Expressing Army’s story through mateship

Army is inviting members to share what mateship means to them as part of the second Army Storytelling Competition.

Following its success in 2023, the competition is now expanding its remit, encouraging written stories, creative works and photography based on the theme ‘Moments of Mateship’.

Directorate of People and Culture Colonel Chris Kitchin said mateship was intrinsic to Army’s identity and part of its core culture.

“It’s our mates who stand beside us in training, in the workplace and on the battlefield; that is such a strong part of why we all continue to serve in Army. The moments that make up mateship are what we want to see from entrants,” Colonel Kitchin said.

“Not all moments will be happy. It’s those small moments, the funny ones, the quiet ones, the hard ones – it is all part of the concept of mateship, and as the Chief of Army says, how we live our values every day.

“This year we not only want to read stories but we also want to see photography and creative works. People can submit a drawing, a comic; we are keen to see what comes to mind when people think of mateship,” he said.

A winning entry will be selected from each category.

Winners will receive a return trip to the Chief of Army Symposium in Melbourne in September and a Chief of Army Coin.

“So I simply ask, what is your moment?” said Colonel Kitchin.

The Army Storytelling Competition runs from July 1 to August  9.

Australian Army troopers help a mate over a 10-foot wall, during the 7th Brigade Military Skills Competition at Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane. Photo: Corporal Nicole Dorrett