NSW RSL president on changing the perception of the modern Digger

From signing up to being sent to the frontlines of Iraq within two years, nothing could have prepared NSW RSL president James Brown for the life and death consequences he faced on the battlefield.

• The incredible stories behind this picture of eastern suburbs Diggers
• Anzac Day: Your guide to dawn services and marches

Just as modern conflicts have come to change Australia so has what Anzac Day means to the eastern suburbs, NSW RSL president James Brown says.

Mr Brown, who took up the top job after two tours of Iraq, is championing our veterans and believes a change in the conversation about what the modern returned Digger looks like is needed.

The Paddington native says living in the east, you get a unique appreciation for the armed forces.

“It is very unusual because it is one of the few places where you will see military personnel all the time,” Mr Brown said. “We don’t often think of the fact that we can go down the street without being asked for identification papers and we never have to feel threatened in our own country.

NSW RSL President James Brown will be remembering colleagues across Australia on April 25. Having served in Iraq twice, he is using his new position to champion modern Diggers. Picture: John Appleyard

“The reason for that is because of the legacy of those who served our country.”

Tomorrow, Mr Brown plans to spend the day like many Australians — heading to the Martin Place dawn service before settling in for the footy at home.

But it is also a day he remembers the people he served with during two stints in the Middle East.

Fresh out of university, Mr Brown decided that if he did not sign up for the army then, he never would.

Two years later, he was on the frontlines of Iraq, something “not much” could have prepared him for.

“I mean, you just don’t know what to expect,” he said.

“It was very daunting obviously and also exciting to have an opportunity to lead Australian soldiers in a war zone which was a huge privilege.

Mr Brown said returned service men and women can play a big role in the community although they need our help when transitioning back into the community Picture: John Appleyard

“We were in a fairly remote part of Iraq and to go from living in Darwin to being a small fortress town on the Kuwait border it is quite a different experience.

“Knowing the decisions you make have real-life consequences — life and death consequences.”

As the grandson of a World War II Digger and a reserve since 1999, Mr Brown knew what would await him when he signed up.

What he did not expect was the events of 2005 that saw him and thousands others sent to Iraq.

IN OTHER NEWS:

“I was very interested in serving to help solve problems at the pointy end of things … I didn’t imagine we would be there in big numbers,” Mr Brown said.

“The group I deployed with was the first group to go but I did not think this would have happened this near into the future (after signing up).”

Today he is living a calmer life in the eastern suburbs since leaving the Defence Force.

As the figurehead for returned servicemen in the state, he has a new agenda — changing the public perception of the modern Digger.

“We need to be looking after veterans’ families but even in the last 10 years Australia now has a better understanding of just how big the veteran image is,” Mr Brown said.

“We have some who don’t transition well into the community because of mental or physical injuries … they need our help and we need to keep an eye on them because they are so important to the community.

“But we want to be careful that we don’t paint every veteran as someone who is suffering.”