Our Patron
Commander 3rd Brigade, Brigadier Ben McLennan CSC and Bar
Homebase for the Veteran Community in Townsville
1 Staging Camp Ave, Oonoonba. Drop-in M-F 0900-1500, after hours upon booking
All closed on W/E and public holidays, unless booked.
[for GPS apps you may have better luck with 20 Darter Street, Oonoonba until actual is recognised on all platforms]
John Caligari
I am one of the founding directors and currently Chair of The Oasis Townsville board of directors. It fits well with my role as Chair of Operation COMPASS also and Patron of Legacy and 1RAR Association.
I joined the Army at 18 years old and retired in 2015. I served on combat operations in Somalia, East Timor and Afghanistan. My favourite job in the Army was as CO 1RAR and taking the Battalion Group to East Timor on operations. I finished up as a three-star general in designing the ADF and writing the requirements for the platforms and equipment of the ADF. Since retirement I enjoy holidaying with my wife, getting to know my parents again, passing on my experiences in leadership and governance to anyone who’ll listen and supporting the veteran community in Townsville.
I have many friends from my days in the Army who have not fared well after leaving the Army and the ADF and the group of like minded veterans have banded together to help our brothers and sisters who need our help to transition successfully back to civilian life, or have been out for a while and are looking for the camaraderie we are all accustomed to.
I can’t choose between having my father who was an ex-CO of 1RAR take the CO’s sword from my predecessor to hand to me on parade in front of the Battalion the day I became CO 1RAR; or walking the Kokoda Track with my two sons aged 16 years old.
The best fun I’ve had with family and friends was when Narelle and I and the kids went on holiday to Europe for a month calling in on friends all over and visiting all the must see tourist attractions. Best country was Italy where we stayed with a few of our old friends from my days as an observer with the UN in the Middle East.