Alf Garland

Brigadier Alfred Barrett Garland, AM (19 March 1932 – 9 March 2002) was an Australian Army officer, and National President of the Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL) from 1988 to 1993.[1] Garland had a distinguished military career, and attracted media attention by being outspoken on many controversial social issues, often antagonising the Keating government at the time.

Alfred Barrett Garland
Nickname(s)Alf
Born(1932-03-19)19 March 1932
Sydney, New South Wales
Died9 March 2002(2002-03-09) (aged 69)
AllegianceAustralia
Service/branchAustralian Army
Years of service1951–1984
RankBrigadier
Commands held1st Squadron, Special Air Service Regiment
Battles/warsKorean War
Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
Vietnam War
AwardsMember of the Order of Australia
Mentioned in Despatches
Other workNational President of the Returned and Services League of Australia (1988–93)

Military career

Garland's army career spanned 35 years. In 1965, he commanded the 1st Special Air Service squadron against Indonesian forces in Borneo. During the Vietnam War, he was second-in-command of the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and was appointed Australia's chief liaison officer to US forces.[1]

National Presidency of the RSL and activism

Garland was President of the Australian Capital Territory branch of the RSL, before becoming the RSL National President in 1988.[1]

Garland was elected as the Australian Monarchist League delegate from New South Wales at the 1998 Australian Constitutional Convention. He joined Bruce Ruxton in campaigning against the notion of Australia becoming a republic. The two sat next to each other, angering republican delegates by opposing them on almost every point.[1] In one attempt to filibuster debate, Garland recounted his family's loyalty to the Crown beginning in medieval times.

Garland was Chairman of both the Australian Monarchist League NSW and ACT branches.

Garland also opposed the construction of the Japanese funded technology city known as the Multifunction Polis (MFP).[2]

Garland was also opposed to Asian immigration, saying in 1988 Australia must alter the selection of immigrants to ensure Australia remained "predominantly European"."We want to retain Australia for Australians,".[3]

Garland died at age 69, after a long battle with motor neurone disease.[1]

References
  1. "Final salute to a loyal warrior". Melbourne: Herald Sun. 2002-03-12. p. 2.
  2. Jupp, James (2007). From White Australia to Woomera: The Story of Australian Immigration. Cambridge University Press. pp. 107–219. ISBN 0-521-69789-1. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  3. https://www.afr.com/politics/new-rsl-chief-enters-migrant-row-19880907-k307d
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.