Jon Anu

Jon Anu

Clan: Samu (Cassowary)
Ancestral Being: Muruig (Melawal)
Trade Wind: Zeyawgub (Southern Wind)
Star Constellation: Tagai (Southern Cross)

Warrant Officer Class Two
Company Sergeant Major, Bravo Company
51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment
Regional Force Surveillance Group
Australian Army

Medals

Australian Active Service Medal with clasp ICAT
Afghanistan Medal
Australian Service Medal with clasp Timor-Leste
Australian Operational Service Medal – Indo-Pacific
National Emergency Medal with clasp TC Debbie 2017
Defence Long Service Medal
Australian Defence Medal
NATO Non-Article 5 Medal with clasp ISAF
Philippines Military Merit Medal
Infantry Combat Badge
Army Commendation – Bronze
Returned From Active Service Badge

“My story is grounded in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family, culture and service. Guided by the wisdom of our elders and the stories carried across land and sea, this story honours the legacy of those who came before us and the path they have set for the generations that follow.

Acknowledgement

I write this in honour of my father, the late Sergeant Ezra Anu, whose service in the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery and dedication to family, community and country continue to guide me in my life and career. Growing up, my father would often remind me, “Go and find your destiny.” Those words have stayed with me throughout my life.

My Father was not only a role model to me, but also to many people across Defence and government organisations throughout Australia. He served as the first Army Indigenous Recruitment Advisor within the Defence Indigenous Recruitment Strategy, helping open doors for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women to pursue careers in the Australian Defence Force. He was widely regarded as a senior elder, mentor and leader across both the Australian Defence Force and Australian Public Service, guiding people through his wisdom, encouragement and commitment to service.

His example taught me that wearing the uniform is not simply about personal achievement. It is about duty, leadership and representing your people with pride. He also reminded me of who I am.

“Samu Awgadalgal waza, a wara Zeyawgubalgal.”

These were my father’s words. They speak to identity, belonging and lineage, reminding me where I come from and the responsibility I carry as a Torres Strait Islander. I am of the Samu Totem, the Cassowary Clan, whose bloodlines come from the Top Western Island of Saibai in the Torres Strait, acknowledging my paternal grandfathers, and from the Near Western Islands of Naghir and Badu, acknowledging my maternal grandfather. These connections continue today through our families and communities across Cape York and the Torres Strait, where our people continue to live, work and carry our culture forward. For me, those words are about reclaiming who we are and remembering who we are meant to be.

A Family Legacy of Service

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, service to country has always been part of who we are. Long before modern defence forces existed, our ancestors protected their islands, seas and communities. In my family, that tradition continued through my Athe’s, my grandfathers, Athe Iaba Anu (deceased) and Athe Nadi Anu (deceased), who served as soldiers in the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion during World War II. In Torres Strait Islander culture, Athe means grandfather, but it also reflects the role of a respected elder whose wisdom, leadership and strength guide the generations that follow. The Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion was made up largely of Torres Strait Islander men who volunteered to defend their homeland, alongside Aboriginal men who also contributed to the defence of the region during World War II. Their service remains a source of pride and inspiration for our people today.

From the stories shared by my father and family, their courage and resilience come vividly to life. Both stepped forward during one of the most uncertain periods in our region’s history to defend their homeland and protect their people. After the war, that same strength carried into the lives they built for their families.

My Athe Nadi made the journey from Saibai to the mainland by lugger, moving the family in search of opportunity and stability. It was a decision that required courage, foresight and a deep sense of responsibility for the generations that would follow. On the mainland, both men worked tirelessly in the sugar cane fields, undertaking demanding and relentless labour. Through discipline, perseverance and sacrifice, they saved enough to purchase a family home, creating stability and opportunity for the generations who came after them. Their lives reflected values that continue to guide our family today: courage in the face of hardship, dedication to family and a determination to build a better future. Alongside their service on land, the knowledge, leadership and courage of those who worked the seas of the Torres Strait also shaped the strength of our family legacy.

Strength from the Sea

I also honour my grandfather, Fredrick Mills (deceased), respectfully known in our family as Athe Boofhead. He was a highly respected Torres Strait seaman and skipper based on Thursday Island. He commanded pearling and working vessels, including the lugger Stephen Davies, at a time when maritime skill, sound judgement and calm leadership were essential. Skippers were entrusted with the safety of both vessel and crew, and such responsibility was given only to those who had earned the respect of the maritime community.

Athe Boofhead possessed deep knowledge of the Torres Strait waters and carried a strong sense of duty to protect his crew and anyone who stepped aboard his vessel. Years of experience navigating the reefs, currents and channels of the Torres Strait gave him the confidence to guide his vessel safely through some of the region’s most challenging waters. At sea, the lives of those on board rested in his judgement, and he carried that responsibility with calm authority and a deep sense of duty. His knowledge of the Torres Strait waters and the way he carried that responsibility are still remembered by many across the Torres Strait today. Among our people, respect was earned through the way a man carried his responsibilities. His reputation was built through his actions, not his words. That example has stayed with me, and it is something I strive to live by in both my life and career.

