Submarines
Association
Australia
SubmarinesAssociationAustralia |
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28/08/2026
From the National President:
Join Murray Bruce on His Bravery Trek: Support Our Submariners
Dear SAA Members,
I am writing to share an inspiring initiative being undertaken by one of our own, Murray Bruce, and to ask for your support. Murray, a fellow submarine veteran (OXLEY, OTWAY, and COLLINS) and a long-standing Bravery Trust Ambassador, is preparing for an epic charity trek along the historic Bibbulmun Track from Stirling to Albany.
About the Trek
Murray will walk approximately 1000km between August and September this year, averaging 25km per day over 6 weeks, as part of the Bravery Trust’s Bravery Trek. He will stay in shelters, an ultra-light tent, or track towns along the way, with food drops mailed ahead.
This trek is significant, connecting the historic submarine host ports of Fremantle and Albany—locations steeped in Squadron and allied submarine history. Murray will be representing the SAA during his journey.
Supporting Bravery Trust
This walk aims to raise funds for Bravery Trust, a charity providing emergency financial support, financial counselling, and financial education for veterans, serving personnel, and their families. Murray has been an ambassador since 2020 and has witnessed firsthand the critical support the Trust provides to submariners and their families. Bravery Trust stays in its lane, focusing on financial well-being. They work collaboratively with other Ex-Service Organisations (ESOs) like Open Arms and RSL, advocating on behalf of veterans to have inappropriate debts waived or restructured into manageable payment plans. They also assist DVA beneficiaries with post-compensation planning.
How You Can Help
1. Donate and Help SAA: I encourage every member to visit Murray's Bravery Trek fundraising page and make a personal contribution. If you mention you are from the SAA with your donation, Murray has generously offered to match your contribution back to the SAA, up to a maximum of $5,000. The SAA Executive will determine the best use for these matched funds.
👉 Donate here: https://braverytrek.com.au/murray-bruce
2. Join the Warm-Up Walk/Run: Murray will kick off his trek with an 8km run/walk from Stirling to the Rockingham Navy Club with the Chief of Navy, VADM Matt Buckley, starting at the submarine alongside on 22 August. If you are in the Rockingham area, please join us to show your support at the STIRLING at 0700 for 0730 or at the Navy Club from 0830.
3. Meet Murray Along the Way: If you live in or near the Bibbulmun Track towns (Albany, Balingup, Collie, Denmark, Dwellingup, Northcliffe, Pemberton, or Walpole), Murray would welcome the chance to join you for a refreshment along his journey and or have you walk with him for part of the trek.
Next Steps
Murray is a true asset to our submarine community, and his commitment to this cause is commendable. Please give this initiative your full support.
Yours Aye,
Dave Strangward AM
National President
Submarines Association Australia
New Video for the start with Murry and CN
SAA Members
On behalf of the SAA
I would like to congratulate CDRE Henri Nord-Thomson on the recent announcement of his promotion to RADM in Jan 27 when he will take over as Head of Naval Engineering (HNE).
I am not sure of the last time there were so many Submariners in the top jobs (CDF/CN/AUKUS positions and now HNE). Henri served in both Oberon and Collins Class submarines as well as a number of Squadron positions. He is currently DG Naval Engineering.
Cheers
David Strangward, AM
SAA National Resident
As the year comes to an end I would like to, on behalf of the National and State Committees, wish all SAA members and their families a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
It has been a busy year for the SAA with a great SUBCON in QLD, our web site back up and running.
On the subject of SUBCON, NSW have stepped in to organise SUBCON 25 and there will be more news on the plans etc in the New Year.
I would also like to take the opportunity to thank the National Committee for all the work they have done this year, much of it behind the scenes.
Our Vice Pres Tony Vine has also worked hard to update our constitution which has needed a lot of work as it has been many years between updates.
Tony has also been able to track down members details and update the Eternal Patrol details as a number of submariners details were incorrect.
Also a big year in the Navy with both senior positions now being filled by submariners, with Mark Hammond as CN and Matt Buckley as DCN so we know the Navy id in good hands.
I was also honoured to be invited to Matt Ritchie’s promotion to CDRE, in early December he has come a long way since his time as a baby greenie in HMAS Onslow.
Of course the AUKUS project is gathering momentum and hopefully in the not too distant future we may have some USN submariners join the association as they move to the West.
Just a reminder that next year is an election year for the National Executive, so please have a think about stepping up and putting your name forward for a position if not for one of the National positions then maybe on your state committees as I see the same names year after year doing a great job in their respective states.
So in closing please keep safe and I look forward to catching up in 2025.
On behalf of the SAA I would like to congratulate a number of Senior Submariners on the their promotion and job change announcements.
RADM Buckley will become DCN later this year (so Submariners in the CN and DCN positions which must be a first)
CDRE Tom Phillips on his promotion the RADM
CAPT Glenn Miles on his promotion to CDRE
This may be of interest to some members The Vietnam Commemorative Medallion (medallion) and Certificate of Recognition (certificate) to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. The application for the medallion is closing on 26 July 2024.
Applications can be submitted through the DVA webpage application portal at Vietnam War commemorative medallion and certificate |
Department of Veterans' Affairs (dva.gov.au). Please note that only one medallion is available per Vietnam War veteran.
The medallion and certificate were made available to every Australian veteran who served in the Vietnam War, or their widow or other family member.
This includes personnel who served within Australia's military forces, as well as eligible Australian civilians, such as members of civilian medical and surgical teams as listed on the DVA Nominal Roll at https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/vietnamWar.
Unfortunately, this program does not extend to those who served with Allied Forces.
Following the National Commemorative Service held on 18 August 2023 to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War, DVA produced a DVD containing all three episodes of the documentary Our Vietnam War, as well as complete recordings of the pre-service program, and the full commemorative service.
You may wish to watch these, to do so please click on the following links;
1. Documentary Our Vietnam War: https://iview.abc.net.au/show/our-vietnam-war
2. Pre-Service Program: https://iview.abc.net.au/show/vietnam-s-50th-anniversary
3. National Commemorative Service: https://iview.abc.net.au/show/australia-s-vietnam-50th-anniversary or Australia’s Vietnam: 50th Anniversary 🎖️ | OFFICIAL BROADCAST |
ABC Australia (youtube.com)
SAA Memorabilia sales: An information PDF is available about the sale of SAA Menorabilia SAA Memorabilia Sales