RQR CUP 2025 – MINOTAURS REPRESENT
Pride.  Grit.  Teamwork.
Our soldiers from 31/42 RQR been putting in the hard yards, representing with courage, endurance and precision at this year’s RQR Cup.
From the range to the field, foundation warfighting to combat first aid — every challenge has been met head-on with determination and mateship that defines the Minotaurs spirit.
These moments remind us why we serve — not for individual glory, but for the team beside us.
Well done to all sections pushing through and showing what the Minotaurs are made of.

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2nd PLACE ! Huge congratulations to our 31/42 RQR team for an outstanding performance!
Every round, every drill, every step — Pride. Grit. Teamwork.
From the rifle range to the field our Minotaurs gave it everything. A hearty Well Done.

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O Group

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Obstacle Course

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Advance

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Water Hazards

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Casualty Handling

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Casevac

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Casevac and Resup

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Debrief

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“I See Red Smoke” – Calling in the Choppers

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A significant milestone was celebrated recently when 11 Brigade’s Brigadier Richard Peace presented 31/42 RQR’s very own Major Norma Hughes with the Federation Star, in recognition of forty years of service in Army.
Present were members of Battalion Headquarters and Kennedy Company, along with recruits from the Regional Induction Company North Queensland.
Major Hughes was joined by her husband, Steve Hughes, a former Army combat engineer, who was able to trade engineer stories with Brigadier Peace.
The presentation of a Federation Star is a rare occasion, so it was an honour to be part of the celebration of the service of one of the Battalion’s deserving Officers.

Brig Pearce Presenting the Federation Star to Maj Hughes

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Brig Pearce Presenting Award Citation to Maj Hughes

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(L to R) Brig Pearce Maj Hughes with Husband Steve

As expected in a vibrant Unit of the Australian Army The 31st/42nd Battalion The Royal Queensland Regiment has had a continuous flow of Awards and Promotions in the past year. The RSM reports and reflects upon these aspects:

The following information regarding changes to the the leadership position of Colonel Commandant of the Royal Queensland Regiment have recently been passed on from the Headquarters of 31/42 RQR.

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Brigadier Bruce Scott CSC, ADC (Ret’d) finishes his appointment as Colonel Commandant of the Royal Queensland Regiment this year. During his appointment, Brigadier Scott, showed steadfast leadership in advocating for the Regiment and its members, ensured that the long history of the Regiment is acknowledged, and championed its future.
31/42 RQR thanks Brigadier Scott and wishes him the best for his future endeavours.

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Major General Stephen Porter AO, AM takes on the role of Colonel Commandant this year. 31/42 RQR welcomes him and looks forward to the upcoming years under his leadership. There are challenges ahead but the Royal Queensland Regiment is in a strong position to take them on.

31/42 RQR thanks Brigadier Scott and welcomes Major General Porter.

Brig Bruce Scott CSCADC

Brig Stephen Porter AO AM

Great to see a report on the 31/42 Battalion Facebook page outlining a coordinated recruiting effort across the various depots over the past couple of months.

Go Minotaur’s! —

Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton & Gladstone members were supported by Defence Force Recruiting to conduct four consecutive ‘Night in the Army Reserves’ at the relevant depot locations over the month of March and April.
Approx 40 potential candidates attended the presentations across the depot locations where Soldiers and NCO’s from the unit spoke about their experiences. The presentations were followed by a display across several stands including:
· Weapons (EF88, SL40, F89, Tripod Mounted MAG58 and 84mm)
· Living in the Field (Hootchie Setup, Sleeping Setup, and Ration Board)
· Equipment (Body Armour, Helmet, and Field Pack)
Available unit members participated in supporting this event including 31/42 RQR, 11ER, QUR & 11CSSB.
Concurrently over this period 25 members from these units, in conjunction with the 11th BDE Future Workforce Cell & Defence Force Recruiting attended the Unit Recruiting Liaison Officer training with WO2 Peter Johnson, in these various locations.
The nights were a huge success and this is a strong start for Recruiting, for the unit in 2024. Well done all involved

Pictures below were taken during the recent campaign:

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Members of 31/42RQR travelled to Blackall to provide support for a Ceremony honouring a WW1 member of the Army Nursing Service. Once just a name on the Blackall State School honour roll in Queensland, Sister Greta Towner (1891-1961), who served as an Army nurse from 1915 in World War 1, has had her likeness rendered in a statue that will honour her service for the next generation and highlight the importance of women serving our nation.
Sister Towner is described in a newspaper clipping as an Anzac nurse from a “distinguished family of soldiers with her own honourable record”.

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The bronze statue honouring her service was unveiled in Blackall’s Memorial Park on November 10 and has been placed next to one of her older brother, Major Edgar Towner (1890-1972), who was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross.

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President of RSL Blackall sub-branch Terri-Ann Eden-Jones said Sister Towner served in immensely difficult conditions during World War 1 on the Greek island of Lemnos, near Gallipoli, aboard hospital ships, and in France.
“It will be a fitting tribute to Greta and it will be the first time brother and sister war heroes will be honoured together,” Ms Eden-Jones said.

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“The project promotes the service of women, especially in the military, and the service of Sister Greta Towner.”
Sister Towner’s story was researched by a Blackall teacher, students and the local historical society, and Ms Eden-Jones said the RSL Blackall sub-branch embraced the project when approached by the teacher.
The sub-branch secured a grant from the Queensland Gambling Benefit Fund to support the commissioning of the sculpture.

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Commanding Officer 31st/42nd Battalion, The Royal Queensland Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Cameron McKay said a lot had changed since Sister Towner served her country.

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“In today’s Australian Defence Force, women work in more than 200 roles and receive the same training, salaries and opportunities as men, but, until the Second World War, were restricted to the Australian Army Nursing Service,” he said. “In the modern era, women have continued to forge outstanding Army careers and we hope this memorial will inspire the next generation.”

Below are pictures taken at the ceremony by  Maj Edward Dahlheimer

Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM,

Governor of Queensland. At the Unveilling Ceremony

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31/42RQR on Guard Duty at the Unveilling Ceremony

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Daniel Mulhall A Nursing Officer representing the

Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps

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Local Community Members in Attendance at Blackall’s Memorial Park

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Catafalque Party with the Governor

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Catafalque Party with Unveiled Statue of Sister Greta Towner

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Rifle Party Firing the Salute

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Capricornia Company members of 31/42 Battalion, Pte Spencer & SGT Boyd engaged within the local Gladstone community recently. They were asked to present John Russel, Vietnam Veteran, The 50th Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War Medallion and Certificate of thanks. A number of our 31st Battalion Association Members will also be entitled to receive their Commemorative Medals and Certificates. Congratulations to those members for a job well done.

The Battalion was heavily involved in Anzac Day commitments. Members supported commemorations in over 12 locations across the AO and we cannot be prouder of the Soldiers who represented the Battalion.
This level of support to the local community and ANZAC Day Commemorations is a great achievement.
Well done to all involved.

On a wider scale, members of 11 Brigade members proudly supported 150 Anzac Day events across Queensland and Northern New South Wales at schools, dawn services and memorials covering Muswellbrook in the South, north to Cairns, and west to Roma and many others in Brisbane and across regional Queensland.

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Wreath Laying Ceremony

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Catafalque Party Member

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Catafalque Party – Mt Morgan

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Catafalque Party – Rockhampton

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Boyne Island Catafalque Party

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Catafalque Party – Gladstone

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Catafalque Party – Mackay

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Catafalque Party Member

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Dawn Service – Cairns

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