ARTICLES OF INTEREST
First medal at games is a gold
Flg-Off Belinda Barker From Army News
A bluebird day uncovered bucket loads of Aussie grit and determination during day four of Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025.
With 23 Team Australia competitors hitting the snow across five sports – Nordic skiing, Alpine skiing, snowboarding, biathlon and skeleton – it was always shaping up to be a huge day for the wounded, injured and ill current and former serving military personnel taking part in the competition.
The day of multiple medals kicked off with Nordic cross-country skiing. For most of the Australian competitors, it was the first time doing the sport, no less competing against countries from across the globe.
Capt Olivia Miley-Dyer celebrates her gold medal for winning her category of the Nordic Cross-Country competition at Whistler Olympic Park.
Photos: Flt-Sgt Christopher Dickson
Army’s Capt Olivia Miley-Dyer managed to snag the first Australian medal of the games, finishing the 1500m course in 4:03.20, racing across meticulously groomed trails of Whistler Olympic Park to take gold.
“I have only done three or four days on snow, so I was lucky I managed to stay on my feet,” she said.
“I never thought I would be in with a gold-medal chance. I just came into these games really not expecting to medal at all, so this is an added bonus.”
With her parents and sisters watching on, emotions were at the fore. Family has been a critical support for the 31-year-old Army captain since being diagnosed with advanced thyroid cancer during the pandemic.
“I think I was more nervous heading into today’s event than when I started treatment,” the Sydneysider said.
Invictus Games competitors can participate in more than one sport, with a maximum of eight for any person.
This allowed team members to experience a range of opportunities, but resulted in a massive undertaking for a handful of competitors, who found themselves competing in multiple sports on the one day.
Tricia Reynolds was one of those. She started the day by hitting the Whistler Alpine Venue for novice Alpine skiing, then moved to Whistler Sliding Centre for skeleton.
Despite hitting 97km/h down the icy track and picking up a bronze behind teammate Cindy Chawner who claimed silver in the skeleton, Tricia said skiing was her pick of the day.
“I probably enjoyed the skiing more than the skeleton, whereas most people enjoyed the skeleton,” she said.
“I am an adrenaline junkie – I loved the skeleton – but I want to do it again and do it better.”
The novice Alpine skiing event was dedicated to competitors who have had less than seven days’ snow experience.
Tricia started skiing last year in readiness for the games, and only went through the flags for the first time ever during practice a day before competition.
“I’d never skied before last year and I didn’t know how my hip was going to handle it,” said the former Air Force military working dog handler who had two hip replacements in her 46 years.
“Laura Reynell from the Dusseldorf Games’ team took me down to Perisher and got me on the skis.
“Then I went out and bought my boots and my helmet and now it’s going to be a new sport and I’m addicted.”
The Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler wrapped up on Feb 16.
"I never thought I would be in with
a gold medal chance....so this is an added bonus... - CaptOlivia Miley-Dyer
Bronze medal winner Tricia Reynolds, and Sgt Emily Lahey at the top of the Whistler Alpine Venue at the Invictus Games Vancouver.
Whistler 2025 Photo: WOFF Ricky Fuller
Retired combat assault dog, 'Maniac', who served with 2 Cdo Regt in Iraq, received the inaugural Australian Animal Distinguished ServiceAward at the Australian War Memorial on February 24.
A Force to be reckoned with - Cpl Jacob Joseph
Combat assault dogs Aslan, left, and Manic receive their Australian Animal Distinguished Service Awards at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
A retired combat assault dog named Manic, who served with 2 Cdo Regt in Iraq, received a new award for distinguished service at the Australian War Memorial on February 24.
Manic was the inaugural recipient of the Australian Animal Distinguished Service Award, which recognises outstanding actions of animals in service or to the community. The Belgian Malinois deployed to the Middle East, where he assisted Australian training teams and sup- ported special forces’ Tactical Assault Group for three years.
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Veterinary officer Maj Kendall Crocker, who was part of the selection panel, said Manic had an outstanding reputation within the dog-handler and commando community. “These dogs are special dogs; they are a force to be reckoned with,” Maj Crocker said. “Elite dogs like Manic have to have very stable temperaments, making them amazing dogs in their retirement.”
Manic continues to serve as a canine ambassador, promoting service dogs for those with PTSD and highlighting the need for continuing care of military working dogs after they retire. While Manic was the 2024 recipient, another dog named Aslan was honoured with the 2025 award.
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Aslan was also a combat assault dog with the 2 Cdo Regt for six years. He served with Australian training teams in the United States and with the Tactical Assault Group. Aslan overcame a battle with cancer and spends his retirement raising awareness about canine health.
The ceremony coincided with Australia’s National Day for War Animals, a date also shared with New Zealand.
Only in its fifth year, the national day is also known as purple poppy day. The association of purple with war animals is believed to go back to the First World War, when the Purple Cross Society raised money to support more than 100,000 Australian horses that served overseas.
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Donations from the society helped establish and run the Australian Army Veterinary Hospital near Calais,
France, which treated more than 24,000 horses between 1917 and 1919.
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Major Crocker said there are more than 200 military working dogs in Defence across Army and Air Force, but the day honoured all animals serving in war, past and present. “Australian war animals have been with us in every campaign, from the Boer War to the current day, and the dog Manic tells that story beautifully,” Maj Crocker said
CORPS MARKS ITS CENTENARY
Capt Andrew Page
Sig Cpl Ryan McIntosh uses semaphore flags to call soldiers on to parade during the ceremony at the Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne. Photo: Cpl Campbell Myers - Army News
Signallers gathered at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance on February 14 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals.
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The corps formed on February 14, 1925, consolidating technical specialist soldiers trained to operate analogue wireless and radio equipment.
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Today, the corps provides contemporary digital communications, electronic warfare and cyber capabilities in support of Defence operations.
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Head of Corps Brig Deane Limmer said the parade and commemorative service recognised the contribution and sacrifice of signallers in theatres of conflict, peacekeeping, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
“A key element in any battlespace or operating environment is the timeliness and reliability of our communications, and the information that guides decision-making to give us a competitive edge,” Brig Limmer said. “We have always embraced technology and the skills required to meet the dynamic demands of warfare, as per our corps motto: Certa Cito – swift and sure.”
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Events to celebrate the corps and its achievements will take place throughout 2025.
“More than 100,000 signallers have served in the corps, including 25,000 men and 3600 women who served as communicators in either the Australian Corps of Signals or the Australian Women’s Army Service during the Second World War,” Brig Limmer said.
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“For every signaller serving in the corps there is someone providing strength and support at home, and our centenary celebrations are also about recognising and showing gratitude to them.”
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