Former Deputy Chair of the ARM, Terry Fewtrell, says that Duntroon should remember that the ADF serves a nation of "commoners".
SO, the Duntroon Staff Cadets are hanging out to receive their ‘colours’ from a future king of England, conscious that they have never before been presented by ‘a commoner’! (
Canberra Times; December 14, 2010; p.1)
Perhaps they haven’t realised, over their 100 years, that they serve a nation of ‘commoners’. They aspire, one presumes, in due course to command mere ‘commoners’.
It is time for the Australian Defence Force to really comprehend the first word in their title. Otherwise we ‘commoners’ are entitled to consider them unAustralian.
If they seek to defend Australia they could make a good start by not demeaning it. We do not need subservience to foreigners.
A republic is essential if Australia is to have a real sense of its own identity and worth. It seems without it we will never realise the true value and strength of ourselves as a people.
