ROYAL Australian Navy Special Commodore Adam Grunsell will be the special guest at this year’s Anzac Day commemorations in Armidale on Thursday.
Commodore Adam Grunsell joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1984 and undertook his initial Bachelor of Arts studies at the Naval College before completing further study at HMAS WATSON and the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1985-’86.
In 1987, he undertook initial supply officer training at HMAS Cerberus followed by a range of sea and shore postings.
Between 1994-’96 he served on exchange with the United States Navy in Jacksonville, Florida providing logistics support to ships and bases in the South East United States of America. In 1997, he served as the supply officer in the submarine base, HMAS Platypus before joining HMAS Arunta as the commissioning supply officer. He remained on Arunta until 2000 when he assumed the role of officer in charge of supply training.
In 2001, Commodore Grunsell completed the inaugural Australian Command and Staff Course graduating with a Masters in Management (Defence Studies) before assuming the position as J51-Plans in the Joint Logistics Command in January 2002. He subsequently served as the Deputy Training Authority Logistics (Supply and Health) in HMAS Cerberus (2004-’05) and as the Director General Navy Communications and Co-ordination in Navy Headquarters (2005-’07) where he was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross in the 2007 Australia Day Honours List.
During 2007-’08, Commodore Grunsell attended the United States National Defense University in Washington DC, graduating as a Distinguished Graduate in a Masters in Science in National Resource Strategy.
Commodore Grunsell served as Chief of Staff (Support) in Fleet Command from July 2008 to July 2009 before assuming the position of Director of the Amphibious and Afloat System Program Office in August 2009 to lead maintenance and engineering support of major navy ships.
He was promoted to Commodore on 14 October 2011 and is currently working as the Director General Maritime Support in the Defence Materiel Organisation.
Commodore Grunsell is married to Cate with young sons, Tom and Will. He lives in Sydney and when not at work is actively engaged in raising resilient boys and personal fitness.
ANZAC Day Services
The following Services and functions have been arranged for Anzac Day, Thursday, April 25.
4.45am: Ex-Services Memorial Club opens – service/ex-service refreshments.
5.30am: Remembrance service for past members – Ex-Services Memorial Club.
5.45am: Assemble Moore Street near police station – march to Central Park (parade will stop at corner Faulkner and Barney Streets to allow persons to join march to Memorial Fountain).
(Servies Bus will be available for transport from Club to Central Park for persons not able to join in march and return following service).
6.00am: Dawn Service – Memorial Fountain Central Park. – UNE Company, University of New South Wales Regiment will provide the catafalque party.
The service will incorporate a wreath laying for persons wishing to do so at this time.
7.15am: Breakfast at Ex-Services Memorial Club.
8.00am: Memorial Service, Hillgrove Memorial.
8.30am: Memorial Service, University of New England.
8.45am: Memorial Service, Dangarsleigh Memorial.
10.15am: Assemble for March in Moore Street and Armidale Plaza car park.
10.40am: Anzac Day march to Central Park.
11.00am: Commemoration Service, Memorial Fountain followed by a wreath laying service. Members of any organisation or the public are invited to lay wreaths during this service.
(Servies Bus will be on hand in Tincombe Lane at service’s conclusion for ex-servicepersons to return to club for luncheon).
12.30pm: Luncheon for serving and ex-service persons at Ex-Services Memorial Club.
Uralla RSL Sub-branch
Anzac Day services and march, Uralla.
Dawn Service 5.30am Thursday 25 April Memorial Gates, Alma Park, cnr Hill and Queen streets.
Street march 10.00am cnr Bridge and Salisbury streets to Alma Park for Memorial Service. Phone Geoff Scott 6778 7140.
