Policeman’s address reveals the ‘silent battles of service’
Mudjimba RSL Sub Branch President Graeme Wong and 25-year police veteran Sen Sgt Brad Doolan who delivered the Commemorative Address.
The silent battles faced by those in uniform — particularly the unseen toll of mental health struggles — were front and centre in a moving Anzac Day address by Senior Sergeant Brad Doolan at Bli Bli.
Sen Sgt Doolan, who heads the Sunshine Coast Police District and has served for 25 years, shared personal reflections on the cost of service, connecting the spirit of the Anzacs to today’s first responders.
“It is an honour to stand here with you today to mark Anzac Day, a day where we pause as a nation to reflect, remember, and to give thanks. As a police officer wearing this uniform it’s more than just a job. It’s a commitment to service, to the community, and to standing up for others – even in the face of adversity. That sense of duty, of courage, and of sacrifice is something that we draw from the Anzacs that we honour here today.
“Each year, on this day, we hear the words ‘lest we forget’. We forget that these words should be more than just a tradition. They’re a promise. I promise not to forget the bravery, the hardship, and the human cost of conflict. A promise to remember, not just history, but the very people behind it. Their stories, their sacrifice, and their legacy. And this year, for those of us in policing, these words carry a special weight.
‘I’ve lost two of my friends’
“In the past few weeks – I’ve lost two of my friends – both in the blue uniform who have lost their lives to suicide. They were dedicated, respected, and much-loved members of our policing family, our Queensland and Australian communities.
“Their deaths remind us that service comes in many forms, and so does sacrifice. They remind us that the burden of serving others is not always visible, and that mental health matters just as much as the physical.
“On Anzac Day. We honour those who face the unimaginable on battlefields far from home, but we also honour those that return home and who face silent battles each and every day in our communities, in our workplaces, and within themselves.
“The spirit of Anzac isn’t just about war, it’s about courage in the face of struggle, it’s about loyalty, resilience, and it’s about looking after your mate. You show that spirit when you reach out to a friend who is struggling, when you stand up for what’s right and when you choose kindness, even when it’s not the easy option.
“So today as we pause for a moment of silence, let us remember the Anzacs. Let us remember all who served, and let us also remember those we’ve lost too soon to the black dog, we carry their memory forward with honour. We say their names with respect, and we continue their legacy by taking care of each other and ourselves. Lest we forget.”
The traditional service, hosted by the Mudjimba RSL Sub Branch, was moved indoors to the Good Samaritan Catholic College auditorium due to weather concerns.
