#152 Peter Rudland

Alex Lloyd interviews SASR and 2nd Commando Regiment veteran Peter Rudland.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Peter Rudland is a veteran of the Special Air Service Regiment and the Commandos, 4RAR(Commando) and when they became the 2nd Commando Regiment. Over a long career in Special Forces, Peter deployed to Cambodia, Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan. He was seriously injured in the June 2010 Black Hawk helicopter crash in Afghanistan. In his post-service life, Peter is heavily involved in the veteran community, as a passionate advocate for physical health to create mental health, he started a company counselling soldiers, he has competed in three Invictus Games and is an ambassador for RSL Australia. Alex Lloyd spoke with Peter over Zoom in February 2024.

This episode was edited by Sophie Hu.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

• #1 Sandy MacGregor

• #47 Bram Connolly

• #100 Gary Wilson

• The Partners - Renee Wilson

• Life After Service - Gary & Renee Wilson

#149 Doug Langrehr

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Namibia, Iraq and Timor veteran Doug Langrehr.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Doug Langrehr began his career, now spanning close to four decades, as an engineer in the Australian Army. He served on operations in Namibia, Iraq and Timor. His military career culminated in moving to New York to work with the United Nations. Today he is the chief of the mission support and planning section for the United Nations office to the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. While visiting Australia, Doug spoke to Sharon Mascall-Dare about his varied career.

#132 Michael Greenway

Angus Hordern interviews Australian Army veteran Michael Greenway.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Michael Greenway served in the Australian Army for 36 years. He was in the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps, and spent most of his career working in supply. He deployed to Namibia, Timor, Iraq, the Solomon Islands and Afghanistan, as part of peacekeeping and military operations. Michael spoke with Angus Hordern about highlights from his career and the vital role of supply in allowing our armed forces to do what they do.

They returned to the podcast in Christmas on the Line Vol V.

#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

Christmas on the Line Vol IV

Veterans of Season 5 share their stories of a Christmas in uniform.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Veterans of Season 5 share with the Thistle Productions team their experiences of Christmas in uniform, from deployments overseas and back home in Australia. Featured guests include Chris Oxenbould, Greg Hopgood, Mark Wales, Wes 'H' Hennessey, Commando Jamie, Keith Wolahan, Sir Peter Cosgrove and Wayne Bemet. This episode is hosted by Thomas Kaye.

The episodes these veterans were featured in earlier this season include:

• #104 Chris Oxenbould

• #106 Greg Hopgood

• #107 Brett Wood

• #28 Mark Wales Vol II

• #109 Keith Wolahan

• #117 Sir Peter Cosgrove

• #120 Wayne Bemet

#117 Sir Peter Cosgrove

Angus Hordern interviews General Sir Peter Cosgrove, former Chief of the Defence Force and Governor-General.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. General Sir Peter Cosgrove is one of Australia’s most significant public figures. As a soldier, he saw action in Vietnam, winning the Military Cross, and rose to the top, becoming Chief of the Defence Force from 2002 to 2005. After his military career, Sir Peter became Australia’s Governor-General, serving in that office from 2014 to 2019. In this podcast, he sat down over a Zoom video call to speak with Angus Hordern about some highlights from his life, and to mark the release of the paperback edition of his memoir YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE JOINED. You can watch this interview on our YouTube channel or listen through your preferred podcast app and the player above.

#112 Troy Knight

Thomas Kaye interviews former JTAC and Middle East veteran, Troy Knight.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Troy Knight is a former JTAC - a Joint Terminal Attack Controller. The JTACs are known as the Special Forces unit of the Air Force, with Troy deploying alongside members of the Special Operations Task Group in combat in the Middle East. The Royal Australian Air Force veteran has deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as doing private security work. Troy spoke to Thomas Kaye in the Hornsby RSL club.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

• #54 'H' Vol V

• Life After Service: Sarah Watson

#108 Ken Whitton

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews a RAEME veteran of the Middle East, Ken Whitton.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Ken Whitton joined the Army Reserves as a gunner in 1988. He then went full time, serving as an Electronics Technician in the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, known as RAEME. He deployed on border protection operations, and to Afghanistan and Iraq. Today, he is transitioning into a civilian career at Babcock, in Defence Industries. He spoke with Sharon Mascall-Dare, who also works at Babcock.

The episode referenced at the end of the podcast is #45 Dr Sharon Mascall-Dare.

#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.”

#102 Heston Russell

Alex Lloyd interviews 2nd Commando Regiment veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq, Heston Russell.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. This is the first episode of Season 5. Since 2017, Life on the Line has brought you the stories of Australian military veterans. This is our 207th podcast, and our 102nd veteran conversation on our particular episode numbering system. In all that time we’ve brought you stories from World War II to the modern era. Today’s chat is with a Special Forces veteran of the 21st century conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, Heston Russell. 

We recorded this episode on the outdoor balcony of Heston’s Sydney apartment, so if you hear any background noise or ambience, that’s why. We recorded outdoors because we also videoed this interview, which is a first for us. If you’re listening, you can jump onto our YouTube channel (just search for “Life on the Line podcast”) and watch this chat with Heston. If you are watching this on YouTube, you can listen to this and all our other episodes on your favourite podcast app, Spotify and our website. We will be doing a select number of video podcasts like this as the year goes on. 

