Serpentine Jarrahdale President Rob Coales has been acknowledged in the recent King’s Birthday Honours, for his long service in the Australian military.
According to Mr Coales, who now holds the rank of lieutenant colonel, his continuous involvement spans all the way back to his youth as a student at Christchurch Grammar School.
“Initially, my first exposure to military life was in the army cadets when I was at school. I spent three years in the cadets while at Christchurch, and certainly, for me, it was a foundation of service, in having that discipline, having pride in something bigger than yourself. When I then left school, in 1994, I decided to join the Army Reserve,” Mr Coales said.
“While I was at university, I wondered if I wanted to either go full-time army or stay in the reserve. Reserves was good to help my way through university in terms of my salary. I did officer training in the army, through the Australian University regiment, which commenced in 1995. I earned my commission in 1997, and funnily enough, I returned back there some 20 years later as a commanding officer of that same unit.”
Upon finishing at university, and after a phase working for the Australian Government, he decided that the Australian Federal Police was the ideal career, and he promptly moved to Canberra.
Lt Col Coales has recently been posted to the Australian War College as a chief instructor for the part-time Australian command staff course.
“It’s a hybrid learning system, so I go over to Canberra three times a year, where we have face to face interactions with the students. The rest of the time, it’s online with tutorials and recorded lectures. I’m also involved in marking assignments from the students.”
As part of the King’s Birthday Honours, Lt Col Coales was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal, a prestigious award for exceptional service in non-warlike operations.
“It was for devoted meritorious leadership and devotion as a commanding officer of the Australian University Regiment from 2022 to 2024. I’m very proud of the award, but, as I’ve said to a lot of people over the last couple of days, it’s an award for all the leadership.
“I was blessed to have great advisers and fellow officers. You don’t have all the answers as a leader, and you need that person, that sounding board, to run things past. Attaining the award really was a team effort, and it is really a recognition of the whole command team as a University Regiment.”
“Service is so important and I would certainly encourage all men and women that are interested to either join the Army, Navy, or Air Force. Reserves is a great opportunity to experience something that’s bigger than yourself and an opportunity to give back to the country. I’m proud of my personal service, but the medal really is a recognition of all the wonderful people I’ve worked with over my 30 years in the Army Reserve.”
