Cameron Lovering splits his time between backyards in and around Rochester and the frontline in Talisman Sabre, Australia’s largest multinational military exercise.
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One minute he is the voice at the other end of the Call Cameron phone for mini excavations and yard work, the next he is Craftsman Lovering, making sure our army’s tanks and armoured personnel carriers are ready to roll into action.
There are not too many RSL sub-branches where the president is also still an active serving member, but Rochester has one in Cameron.
And he’s not long back from Talisman Sabre 2025 where he was based at RAAF Curtin in northwest WA – about 3693km from downtown Rochy.
Talisman Sabre is a massive logistical exercise staged every two years with significant involvement from partner nations.
This year was the biggest, with more than 30,000 personnel from 19 nations, including the US, UK, Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Tonga.
“I’m attached to the 8th/7th Royal Victoria Regiment, and we had about 200 in our combat team which deployed to Curtin for the exercise,” Cameron said.
“Craftsman is fancy talk for vehicle technician, it’s a specialist rank which covers the spectrum of vehicle maintenance; we are the behind-the-scenes teams who keep the wheels and tracks turning,” he said.
“Talisman Sabre was spread across the country – onshore and offshore – and uses defence and non-defence training areas to provide realistic rehearsals of how a large military force would flow into a broad area of operations.”
Cameron joined the army in 2009 and served seven years before transferring to the reserves and pursuing his long-term goal of becoming a military chaplain.
This saw him attend bible college for two years before undertaking work with the Salvation Army in multiple postings until January this year, but still with an end goal of a slot with the military.
Meanwhile, he continues his work with the ADF as a reservist and has just launched his Call Cameron excavation and yard renovation and restoration business.
Then there is the RSL, where Cameron is one of the new young faces in the sub-branch.
Young, because our Vietnam veterans are all pushing 80, and occasionally beyond, Korean vets are as scarce as hen’s teeth and sadly, our local World War II heroes are gone.
Cameron has been deployed with Operation Resolute, the ADF’s ongoing contribution to protecting our maritime borders and offshore interests, focusing on surveillance and response to threats such as illegal boat arrivals, terrorism, piracy, and poaching within Australia's exclusive economic zone.
His army unit also worked on the 2020 bushfires and, for him, a highlight was being part of the military security forces for the 2018 Invictus Games in Sydney.
Cameron said there are others of similar vintage who have joined the RSL ranks, including John Roberts, who has served in Afghanistan and Timor – and is now the local copper.
“The Rochester RSL is fortunate enough to have several younger, contemporary veterans in our ranks, such as Kris, our former secretary and Army signaller who works in aged care locally and is one of our few female veteran members,” Cameron said.
“Notably, she has the most extensive deployment history of us all and has been awarded a high-level commendation for her service.
“Kris works alongside Jonah, a US Air Force retired master sergeant-turned-nurse.
“Although even our ‘young members’ are all over 40, we are very much seeking out all who have served, even any young ones who have recently completed gap year training.”
Cameron said he likes to think the people of his vintage bring the RSL, initially, some rest and comfort for its long-serving members and to help create a more family-friendly environment.
“We try and invite family as well as members to meetings, and we always put on a bit of a spread to make it more of an occasion which everyone can enjoy,” he said.
“At the same time, we are looking to emphasise our relevance through more outreach work and supporting our veterans and their families, especially with welfare assistance, which is my background.”
The RSL was also on the frontline with the rest of the community during the 2022 floods, while its own home was devastated and is still being repaired.
“We long for the anticipated reopening, around late November 2025,” Cameron said.
“Our members helped locals emptying flooded homes, cleaning up and anything else required.”
It also helped with replacement phones and iPads, and maintains a strong fundraising strategy throughout the year, so it has the money to lend a hand where and when needed.
With Remembrance Day only one week away, the message Cameron and the Rochester RSL sub-branch are looking to send is that they are in the community, are part of the community and welcome anyone who wants to come in their door, especially when it is their own door again.