2020 is the first year we are holding an event to give thanks to everyone for their service regardless of what that service looks like. The significance of this event is to recognise all veterans, younger and older, as we come together to remember the good times of our service and the friendships built during our time in uniform. Not to mention the mateship we have held onto long after wearing the uniform. If you have served full-time or as a reservist, if you served in Operations or Exercises, if you have helped with the COVID response teams that have been contributing to our internal boarder control and security, if you served overseas or domestically, if you have worn a uniform in the Defence Force or are still wearing that uniform in a full time capacity or as a reservist, we want to see you at this Inaugural Gala Dinner.
To mark this celebration, we will be handing out a limited edition commemorative gift for all attendees, which has been funded by the Cairns RSL Sub Branch.
On the 7th November 2020 at 6:00pm, Salt House at the Marina will be serving a drink on arrival for all guests attending the Thankyou for your Service Inaugural Gala Dinner. We will be accompanied by various VIP’s including Commander Mark Tandy, CSC, RAN.
Commander Mark Tandy, is an officer of the Royal Australian Navy and formerly the Warrant Officer of the Navy from 2008 until 2012.
Born in Western Australia and educated in Tennant Creek and Darwin, Mark joined the Royal Australian Navy from Darwin in 1982 as a radio operator.
Mark has been fortunate to have had two careers in his 38 year naval service – as a Communications specialist he served on Patrol Boats, a Frigate, Logistic Support/Training and Replenishment ships. In a tri-Service instructor role, Mark has delivered international specialist training in Australia, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and leadership training in the United Kingdom. Shore postings have included HMAS Albatross (Nowra), HMAS Coonawarra (Darwin), HMAS Harman (Canberra), HMAS Cerberus (Western Port Bay), ADF Recruiting Unit (Townsville), HMAS Creswell (Jervis Bay) and Strategic Headquarters (Canberra).
As Warrant Officer of the Navy, Mark formed part of the senior leadership group within Navy and was charged with championing and leading far-reaching cultural and financial reform in Navy through the New Generation Navy and Strategic Reform Programs.
Mark was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in the 2011 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for outstanding achievement as Warrant Officer of the Navy.
Since commissioning in 2012, Mark was been posted as the Executive Officer HMAS Moreton (Brisbane), a Maritime Planner and Staff Officer at the Deployable Joint Force Headquarters (Brisbane), where he deployed to Operation Pacific Assist (Vanuatu) and participated in Exercises Talisman Sabre (USS Blue ridge in Japan and off the east coast of Australia), Northern Rescue (Japan), Key Resolve (South Korea) and performed the Battle Watch Captain role during HMAS Canberra’s (LHD) initial Amphibious Accreditation.
Mark recently returned to Australia after completing a three year posting as Australia’s Assistant Defence Adviser in Wellington, New Zealand and is now posted as the Officer-in-Charge of Navy’s Indigenous Development Program in Cairns.
Mark holds a Master in Maritime Studies degree from the Australian Command and Staff College at Weston Creek.
