Honouring the unsung heroes

It’s the military working dogs (even though you were almost certainly thinking cavalry).

Our unsung canines have served alongside members of the Australian army, navy and air force for generations — and still are.

On Anzac Day this year, the Royal Australian Air Force Dog Handlers Association held its annual general meeting at Moama RSL and then turned out for the march and service at the Moama cenotaph.

Founded in 1996, the association today helps care for almost 90 veterans from the RAAF’s paw patrol — more dogs than are in service.

Ray Thomas was a founding member of the association and, as a director, was in Moama for the events.

RAAF military working dogs are highly trained security assets integral to Australian Defence Force operations, specialising in intruder detection, security patrols and explosive detection.

These dogs, now almost exclusively the Belgian Malinois, provide security for aircraft, personnel and air bases.

Mr Thomas said the dogs were bred and trained through specialised programs to handle high-stress environments, including loud machinery and gunfire.

“The RAAF pioneered the use of dogs in the Australian military and provided the training nucleus for all branches of the ADF.’’

The association was formed in 1996 to promote ex-police dog handlers and current military working dog handlers and their dogs and to “raise awareness of the intelligence, friendship and sacrifice these animals have brought to the defence strategies and history of our country”.

These handlers have served throughout Australia and overseas in Malaysia, Singapore, East Timor, Afghanistan and the fight against Terror.

The RAAF is the largest supplier of military working dogs in the ADF.

Since inception, there has been more than 2200 police and military working dogs graduate from the RAAF’s security and fire school, located at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland.

A state‑of‑the‑art military working dog facility opened at RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory this year.

The $8.9 million upgraded facility not only enhances the wellbeing and training of military working dogs and their handlers; it also plays a critical role in strengthening our northern bases.

Retirement age for the RAAF dogs varies, depending on their health, but averages between eight and 10.

Mr Thomas said the association’s aim was to keep alive the spirit of the unit and the acknowledgement and support of the military working dogs, to assist and give knowledge to members regarding the Department of Veterans’ Affairs entitlements and pensions and to toast a roll call for deceased comrades.

“We have a remembrance wall at RAAF SFS, Amberley, which commemorates all the RAAF dog handlers who have died, to honour their service,’’ he said.

“We have 230 members and our names will also be on the wall in time (just not for a long time yet, I hope).

“The association also has Corporal Mark Donaldson VC as our patron.”

Cpl Donaldson was the first recipient of the Australian Victoria Cross for action under fire in Afghanistan.

But he was more excited in 2009 when he heard Sarbi, an explosives detection dog he had worked with in Afghanistan, and had been declared missing in action during the ambush from which Cpl Donaldson would receive his VC, had been found alive by an American soldier.

Cpl Donaldson said of the news that it “closed a chapter in their shared history”.

Having Sarbi back gave closure for the handler and those who served with her in 2008 — and was a morale booster for those serving.

Just as it has always proved a morale booster for the 230 association members every time they get together to remember the dogs who were their mates and, so often, their protectors.