Heston Russell was an officer in the 2nd Commando Regiment. He already had a profile in the Australian community through his post-military career in the fitness world. He rose to further national prominence in 2020, when an unnamed US soldier accused Heston’s platoon of unlawfully killing a prisoner in Afghanistan. Heston counterattacked, speaking out on national media to strongly refute the claims. Since then, he’s remained in the public spotlight, becoming a spokesman for the veteran community in the lead-up to and wake of the Brereton report into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. 

Alex Lloyd spoke to Heston in February 2021 to learn more about the man behind the headlines.

Follow Heston @hestonrussell on Instagram and Facebook. You can also find "Voice of a Veteran" on social media, YouTube, your favourite podcast app and www.voiceofaveteran.org​.

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.

Military in the Media with Siobhan Heanue

Alex Lloyd speaks with ABC journalist Siobhan Heanue about the relationship between the military, the media and the public. 

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Siobhan Heanue is an ABC journalist based in Townsville for ABC North Queensland. She was previously the ABC’s South Asia correspondent, where she reported from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal. She reported from Iraq in the lead-up to the Battle for Mosul in 2016, has covered terrorist attacks and humanitarian crises in East Africa, and repeatedly embedded with the Australian Defence Force. In the 200th episode of Life on the Line, Alex Lloyd spoke with Siobhan about her career in journalism, the media and public access to the ADF in the 21st century, and the relationship between the media, the military and the public in the wake of current stories being reported on alleged war crimes. 

#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.

#95 Kylie Graham

Alex Lloyd interviews Iraq veteran Kylie Graham.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Kylie Graham served in the Australian Army for 16 years and is going on 19 year with the Royal Australian Air Force and Air Reserves. During her full-time years in the Air Force, she deployed to Iraq. She’s now a Welfare Officer and a psychologist. This is her conversation with Alex Lloyd about her years of service, memories from Iraq and her father’s time in the Vietnam War.

Mosul with Ben Mckelvey

Alex Lloyd speaks with Ben Mckelvey about his new book, Mosul, and the 2nd Commando Regiment.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Ben Mckelvey, author of Cameron Baird’s posthumous biography, has released a new book, “Mosul: Australia’s secret war inside the ISIS caliphate”. The book tells the stories of the late Ian Turner of the 2nd Commando Regiment, Australia’s role in the Battle for Mosul and Australian ISIS fighters. Ben speaks to Alex Lloyd about his new book and the 2nd Commando Regiment, public perceptions of Australian military operations in the Middle East and the impending IGADF inquiry into alleged war crimes.

#93 Kelly Hammant

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Kelly Hammant, on deployment to the Middle East at the time of recording.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Warrant Officer Class One Kelly Hammant has served in the Australian Army for 24 years and had 10 deployments, including to Indonesia, Iraq, Afghanistan and border protection. She deployed to the Middle East with the Theatre Communications Group Rotation 10 as the Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant, and this deployment finished at the end of September 2020. Kelly spoke to Sharon Mascall-Dare about her various deployments, her battle with alcoholism as a result of trauma from her service, how she overcame those difficulties, the mentoring role she plays to young people today, and the impact of COVID-19 on her recent deployment.

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.

Daniel Keighran VC - Courage Under Fire

A trailer for COURAGE UNDER FIRE by Daniel Keighran VC.

Podcast host Alex Lloyd is a Senior Editor at book publisher Pan Macmillan Australia, and the editor of Daniel Keighran VC's autobiography. Dan's military memoir, COURAGE UNDER FIRE, is out 27 October. It's now available for preorder. Listen to this short podcast to find out more about the book and hear reviews of it by Mark Donaldson VC, Sir Peter Cosgrove, Dame Quentin Bryce, John Cantwell, Dr Brendan Nelson, Sir Angus Houston, David Hurley and David Morrison. COURAGE UNDER FIRE was written with Tony Park, an Afghanistan veteran and conversation #81 earlier this season.

Preoder now through your retailer of choice, including Booktopia, Dymocks, QBD Books, Amazon, Apple and more.

COVID-19 Taskforce with John Frewen

Alex Lloyd speaks with Lieutenant General John Frewen about the COVID-19 Taskforce and his military career.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Lieutenant General John Frewen DSC, AM, is currently serving in the Australian Army. He is leading the COVID-19 Taskforce established by Defence, to coordinate the ADF’s contribution to the whole-of-government response to the pandemic. John spoke to Alex Lloyd about highlights of his military career to date, and about the work our servicemen and women are doing in response to coronavirus – when the front line is at home. 

Some of John’s career highlights include his 1994 deployment to Rwanda, his exchange to the United States military in Hawaii during September 11, leading the international response to the Solomon Islands crisis in 2003, Afghanistan in 2007, back to the Middle East as Joint Task Force 633 commander in 2017, and now leading the COVID-19 Taskforce with military deputy Major General Paul Kenny. 

The military career conversation begins at 1:40 and the COVID Taskforce conversation at 24:35.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#84 Tim Reynolds

Angus Hordern interviews Iraq veteran and cancer survivor Tim Reynolds.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Tim Reynolds served in the Australian Army for 27 years. He joined as a mechanic and retired at the rank of Major. He had multiple deployments during his service, including to Iraq in 2005. He began a new civilian career in his 40s before being diagnosed with a terminal cancer. This is Tim's conversation with Angus Hordern of a life in uniform, deployments overseas and overcoming adversity against the odds.

Tim returned to the podcast in Christmas on the Line Vol III.