Life After Service: Gary & Renee Wilson

Gary Wilson was a signaller attached to the 2nd Commando Regiment. On the 21st of June, 2010, Gary and then-fiancé Renee’s lives were changed forever when Gary was severely injured in a Black Hawk helicopter crash.

In this episode of Life After Service, Thomas Kaye speaks to the now-married couple, Gary and Renee, about the accident, the challenges they overcame and how they are helping pave the way to support others, both veterans and the families of those veterans.

Want to join the Wilsons and support veterans, their families and give back? Check out The Wilson Initiative. https://thewilsoninitiative.com.au/ Looking to have more energy, manage pain and optimise your health? Gary runs Bare Coaching, his personal coaching service. Find out more at: https://www.barecoaching.com/

Watch the episode on YouTube above, or listen to the audio-only version below.

#107 Brett Wood

2nd Commando Regiment veterans, friends and family share their memories of the late Sergeant Brett Wood MG, DSM.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Brett Wood joined the Australian Army in 1996. He completed Selection and joined 4 RAR (Commando) in November 1998, which later became the 2nd Commando Regiment. Brett deployed to Malaysia in 1996, Bougainville in 2000, Timor in 2001, Iraq in 2003 and Afghanistan in 2006. During that deployment, for his leadership in action as a team commander, he was awarded the Medal for Gallantry. He received a Commendation for service with the Tactical Assault Group - East in 2007. He deployed again to Afghanistan in 2009 and 2011.

Brett was tragically killed in action by an Improvised Explosive Device on 23 May 2011. As the 10-year anniversary of Brett’s passing approached, Life on the Line was asked by one of Brett's close friends and fellow commandos to commemorate the day. We have done so by creating this special podcast, a celebration of his life. Alex Lloyd spoke with family, friends and colleagues of Brett - from those who knew him personally to those who served alongside him and marvelled at his professionalism.

This podcast shares just a few of many great stories about Brett Wood. We would like to thank the following previous Life on the Line guests for coming back on the show to remember Brett:

• #31 Dr Dan Pronk

• #54 Wes ‘H’ Hennessey

• #77 Adrian Humphries

• #87 Jeremy Holder

• #97 Paul Cale

• #102 Heston Russell

• #105 Damien Thomlinson

Life on the Line would also like to thank for participating 2nd Commando Regiment veterans Jamie and Tom, Brett’s sister Sharlene, Brett’s friend Iain and Brett’s wife Elvi. These are their memories of the late Sergeant Brett Wood MG, DSM. At the end of the podcast, Alex closes out the episode by reading part of the citation for Brett’s Medal for Gallantry.

Brett Wood’s mother, Alison, has written a post-release contribution to our #107 Brett Wood tribute episode, about his Medal for Gallantry:

 “After returning from Afghanistan in 2006, Brett drove down to Victoria to see us. We lived in Shepparton and he also went to South Gippsland to debrief with his friend Iain McLaren. Later, I received a phone call from the army, wanting to talk to Brett. He wasn’t with me at the time. They apologised for the mix up and I rang Brett and told him about the call. After the army got a hold of him, he called me back and said, “They want to give me the Gallantry Medal – should I take it?”

My response was “Yes – why wouldn’t you?” To which he replied that he doesn’t work on his own. Despite his initial hesitation, he accepted the award. On the day of the ceremony we travelled to the base – my two daughters and their partners, and my mother as well. Two commandos were awarded that day. The other medal recipient had the first seat, then Brett, Elvi, myself and the rest of my family, and Iain.

Straight after the citations were read out and awards presented, both men were photographed from behind, to protect their identities. The photograph and article made the news on 27 November 2006. The next working day Brett was actually instructing cadets at Dookie and he commented that one day he was awarded this honour and the next he was instructing, and they had no idea.”

Christmas on the Line Vol III

Veterans of Season 4 share their stories of a Christmas in uniform.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Veterans and other guests of Season 4 share with the Thistle Productions team their experiences of Christmas in uniform, from deployments overseas and back home in Australia. These stories have not been previously featured on the podcast. Featured guests include Sarah Watson, Adrian Humphries, Ben Pronk, Tim Curtis, Bill Fitzgerald, Tony Park, John Cantwell, Tim Reynolds, David McCourt, Crystal Callender, Garth Callender, Glenn Azar, Alyssa Azar, Ian Roberts, Dan Keighran VC, Paul Cale, Renee Wilson and Bob Hunter. This episode is hosted by Angus Hordern.

The Partners - Renee Wilson

Thomas Kaye speaks with Renee Wilson about being the partner of a military helicopter crash survivor.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. This is the third ‘partners’ episode of Life on the Line. Today’s conversation is with Renee Wilson. Renee was engaged to Gary Wilson, a signaller attached to the 2nd Commando Regiment, when Gary was injured in a Black Hawk helicopter crash on 21 June 2010, where four Coalition soldiers were killed. In this moving conversation with Thomas Kaye, Renee details her memories of the day of the crash, Gary’s long road to recovery and how she put her own feelings to the side to be a pillar of strength for others. She also shares not just the challenges, but the inspiring story of all they have achieved and overcome in the ten years since that fateful night in Afghanistan.

Renee returned to the podcast in Christmas on the Line Vol III. Gary and Renee were also featured in Life After Service - Gary & Renee Wilson.

For photos of Gary recovering after the crash, see #100 Gary Wilson.

The Partners - Crystal Callender

Angus Hordern speaks with Crystal Callender about being married to an army veteran.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. This is the second ‘partners’ episode of Life on the Line. Today’s conversation is with Crystal Callender. Crystal was dating Garth Callender when the young cavalry officer’s vehicle was blown up by an IED in Baghdad, Iraq, in 2004. Crystal shared with Angus Hordern her perspective of being the girlfriend, fiancé and wife of an army officer who deployed three times to the Middle East. Angus also caught up with Garth on his news, including his recent promotion to Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve.

Garth Callender’s original interview was in Season 1, in 2017. He returned in 2018 for the special episode Panel - Returning Home.

Crystal and Garth both returned to the podcast in Christmas on the Line Vol III.

The Partners - Samantha Gash

Alex Lloyd speaks with Samantha Gash about being married to an SAS veteran.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. On this podcast, many veterans have remarked on how vital the support of a partner or loved one has been to them; that not enough is said of just what a difference it is they make. This is the first ‘partners’ episode of Life on the Line, and we hope to do more in the future. Today’s conversation is with Samantha Gash. Samantha is a professional endurance athlete, social entrepreneur and a motivational speaker. She’s run over 20,000km across every continent on Earth and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity while advocating for women’s empowerment, social change and access to education. In 2017 she was a contestant on the reality TV show Australian Survivor, where she met former SAS officer Mark Wales. Sam and Mark are now married and have one young son, Harry Locke Wales. 

You can also listen to #28 Mark Wales in Season 2. In Season 5, Mark returned to the podcast to promote his memoir SURVIVOR: LIFE IN THE SAS.