Dr Brendan Nelson honoured with an Officer of the Order of Australia (OA)

At the conclusion of the 2010 ANZAC Day service at Menin Gate,  Dr Brendan Nelson as Australian Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium and Luxemburg, met Ivan Sinnaeve.

Dr Brendan Nelson at Menin Gate with the crew of  the Training Ship Black Swan after receiving bound copies of DIGGER from the FFFAIF 2012 Tour Group.

Australian War Memorial Director and FFFAIF member Brendan Nelson, has been honoured in the Australia Day Honours with an Officer of the Order of Australia (OA) for distinguished service to the Parliament of Australia, the community, the advancement of Australia’s international relations, and to major cultural institutions.

Dr Nelson came to prominence as national head of the Australian Medical Association, before entering Parliament. After serving as Minister for Education Science and Training, Dr Nelson became Minister for Defence in 2006.  During this time he became familiar with FFFAIF through its DIGGER magazine and after he retired from politics, while serving as Australian Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium and Luxemburg, Dr Nelson had greater opportunity to appreciate the Australian contribution in the Great War. In 2010 he became a member of FFFAIF and was able to meet a significant number of FFFAIF members on tours and pilgrimages to the Western Front battlefields.

In 2012, Dr Nelson was appointed Director of the Australian War Memorial, a role that has been particularly meaningful for him. He continues to value his FFFAIF membership and enjoys reading his copies of DIGGER.