Army marks 122 years with Jonathan Church Awards

Today the Australian Army celebrates its 122nd birthday by highlighting the strength of character and selfless acts of this year’s Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Awards recipients.

The award is named after Trooper Church, a Special Air Service Regiment combat medic who served with the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR II).

Trooper Church demonstrated incredible empathy, bravery and compassion in his service and remains an important example of character and Army values to which we can all aspire. Trooper Church died in 1996 during the tragic Black Hawk incident in Townsville.

Chief of the Australian Army, Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, AO, DSC, said Army’s birthday was a fitting time to announce this year’s award recipients.

“Every year on Army’s birthday, we recognise those soldiers whose actions embody all that we aspire to be in our Army,” Lieutenant General Stuart said.

“All four of these soldiers have demonstrated exceptional strength of character and acute moral courage in the face of adversity.”

Deputy Chief of Army, Major General Natasha Fox, AM, CSC said the examples set by this year’s recipients were powerful examples of Army’s values in action.

“Through their actions, these recipients ensure Trooper Church’s legacy continues,” Major General Fox said.

“They personify Army’s foundational values of service, courage, respect, integrity excellence.”

This year’s Jonathan Church Good Soldiering recipients are Corporal Dylan Curran, 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (Brisbane), Private Wayne Drage, 31st/42nd Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment (Rockhampton), Corporal Michael Stoop, 9th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (Hobart), and Corporal Justin Wells, 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (Brisbane), who is also named this year’s ambassador.

The Australian Army was formed on March 1st, 1901 as the Commonwealth Military Forces through the amalgamation of the Australian colonial forces following Federation.

Media note

Media can access imagery of Army’s 122nd birthday and the presentation of the Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award recipients at https://images.defence.gov.au/s20230300 following the event.

To read more on the stories of the Jonathan Church Good Soldiering recipients, visit:

Pte Wayne Drage: https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2023-02-28/committed-caring-vulnerable-children

Cpl Dylan Curran: https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2023-02-28/giving-help-and-asking-it

Cpl Justin Wells: https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2023-02-28/proud-be-ambassador

Cpl Michael Stoop: https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2023-02-28/quick-action-emergency