Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to pay tribute to Warrant Officer Class 1 Raymond John Raddatz OAM, otherwise known as John or 'Ratz' or just 'JR'. He was born in Nambour and he served in the Australian Army with great distinction from 1965 to 2002.

In 1969-70 John completed a tour of duty in South Vietnam as a section gun group leader in 12 Platoon, Delta Company, 6th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment. In 1975, he transferred out of infantry into the Royal Australian Engineers corps, and he deployed in Namibia with the UN Transition Assistance Group as a member of a mine-clearing team. In 1983, John played a foundational role redeveloping the explosive ordnance disposal, or EOD, capability, which of course became a very important frontline resource in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to come.

John was highly regarded by soldiers and officers alike, maintaining the highest professional standards. As a warrant officer class 1, John held several senior RSM positions, including RSM of the 6th Brigade in Brisbane. He served in UN mine action teams in several African countries and other countries around the world.

He passed away next to his loving wife, Christine. Vale, John.