MORISON Russell
career soldier, defence administrator and community organiser 1949-
With a military heritage back to 1859, Russ Morison naturally joined the Sea Scouts in Singapore 1959-61, and subsequently accompanied his parents to the place where everyone should visit once in a career time – Puckapunyal. Whilst he enjoyed what Land Scouts and High School Cadets had to offer, he tried to enlist as a junior recruit in the Navy but he was rejected because he wore glasses. So after leaving high school, all that prior excitement and adventure enticed him to join the ARA in 1968.
Allotted to RAASC he underwent Corps training back at Puckapunyal then a posting to 21 Sup Pl: as the unit was out bush at the time, he was seconded to HQ 1 Coy at Ingleburn, which led to an exercise at Shoalwater Bay, and the inevitable battle efficiency course at Canungra: he spent a year with 25 Sup Pl, 5 Coy at Vung Tau in 1969-70.
After return to Enoggera he met his first wife Ruth (they eventually had four childen) and became S&T sergeant on HQ 6TF for three years, then transferring to RAAOC and a posting to HQ PNGDF. He extended and spent the second half of his three year tour with HQ ADAG, later to become HQ ADCG, working in the Army Logistics Cell in Port Moresby.
Back to Melbourne his first real Ordnance posting was to HQ Log Comd Ord 6 Med and Dent Stores 1977-78, Packaging Development Centre 1979-80, returning to HQ Log Comd in a variety of Warrant Officer opportunities to broaden his supply experience. He went to 11 Sup Bn 1983-86, and 32 Sup Bn 1986-87, and volunteered for an out of Corps experience as WO Army Community Services at Singleton, home of the Infantry.
In 1989 Army Material in Canberra beckoned – he reckons one of the best two back to back postings involving General Stores and Simulation projects. Among his primary memories, he introduced a range of refacing decals saving the Army $0.6m annually in small arms targets; developed a methodology rationalising the range of grounds maintenance equipment in the Army, and project managing a fleet of large mowers into service. He learned Project management Army style and actively promoted the practice of getting first hand wet and dirty in the field in doing so. Before leaving the Army in 1995, he led an Army Expedition to Mt Bartle Frere to identify the remains of a WW2 Mitchell Bomber for the Australian War Memorial.
Moving to Defence, he helped the RAAF for a year before moving to work for RAN Training Command. It was once said during those years that the RAN were streets ahead of the Army and the RAAF when it came to training foreign students. Getting wet and dirty again saw him ensuring that they were well prepared to undertake their training before arriving in country, meeting them when they arrived at various faculties, and ensuring they were benefitting from their training. A further position saw him actively going to bat for the RAN to achieve their full entitlement of commercial vehicles from Defence Material Organisation before retiring from Defence after 41 years.
Russ gives thanks each day for his new wife Jan, and their seven grown up offspring and four grandchildren between them, all doing exceptionally well in their respective careers and in their lives generally. Once the young people had left home and started their careers, Russ and Jan found themselves undertaking a range of public relations and marketing opportunities including bringing about Canberra's first Elvis Presley Convention; was active in Lions; started two adventure clubs; runs a suburban Neighbourhood Watch (yes it works and crime does come down), and ensuring their other best mate (he has had Boxer dogs throughout his life) was taken care of.
He is also heavily involved in running the RAASC Vietnam Supply Platoons Association including its website http://www.raasc.com/vspa_forum. He was instrumental with the team in achieving the laying of a RAASC Vietnam Plaque at the Australian War Memorial in March 2010.
Somehow, Jan and Russ did the inevitable (after lots of travel over his life) and bought a caravan to rotationally visit their families across this great land of ours.