Berwick RSL is a medium sized sub branch in the fast growing Casey Council corridor of South East Melbourne.
With a membership of approximately 250, our focus is primarily upon Welfare Support and Services to commemorate our veterans.
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Today we stop and mourn the 18 men – 15 SASR soldiers and three crew – who died in the midair collision of two 5th Aviation Regiment Black Hawk helicopters while on exercise on Townsville’s High Range on 12 June 1996. One Black Hawk crashed immediately, killing 12 personnel on board, while the other was able to make a crash landing but burst into flames, killing six. Crash survivors, soldiers from the other helicopters and exercise staff risked the flames and exploding ammunition to rescue their comrades and retrieve the bodies of the dead. Fourteen personnel were later officially recognised for their part in the rescue and evacuation operation. The names of the dead are:
Captain Timothy J. Stevens
Sergeant Hugh W. Ellis
Corporal Michael Bird
Corporal Andrew Constantinidis
Corporal Darren R. Oldham
Corporal Brett S. Tombs
Lance Corporal Gordon A. Callow
Lance Corporal Glen O. Hagan
Lance Corporal David J. Johnstone
Trooper Jonathon G. Church
Trooper David Frost
Trooper Timothy J. Mcdonald
Corporal Mihran “Avi” Avedissian
Corporal Darren J. Smith
Signalman Hendrik “Rick” Peeters
Captain KJ Hales
Captain JB Berrigan
Corporal MC Baker
May you all rest in eternal peace. Thank you for your service.
Remember it like it was yesterday. Cared for a couple of the men that survived the crash at the Lavarack Barracks Medical Centre. Last I heard JJ (Loadmaster) returned to flying on active service in Timor.
