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In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) diplomat and folk singer Fred Smith joins host Liam Garman to reflect on Australia’s 20-year commitment to Afghanistan and last year’s humanitarian mission at Kabul International Airport.
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- The pair begin the podcast discussing Smith’s background, and how he came to use music as a tool to bring communities together as a diplomat in DFAT.
- The podcast continues by reflecting on Smith’s time as the first Australian civilian to be posted to Uruzgan province in Afghanistan, and his subsequent Dust of Uruzgan album which tells the story of Australian service in the region.
- Smith also talks about his current cross-country tour “Sparrows of Kabul”, honouring the first anniversary of the fall of Kabul and Australia’s commitment to Afghanistan.
- The pair then discuss his upcoming Townsville show along with the 1RAR band, commemorating the Battalion’s commitment to Afghanistan over the last 20 years.
To read more about Smith’s tour, click here.
Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:
Episode 434: SPOTLIGHT: Mission engineering – a missing piece of the capability puzzle, with Downer’s Rachel Hatton and Nathan Rickard
Episode 433: SPOTLIGHT: Introducing the Australian Digital Defence Industry Matrix, with BenchOn’s Tim Walmsley
Episode 432: SPOTLIGHT: What does sovereignty mean in a post-DIDS industry? With Stephen Kowal, CEO of Atturra
Episode 431: PODCAST: Developing Army’s hand-to-hand combatives program, with Paul Cale
Episode 430: PODCAST: Aussie innovation supporting navies around the world, with Jeffrey Hawkins, Pivot Maritime International
Episode 429: PODCAST: Commercialisation essential to the success of space and defence industry, with Brian Lim
Episode 428: PODCAST: Firebrand topics on Ukraine, Israel, and Australian conscription, with Corporal Matthew ‘Willy’ Williams OAM
Episode 427: PODCAST: Unpacking the surface combatant review with the Honourable Kim Beazley AC
Episode 426: PODCAST: WA ready, willing and able to support defence industry opportunities – Paul Papalia CSC MLA, Minister for Defence Industry and Veterans Issues
Episode 425: PODCAST: Unpacking the independent analysis into Navy’s surface combatant fleet
