Garth Callender
{{Short description|Australian soldier (born 1977)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= Garth Charles Douglas Callender
|image= DIgi 103921316-Callender-KK033.jpg
|image_size= 225
|alt=
|caption= Lieutenant Colonel Garth Callender c.2014
|birth_date= {{birth date and age|1977|02|10|df=yes}}
|death_date=
|birth_place= Hornsby, New South Wales
|death_place=
|placeofburial=
|nickname=
|allegiance= Australia
|branch= Australian Army
|serviceyears= 1996–
|rank= Lieutenant Colonel
|servicenumber=
|unit= 2nd Cavalry Regiment.
2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment
Australian Counter IED Task Force
[https://www.army.gov.au/our-people/units/1st-division/combat-training-centre Combat Training Centre]
|commands= Cavalry Troop, SECDET V 2004
Australian Weapons Intelligence Team Afghanistan 2009–10
A Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment 2012
University of New South Wales Regiment 2021-
|battles= Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
|awards=
|relations=
|laterwork=
}}
Lieutenant Colonel Garth Callender is the author of After the Blast: An Australian Officer in Iraq and Afghanistan, published by Black Inc. in 2015.{{cite news|last1=Caterson|first1=Simon|title=After the Blast review: Why cheating death couldn't put Garth Callender off Iraq|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/after-the-blast-review-why-cheating-death-couldnt-put-garth-callender-off-iraq-20150715-gi9v0q.html|access-date=28 January 2017|agency=SMH|date=18 July 2015}}
He rose to prominence when in 2016 it was announced by the NSW Baird Government that he would spearhead the state's Veterans Employment Program.{{cite news|title=Veterans given leg-up for NSW govt jobs|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/veterans-given-legup-for-nsw-govt-jobs/news-story/6538872caff00e8698ad0bf78ef5e08c|access-date=29 January 2017|agency=The Weekend Australian|publisher=News Corp Australia|date=5 May 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Cleary|first1=Paul|title=The battles our troops face after coming home|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/inquirer/the-battles-our-troops-face-after-coming-home/news-story/a5ebdd7ac17a57dce379d5013e80d9f0|access-date=28 January 2017|agency=The Australian|date=22 July 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/employers-rhetoric-doesnt-match-returned-soldiers-experiences/news-story/af1c8bebe65e66820cd013fc00a1be0a|title=Employers' rhetoric doesn't match returned soldiers' experiences|date=5 May 2016|agency=The Australian|last1=Callender|first1=Garth|access-date=28 January 2017}}
He is Chairman of Bravery Trust, working alongside Ambassadors Justin Langer AM, Kevin Sheedy AM and Dr Paul Alexander AO.{{cite web|last1=Bravery Trust|title=Our Patrons & Ambassadors|url=https://braverytrust.org.au/our-patrons-ambassadors/|website=Bravery Trust|access-date=28 January 2017}}
In January 2017 he was named patron of the Matthew Millhouse Salute, a charity event in honour of Trooper Matthew Millhouse, who died on 28 August 2015 from Young Onset Dementia, caused by a traumatic brain injury received from a bomb explosion in Iraq in 2004 in which both he and Garth were injured.{{cite news|last1=Cleary|first1=Paul|title=Matt Millhouse: Injured in Iraq, dead of dementia at just 36|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/defence/matt-millhouse-injured-in-iraq-dead-of-dementia-at-just-36/news-story/4c778c97b579d8bb74c09e308d4e7b71|access-date=28 January 2017|agency=The Australian|date=4 September 2015}}
Military career
Callender joined the Australian Army in 1996 as a Rifleman in the 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. He graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 2001 to the Royal Australian Armoured Corps. His operational experience includes two deployments as part of the Australian Security Detachment – Baghdad; the first as a Cavalry Troop Leader in 2004, and the second as an Executive Officer in 2006. In 2004, as junior cavalry officer in the Australian Army, he was deployed to Iraq. Garth became Australia's first serious casualty in the war when his patrol was targeted in a roadside bomb attack.{{cite web|title=Injured Aust Soldier Returns Home|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-11-01/injured-aust-soldier-returns-home/577670|website=ABC News|publisher=ABC|access-date=28 January 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Forbes|first1=Mark|title=Counting the cost of Iraq's war|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/10/29/1099028209339.html|access-date=28 January 2017|agency=The Age|publisher=theage.com.au|date=30 October 2004}}
After recovering from his injuries, Callender returned to Iraq in 2006 as second-in-command of the Australian Army's security detachment in Baghdad.{{cite book|last1=Callender|first1=Garth|title=After the Blast. An Australian Officer in Iraq and Afghanistan|date=July 2015|publisher=Black Inc.|isbn=9781863957380|url=https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/after-blast}} His combat team suffered the death one of their own, Private Jake Kovco.{{cite book|last1=Box|first1=Dan|title=Carry Me Home: The Life and Death of Jake Kovco|date=July 2008|publisher=Allen & Unwin|url=https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/general-books/biography-autobiography/Carry-Me-Home-Dan-Box-9781741752748}}
Over June 2009 to February 2010, Callender commanded the Weapons Intelligence Team in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan.{{cite book|last1=Callender|first1=Garth|title=After the Blast. An Australian Officer in Iraq and Afghanistan|date=July 2015|publisher=Black Inc.|isbn=9781863957380|url=https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/after-blast}} His team was successful as the first team to develop technical intelligence products to focus coalition intelligence collection, planning and operations. These reports proved pivotal in shaping the Australian Government’s understanding of incidents involving Australian casualties and defining policy regarding Australia’s commitment to Afghanistan.{{cite book|last1=Callender|first1=Garth|title=After the Blast. An Australian Officer in Iraq and Afghanistan|date=July 2015|publisher=Black Inc.|isbn=9781863957380|url=https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/after-blast}}
He remains an active member of the Army Reserve.