Maritime life in the Torres Strait has always been deeply connected to culture, storytelling and song. One song associated with the vessel Stephen Davies captures the experience of travelling across the waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Song

Yagar, keriba nar, S.T.E.P.H.E.N Davies;
S.T.E.P.H.E.N Davies,
Ma pe nagadim ma ekerdali, e?
Rolls Royce-ide mari namarikli, e,
G. of Carpentaria gur-ge ma eli,
Sager pe kebikebi kelarkelar bamridari, e,
Ma pe mabi, ma pe mabi wamen-ge ber-ge susu dikri, e,
Yagar, keriba nar,
S.T.E.P.H.E.N Davies.

Translation

Oh, our boat, S.T.E.P.H.E.N Davies,
Where are you travelling to so fast?
The Rolls Royce engine is driving you;
You are wading in the sea of the Gulf of Carpentaria.
The Southeast wind flows a little bit stronger.
By your speed you splash the seas with your sides;
Oh, our boat,
S.T.E.P.H.E.N Davies.

In this song, the composer speaks to the boat as if it were another person. A reflection of the Islander relationship with vessels and the sea. The phrase “Gur-ge ma eli”, meaning “you are wading in the sea,” describes the vessel travelling with speed and strength across the waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria toward Thursday Island.

My Journey in the Australian Army

In 2006, I enlisted in the Australian Army and began my career as an Artilleryman in the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery, following the footsteps of my father, the late Sergeant Ezra Anu. Like every new soldier, I started from the ground up as a Gun Number, learning the fundamentals of teamwork, discipline and responsibility. Over time, I progressed through the ranks and specialised as a Forward Observer, a role requiring a high level of technical proficiency, physical fitness and mental resilience, working closely with infantry and joint forces to coordinate and direct indirect fire support. During nearly two decades of full-time service, I have had the privilege of participating in both domestic and international operations, representing both my unit and my people.

One of the defining moments of my career was being promoted to the rank of Sergeant by both my father and mother, in front of my Regiment, the 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery. To have my parents, who have made me the man I am today, place the rank of sergeant on my chest is something I will remember for the rest of my life. Years later, my mother promoted me to the rank of Warrant Officer in front of my Regiment once again. Although not on parade, it was the first promotion in my career where my father was not there to place the rank on my chest. However, his presence was still felt in that moment, through the values he instilled in me and the example he set through his own service. I know it is a milestone he would have been proud of.

I carry that responsibility with humility and purpose, knowing that my leadership reflects not only my own journey, but also the legacy of my family and my ancestors. Along that Journey, I have also carried with me the pride of representing the Torres Straits. I became the first Torres Strait Islander Warrant Officer in the Royal Australian Artillery, and later the first Torres Strait Islander Company Sergeant Major within the 51^st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment (51 FNQR). These milestones are not just personal achievements, but reflections of those who came before me.

During my service, I have also been fortunate to learn from many leaders, mentors and role models who have guided me along the way. Their leadership, professionalism and commitment to service helped shape the soldier and leader I have become today. Throughout my journey in the Army, I have carried the lessons passed down by my elders while also learning from those who served alongside me. In many ways my path has come full circle travelling through my career, only to return to serve in the same region where my Athe’s once stood in defence of our country.

Today, I serve as Company Sergeant Major of Bravo Company, 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment. A unit responsible for maintaining a defence presence across Cape York and the Torres Strait region. This role is particularly meaningful to me, as my Athe’s helped defend the Torres Strait during World War II, and today I serve in a role that continues that responsibility in the same region they once protected.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Many soldiers serving in 51 FNQR come from remote communities across Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait. Our role extends beyond national defence. It includes building strong relationships with communities and creating opportunities for young people. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, the Australian Defence Force offers more than just employment. It provides opportunities for education, leadership development, travel and lifelong skills. Service builds discipline, teamwork and confidence. It opens doors and strengthens character. Most importantly, it continues a proud tradition. From the warriors who protected our islands, land and sea, to the soldiers of the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion and those who serve across the Australian Defence Force today, our people have always answered the call to serve.

Continuing the Legacy

For me, wearing the uniform is not simply about personal achievement. It is about honouring the legacy of those who came before me. My Athe’s, Athe Iaba and Athe Nadi who defended our country. Athe Boofhead who navigated the seas of the Torres Strait. My father, Sergeant Ezra Anu, who taught me that service to country is a responsibility we carry for the next generation.

Their legacy reminds me that our journey did not begin with us, and it will not end with us. It continues through the generations that follow. Just as Tagai guides our people through the stars of the night sky, the wisdom, courage and resilience of our elders continue to guide us today.

To the young people across the Torres Strait and Cape York, your heritage is strong and your future is bright. The path of service remains open to you, just as it was for those who came before us. The advice I share with you comes from a wise man, my father, who always reminded me:

“Go and find your destiny.””

– Jon Anu