#125 Ant Plater

Alex Lloyd interviews 2nd Commando Regiment veteran Ant Plater.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Former Special Forces operator Ant Plater served in the Australian Defence Force for 27 years, 17 of which were with the Commandos. He deployed to Somalia, Bougainville, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan, served in the Tactical Assault Group-East, and was the counter-terrorism advisor to the Australian Federal Police. Today, he’s a high-performance consultant for the Canberra Raiders and an advocate for the Commando Welfare Trust. The 2nd Commando Regiment veteran spoke with Alex Lloyd about his journey to the army and Special Forces, some of his deployments, the idea of ‘tribe’, and being a leader at the tip of the spear. 

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

• #47 Bram Connolly

• #54 ‘H’ Vol I

• #97 Paul Cale

• #105 Damien Thomlinson

• #106 Greg Hopgood

Life After Service: Tamara Sloper-Harding

Tamara Sloper-Harding served in the Royal Australian Navy as an intelligence officer and saw deployments to East Timor and Bougainville.

In this episode of Life After Service, Tarama catches up with an old navy colleague, Angus Hordern, and reflects on her life post service, including a little village called Soibada that captured her heart.

If you want to find out more about the charity and support the efforts of Tamara and co, you can find out more on Facebook, or you can reach out to them at: pittwaterfriendsofsoibada@gmail.com

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

#111 Chad McLaren

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Timor and border protection veteran, Chad McLaren.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Chad McLaren served in the Australian Army as an infantryman and deployed to East Timor in 2000. He then transferred to the Royal Australian Navy and served as a medic, including on border protection. At the Torrens Parade Ground in Adelaide, Chad spoke with Sharon Mascall-Dare about his military career, the role of sport in his life in and out of the military and the importance of veteran storytelling. Chad is one of the founders of Walk for a Veteran, with the 2021 walk set for August.

#43 Dan Keighran VC Vol II (ft. John Cantwell)

Alex Lloyd interviews Victoria Cross recipient Dan Keighran and retired Major General John Cantwell.

AVAILABLE NOW FOR PURCHASE, click the image above.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Daniel Keighran VC is the 99th Australian to receive the Victoria Cross, our nation’s highest award for bravery. Dan served in the Australian Army, 6 RAR, for a decade, deploying twice to Malaysia, once to Timor, once to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan. In his first Afghanistan deployment, he drove Bushmasters outside the wire with the Special Operations Task Group. In his second deployment there, Corporal Dan Keighran served in a traditional infantry role as a mentor for the Afghan National Army. On 24 August 2010, he performed a series of selfless and heroic actions in the Battle of Derapet, for which he was awarded the VC. Jared ‘Crash’ McKinney lost his life during this battle, and various awards for bravery and gallantry were given out. Dan received the VC in November 2012.

Alex Lloyd first spoke with Dan in Season 3, in #43 Dan Keighran VC. In that interview, they talked about Dan’s upbringing, his various military deployments, Derapet and the life-changing day he was bestowed the Victoria Cross. Since that conversation, Dan has written his autobiography COURAGE UNDER FIRE, out now. As Dan’s editor on the book, Alex brought him back on the show to talk about the book, and the fascinating new insights and revelations it offers about his life.

John Cantwell also came back on the show, after speaking earlier this season with Angus Hordern in a two-part conversation about his long career, to talk to Alex about the Battle of Derapet and his part in Dan Keighran’s story.

Dan also appeared in Season 3’s Christmas on the Line Vol II. Both Dan and John were featured in Season 4’s Christmas on the Line Vol III.

#66 James O'Hanlon

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Rwanda, East Timor and Afghanistan veteran James O’Hanlon.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. James O’Hanlon served in the Australian Army for 23 years full time, and is currently in the Army Reserve. He joined as a regular soldier before transitioning to being an officer. Sharon Mascall-Dare spoke to James about his six operational deployments, leadership and encounters with the Taliban.

#56 James Medley

Alex Lloyd interviews East Timor and Solomon Islands veteran James Medley.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. James Medley has served his country in the Reserves for two decades, and in that time has had a range of deployments domestically and abroad. These include East Timor and the Solomon Islands (twice); border security operations with the Royal Australian Navy; security operations at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games; and assisting the firefighters in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.

Christmas on the Line

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Veterans of Season 2 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. Returning guests include Dave Stafford Finney, Don Barnby, Chantelle Taylor, Cassie Collins, Glenn Kolomeitz, David Michael, Rev Dr Gareth Clayton and Rothesay Swan; and Sharon Mascall-Dare of the podcast team also shares a Christmas tale, from her deployment to Iraq.

