‘If there was a glass ceiling, it’s well and truly smashed’: Brigadier Susan Coyle
The Australian Army’s first regular female brigade commander Susan Coyle delivered a powerful keynote address at a solemn Anzac dawn service at Burwood Park. Here’s what she said.
“If there ever was a glass ceiling, it’s well and truly smashed”.
These are the powerful words of the Australian Army’s first regular female brigade commander Susan Coyle, who delivered the keynote address at a solemn Anzac dawn service at Burwood Park.
Brigadier Coyle, who is the Commander of the 6th Brigade, told the Courier she expects to see an increasing number of female leaders in the Australian Defence Force.
“All roles are now open to men and women and if you have the ability and desire, you can be anything you want to be.
“It’s a wonderful time to be in our defence force and our numbers of women are consistently growing every year.
Her message to young girls contemplating a career in the force: “If I was to start my career again tomorrow I would join the Australian Army.”
Brigadier Coyle reflected on the 937 men and four women from Burwood who served in World War I “of which 152 of your local heroes would be killed and one more sadly would later die from his wounds”.
Amid the tragedy of those who lost their lives, she also remembered Lance Corporal Leonard Francis Hall, the famous Burwood bugler, whose “personal story is one of the most beautiful love stories”.
“He randomly gave a plume from his slouch hat prior to deploying to a young lady in the crowd.
“Who knew that when he returned home, he would again meet this lady; Eunice Maud Lydiate, who still carried the plume, and would go on to marry and have two children.”
Lance Corporal Hall fought valiantly with the 10th Light Horse as a machine gunner in Gallipoli in the impossible assault at the Battle of the Nek, where 879 men were killed.
“He would also bravely fight in the Battle of Beersheba in Syria where nine of his crew of 14 would be killed to include his horse Q6, and in the capture of Damascus in 1918.”
Lieutenant Alexander Roxburgh Muir was another local hero from Burwood and he was awarded a military cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.
“He led his platoon with great skill and determination, capturing an enemy strong point, which he reorganised and held,” Brig Coyle said.
“He later extended his battalion’s front, and led a recon patrol deep into the enemy lines. He was killed in action on October 20, 1918 at the young age of 22 years.
“It is examples of heroism and selfless service like these local heroes, and many, many others that allow us the privilege to live in such a beautiful country.
“When considering this year’s theme of Coming Home; throughout the first world war, and in every war since, what remains true is that no Australian serviceman or woman that has served our nation will ever be forgotten for their sacrifices.”
Burwood RSL Pipes and Drums led the commemoration march down Church St to Burwood Park’s war memorial arch where the service began at 6.30am.
The Burwood Girls High School Band performed We are Australian, and The Recessional and Advance Australia Fair.
Several attendees seized the opportunity to get a photo with Trinity Grammar School student Simon Bakunowicz who did an outstanding job of performing Reveille and The Last Post.
Simon’s great great grandfather Percy Hadfield served in WW1 and his great grandfather John Gunner in WWII.
“Anzac Day is pretty special,” Simon, 13, said.
“It’s important to remember what everyone did and the sacrifices they made.”
Burwood Mayor John Faker said this year’s theme “pays tribute to and remembers those who served and died, as well as those who returned physically and emotionally scarred after more than four years of unremitting bloody warfare.”
Burwood RSL sub branch president Geoff Lazar said it was important to reflect on the moment when troops were finally able to come home after “four long anguished years”
“They had not seen their families for so long and they just wanted to get on with their lives after all that time,” he said.
“They had left behind over 62,000 mates who had been killed during the conflict and they were also sad for their many thousands of comrades who were physically or mentally scarred and battered by what had been a brutal conflict.”
Brig Coyle CSC DSM said “we are the lucky country and this is largely in part because of the Anzacs”.
“The Anzac tradition continues today with our two nations deployed alongside as a combined force in Iraq — training, advising and assisting the Iraqi security forces.
“As a modern day veteran and proud Australian, it is our duty to make sure that such a war like WW1 never happens again.
“The first world war was touted to have been ‘the war to end all wars’ — unfortunately was not.
“In our nations’ relatively short history we have lost more than 100,000 lives to war and one, is one too many.”
Brig Coyle has served in the Australian Army for 31 years and her husband Mark is a sapper with 30 years of service.
She has received a Distinguished Service Medal as the Deputy Commander Joint Task Force 636 and Commander Task Group Afghanistan and a Conspicuous Service Cross as the Commanding Officer of the 17th Signal Regiment.
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