his Army Reserve life (25 years+). 

 Warren  continues to serve at the 41st Battalion. His previous roles included Corporal (Sig PL, 3PL Casino), Platoon Commander Grafton & Coffs Harbour), Company 2IC (C Coy and Admin Coy) , OC A Coy and currently a Major at BHQ Lismore (Unit Governance Officer).

He has spent his whole military career at 41st Battalion  and had several full time contracts as Adjutant of the unit.

In civilian life he worked for NAB for 20 years, operated a local Lismore business for 10 years and finished his career working at Westpac for 12 years as a Manager of home loan brokers before retiring in May 2023.

Warren continues as a serving member of the 41st Battalion and a member of the City of Lismore RSL Sub branch.

         VICE PRESIDENT         (since17 Feb 2002)

   Jack McDonough OAM JP 

Founding Member and VP since inception               

Served in the Army Reserve for 36 years with the 41st Infantry Battalion, Lismore as Rifleman, Assault Pioneer, Clerk, Pay Sergeant.

In his civilian life Jack worked as a mercer.

Jack is active in the community and currently

Honorary Secretary, Kyogle RSL sub-Branch Trustee,                           Kyogle RSL sub-Branch Welfare Officer,                                               Kyogle RSL & Legacy Delegate to Far North Coast District Council (RSL)                                                                                                       RSL Delegate to Association of Far North Coast Ex-services Organisations Inc Kyogle RSL sub-Branch rep and committee member,                                                                                            Northern Rivers Military Museum project Honorary Secretary, Kyogle Division of Legacy Vice President/Membership Secretary, Northern Rivers Care Connections Administrator,                             Kyogle RSL Border Ranges Day Club Treasurer,                        Kyogle Poultry Club Life Member                                                Kyogle Amateur Swimming Club 

SECRETARY

Prev Treasurer since Feb 25 appointed Sec 17 Aug 25

Lee Bates

       TREASURER         

  (Appointed 20 Aug 25)

Jeff Phillips   

Lee joined the British Army at the age of 17 as an Infantry soldier he completed 23 years of service, he reached the rank of Warrant Officer Class One. During his service with the British Army Lee completed a 9-month Operational tour as a team Commander in Northern Ireland and transferred to the Australian Defence Force in 2010.

Lee postings have included a range of full-time roles including Range Safety Training, CSM Rifleman Wing, CSM Op Resolute, Warrant Officer & NCO Training support coordinator. Lee in total as served for 7 years at 41 RNSWR full time as the OPSO/OPSWO Battalion Training Officer and he also stood in as the Adjutant for 3 months.

Lee retired from the ARA in November 2024 after completing 36 years full time service across 2 Armies.

We are very pleased to have Lee on the committee with his vast knowledge of all things military.

Lee was the Treasurer of the Association in 2024 prior to becoming the Secretary.

Jeff joined the Army Reserve in 2001 as a RAAC Armoured Crewman while studying accountancy & law at university.

He qualified on M-113A1 as Driver and then Vehicle Commander before transitioning to commanding the Bushmaster PMV upon the retirement of the M-113. He was recently promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2.

Jeff’s postings include 12th/16th Hunter River Lancers, B Squadron 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment and 41 RNSWR. Whilst at B Squadron, he deployed to Iraq as part of Australia’s Operation Catalyst.

He has posted to 41st Battalion 2021 and has been involved in assisting with the Lismore Floods in 2022 and training of unit soldiers since

He is currently a WO2 serving with 41and is a book keeper in his civilian occupation.

We are pleased to have Jeff join us on the committee as part of the executive. 

       Graeme Davis OAM CSM 

(Founding member, Committee member since 18 Feb 24 and Assoc Padre since inception)


Graeme enlisted into the ADF  in 1963 and retired Jan 2000 as a Major.  

Graeme served 37 years in the ARA (CMF full time duty) and Army reserve, he served with  3/2 and 6 RAR (Active service Vietnam 1966/67),   41RNSWR 8 Task Force /8 Brigade, Hq 1 Trg Group Brisbane.  

In his civilian life he worked for Lismore City council as manager of Council real property assets & crown lands, 1976-2000.  

He graduated in 2006 from the Australian Catholic University & a Batchelor of Theology leading to ordination as a Catholic cleric, in 2007, Diocese of Lismore.  

Graeme is also a founding member of the 41st Infantry Battalion Assoc, a Paul Harris fellow of Rotary International, past president, trustee and life member of City of Lismore RSL sub branch and past president Nth Coast Legacy and Vietnam Vets assoc.  

Graeme is currently a NSW Justice of the Peace, and spends his time doing chaplaincy work for NSW Ambulance, Chaplain/ trauma office FNC branch, Surf Life Saving and NSW Chaplaincy Disaster Recovery Network  (as team leader) as well as a consultant with NSW Local Heath District (L B H) on DVA issues.

We are verypleased to have Graeme as a committee member of the Association.


                                         Mark Murray                                                                 Previously Secretary since Feb 25 currently                                                Committee member since 17 Aug 25

Mark enlisted into the Army Reserve in 1975 as a Rifleman with 2 RNSWR gaining the rank of SGT in 1985.  

He graduated from 2 OCTU in 1986 posting to 2 RNSWR which then linked with 17 RNSWR in Dec 1987 to become 2/17 RNSWR.   As an officer he completed postings as 2IC C Coy 2/17 RNSWR at 2 OCTU and APA Sydney and after promotion to Major postings at 2/17 RNSWR as OC A Coy, Bn 2IC and Staff Officer.

After moving to Lismore he was posted as OC Admin Coy 41 RNSWR, and Bn 2IC, he continues in this role.      

In civilian life he was a Teacher for over 40 years which included teaching and administration in metropolitan and country NSW high schools.   

He retired from full time/contract Teaching in 2024and lives in the local area.  

We are very pleased to have Mark on the committee (Mark was previously the Secretary in 2024/2025)

Tery Beer OAM 

(Committee Member since 20 Aug 25  )

Terry has a long history of service in the Defence Force and achieved the rank of WO1 before discharge.

Terry is retired and we are very pleased to have Terry on the committee.


Graeme Bray 

(Association Historian since Feb 2024)

Graeme joined the Royal Australian Navy at 16 as a Radar Plotter in 1990, where he served as a UN Peacekeeper on Operation Damask V onboard HMAS Darwin.

After leaving the RAN he joined 41st Battalion in 1994 where he  served as an Infantry soldier and served on Op Gold in 2000 before changing to Catering Corp in 2008,

In civilian life he is heavily involved in motorsport in Australia, NZ and China. Currently studying Event Management and a serving member of 41st Battalion.

John Knight 

(Committee Member since Feb 2020)

 
 
 

PATRON 

Tom Harwood

PATRON

Brian Pezzutti AM, CSC, RFD

Brian  is a former Australian politician , soldier and was a specialist anaesthetist. In 1988, he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council, on which he served until his retirement in 2003. While an MLC, he served in the Gulf War (1991), Bougainville (1995, 1998) and East Timor (1999). He was also Brigadier Assistant Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Forces from 2000 to 2004.

We are very pleased to have Brian as a patron of the Association.

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