After the Blast
After the Blast: An Australian Officer in Iraq and Afghanistan is a memoir written by Garth Callender. The book follows the author through three operational deployments with the Australian Army over 2004 to 2010.{{cite news|last1=Caterson|first1=Simon|title=After the Blast review: Why cheating death couldn't put Garth Callender off Iraq|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/after-the-blast-review-why-cheating-death-couldnt-put-garth-callender-off-iraq-20150715-gi9v0q.html|access-date=28 January 2017|agency=SMH|date=18 July 2015}}
- The first tour was with the Australian Security Detachment in Baghdad when the author was badly wounded in an improvised explosive device attack on 25 October 2004.{{cite news|title=Three Australian soldiers wounded in Baghdad blast|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-10-25/three-australian-soldiers-wounded-in-baghdad-blast/573446|access-date=31 January 2017|agency=ABC News|date=25 October 2004}}
- The second tour saw the author return to Baghdad in 2006. The story details several incidents including a rocket attack{{cite web|title=Piece of shrapnel from 240 mm Rocket|url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/REL37833/|website=Australian War Memorial|access-date=31 January 2017}} that injured four soldiers{{cite news|last1=Banham|first1=Cynthia|title=Australian soldiers injured by rocket attack in Baghdad|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/australian-soldiers-injured-by-rocket-attack-in-baghdad/2006/08/14/1155407739689.html|access-date=31 January 2017|agency=SMH|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=15 August 2006}} and a shooting incident which resulted in three Iraqi security guards wounded and one killed. Most notably the story details the shooting death of Private Jacob Kovco.{{cite news|title=The inquest into the death of Private Jake Kovco|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/archive/news/finding-gives-no-relief-to-kovco-clan/news-story/336a234268815a3d3ba645646b04ddfd|access-date=31 January 2017|date=2 April 2008}}
- The final section of the book follows the author to Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan over June 2009 to February 2010 where he commanded a weapons intelligence team.
After the Blast won the 2016 Nib Waverley Military History Literary Prize.{{cite news|last1=Morris|first1=Linda|title=Rachel Landers' Who Bombed the Hilton? wins literary prize|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/rachel-landers-who-bombed-the-hilton-wins-literary-prize-20161121-gsuco0.html|access-date=28 January 2017|agency=SMH|date=23 November 2016}}
Honours and awards
{{center|
}}
| class="wikitable" | ||
| 80px | Australian Active Service Medal | with 2 Clasps IRAQ 2003 and ICAT |
| 80px | Afghanistan Medal | |
| 80px | Iraq Medal | |
| File:DLSM with Rosette.png | Defence Long Service Medal | For 20 Years Service |
| 80px | Australian Defence Medal | |
| 80px | NATO Medal with ISAF Clasp | (NATO) |
| Army Combat Badge | ||
| Australian Defence Force Commendation (Silver) | ||
| Australian Defence Force Commendation (Bronze) | ||
| Army Commendation (Bronze) |
Notes
{{reflist}}
References
- {{cite news|last=Cleary|first=Paul|date=4 July 2015|title=Iraq, Afghanistan veteran Callender offers insights in After the Blast|work=The Australian|url=http://m.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/iraq-afghanistan-veteran-callender-offers-insights-in-after-the-blast/story-fn9n8gph-1227425574953?sv=ff0d362cc477ed122512e1da5f166065|access-date=28 January 2017}}
- {{cite news|title=Garth Callender, the face of recovery|work=The Good Weekend|url=http://www.theage.com.au/good-weekend/the-face-of-recovery-20150626-ghwcsm.html|access-date=28 January 2017}}
- {{cite web|title=Garth Callender: the Australian Army's first serious casualty of the Iraq war|date=8 July 2015|work=Conversations with Richard Filder|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2015/07/08/4269568.htm}}
- {{cite web|title=After the blast|date=2 July 2015|work=Late Night Live with Phillip Adams|url=http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/latenightlive/shell-shocked/6581850}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Callender, Garth}}
Category:Australian military personnel of the Iraq War
Category:Australian military personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Category:Royal Military College, Duntroon graduates