John Platt was commissioned as an Officer in the Australian Army in 1973 and served overseas in the United Kingdom, Germany, United States, the Philippines and East Timor. His appointments have included:
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Honorary Aide to His Excellency the Governor of New South Wales - Sir Roden Cutler;
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Defence Liaison Officer in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet; and
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As a Commanding Officer of Army and Defence Force Units on three occasions.
For outstanding leadership, he was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross in the 2000 Australia Day Honours List. Upon transfer to the Army Reserve, John continued to do part time work as the Chief Safety Officer for large combined and joint training activities and exercises.
John has been an industry General Manager and CEO; and has consulted to business including ING Australia and ANZ Wealth. He has been a Chairman and Director on Boards of Financial Services Companies since 2011 and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Currently he is also Chairman of Australia Remembers - Northern Beaches and North Shore, and a Director of the Manly Life Saving Club.
President
Col John Platt, CSC Ret'd
Vice President
Lt Col Nick Misko
Nick Misko joined the Australian Army in 1998, later graduating from the Royal Military College Duntroon as a commissioned Officer in 1999. His early regimental experience included postings as an Armoured Corps Officer at 1st Armoured Regiment and the 1st Recruit Training Battalion during 2000-2003. He made an early career change to become an Infantry Officer in 2004 and has since commanded at all ranks from Captain to Lieutenant Colonel in the Australian Army including platoon, company and unit command.
Nick has seen extensive operational service in the last 25 years including six deployments to the Middle East Region and numerous domestic deployments as part of wider Australian Defence Force crisis response operations. For his leadership on operations in the Middle East, he was awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service in the 2019 Australia Day Honours list.
Still a full-time serving member in the Australian Army, Nick has been residing on the Northern Beaches with his family for the past 8 years. He is committed to being a long-term resident of the great community that exists along the peninsula.
Vice President
Lt Col Jacqueline Costello
Lieutenant Colonel Costello was commissioned into the Australian Army in 2002 and has undertaken a diverse range of clinical, organisational, operational, command and staff appointments during her service. Lieutenant Colonel Costello holds a Masters Degree in Organisational Psychology and currently leads the Human Performance Optimisation team at Headquarters Forces Command. She has served as the Officer-in-Charge of the ADF Centre for Mental Health, as the Senior Psychologist in the Commander’s Advisory Group at Forces Command, and prior to her current appointment, as the Commanding Officer of the 1st Psychology Unit. Together with her family she enjoys an active, outdoors lifestyle on the Northern Beaches.
Hon Secretary
Pamela Hansen
Treasurer
John Oliver
A Retired Marketing Director with a keen interest in Local Community activities including being a current representative of the Soldiers Avenue of Honour Stakeholders Group, Delegate for Harbord Diggers Sub Clubs. Honorary Secretary for the Harbord Diggers RSL sub Branch for the past 14 yrs. Has 2 children & 7 Grandchildren.
John was born in 1948 in Broken Hill and has been married for 50 years to wife Roslyn and has 2 children and 3 Grandchildren. He has lived on the Northern Beaches since 1977 and in Freshwater since 2002, retired in 2005 after a 40 yr business career initially 12 yrs as a chartered accountant Tax Specialist and 28 years as a Merchant Banker