#35 Mick Sasse

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Lieutenant Colonel Mick Sasse, currently serving in the Australian Army. Mick told Alex about his career and his family's military history, both Allied and German. Mick has deployed to East Timor and Afghanistan.

#33 Tracy Smart

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Air Vice-Marshal Tracy Smart AM, currently serving with the Royal Australian Air Force. Tracy has seen a variety of deployments, including the UN mission to Rwanda. Our thanks go to Defence Media for organising the interview.

The Commando's Father with Doug Baird

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Alex Lloyd spoke with Doug Baird, father of the late Cameron Baird VC, MG. Cameron served in the 2nd Commando Regiment and was killed in action during his final tour of Afghanistan in 2013. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia. Doug spoke to Alex about his late son's life, death and legacy.

#31 Dr Dan Pronk Vol I

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Dr Dan Pronk, a former Special Forces soldier. Dan served with the regular army in East Timor before undertaking four tours of Afghanistan with Special Operations Units - the 2nd Commando Regiment and the Special Air Service Regiment. Dan spoke with Sharon Mascall-Dare about his journey to Special Forces, the trauma of combat and life as an elite soldier. This is the first instalment of a two-part episode.

Click here to listen to Volume II, after you've heard this episode.

Dan later returned to the podcast in the episodes:

• Voodoo Medics with Mark Donaldson VC, Dr Dan Pronk and Kristin Shorten

• Lessons of a Combat Doctor with Dr Dan Pronk

• #107 Brett Wood

• SAS Resilience with Dr Dan Pronk, Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis

• #31 Dr Dan Pronk Vol III

• Christmas on the Line Vol V

Dan is currently the resident medic, ‘Dr Dan’, on Channel Seven’s SAS Australia.

#28 Mark Wales

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with East Timor, Solomon Islands and Middle East veteran, Mark Wales. A former member of the Special Air Service, Mark saw multiple deployments to the Middle East as an elite soldier. Alex Lloyd spoke to Mark about aspiring to become Special Forces, his experiences abroad and how his military skills have served him in life after.

In Season 4, Mark’s wife Samantha Gash was interviewed. In Season 5, Mark returned to the podcast to promote his memoir SURVIVOR: LIFE IN THE SAS. Mark returned again to the podcast in 2024 to promote his debut novel OUTRIDER.

#25 Paul de Gelder

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Paul de Gelder. Paul is a former Australian Army paratrooper, Navy Clearance Diver and shark attack survivor - the first shark attack victim in Sydney Harbour in over 60 years. Paul spoke to Alex Lloyd about the pursuit of a better life, resilience and the power of individual choices.

#22 Glenn Kolomeitz

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with a former aircraft technician, military policeman and legal officer, Glenn Kolomeitz. Glenn spoke to Angus Hordern about his early life, military career and his ongoing work in the veterans community.

Glenn returned to the podcast in the special episodes Panel - Returning Home and Christmas on the Line. He was also featured in #44 Mick Bainbridge.

Glenn was also featured in the video documentary series LIFE AFTER SERVICE.

#18 Don Barnby Vol II

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's episode is the second instalment of the conversation with Don Barnby, an SAS trooper and Australian Federal Police officer. Don served in the Vietnam war as a special forces soldier, and at Cyprus, Bougainville and East Timor with the AFP. He has also interviewed veterans for the Australian War Memorial.

Click here to listen to Volume I, before you hear this episode.

Don returned to the podcast in the special episode Panel - Life After Service, and again in Christmas on the Line. He was then featured in the video documentary episode Life After Service - Don Barnby.

#17 Dave Stafford Finney

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Bougainville, East Timor and Middle East veteran Dave Stafford Finney. Dave served as a marine technician and was medically discharged in late 2017.

Dave returned to the podcast in the episode Panel - Life After Service, and again in Christmas on the Line.

Dave tragically passed away in February 2019. Find out more here.

#2 Sharon Bown

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. This conversation is with East Timor and Afghanistan veteran, Sharon Bown, formerly of the Royal Australian Air Force, a registered nurse, and now an author and member of the Australian War Memorial Council. In the words of Mark Donaldson VC, "Sharon’s story is one that is rarely heard. One of compassion, commitment and courage."

Sharon returned to the podcast in the special 2018 episode Panel - Life After Service.