Governors

Life Governors and Governors assist the Trustees in the conduct of commemorative services. Meet the team:

Life Governors

Lieutenant Colonel Adrian J Lombardo

Adrian Lombardo was appointed as a trustee of the Shrine of Remembrance Trustees in 1987 and became a Life Governor in 2001. Conscripted into the Army in June 1965, he graduated from the Officer Training Unit, Scheyville NSW in December that year as an Infantry Second Lieutenant. Adrian served in South Vietnam with the 8th Battalion as a platoon commander and subsequently filled regimental, training and staff appointments in his 23-year Army career. Adrian retired in 1987 as a Lieutenant Colonel. He has been a member of Melbourne Legacy since 2011 and serves on its Investment Committee.

Mr Peter R Whitelaw

Peter Whitelaw was appointed as a trustee of the Shrine of Remembrance Trustees in 1995 and became a Life Governor in 2001. He graduated as a National Service Second Lieutenant (Army) in 1966 and has served the veteran community in many roles including President of Woodend RSL Sub-Branch, Chair of the Gallipoli Oaks project. Peter was recently awarded RSL Life Membership.

Watch: Reflections of the Life Governors

Recorded in 2021, the Shrine's Life Governors discuss their time in the defence forces and how they came to serve and support the Shrine of Remembrance.

Governors

Lieutenant Colonel David Blackwell OAM RFD (Retd)

David enlisted in 1967, rising to Sergeant by 1970. Commissioned into the Australian Intelligence Corps in 1980, he later transferred to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. Notable roles include commanding the Monash University Regiment and instructing at the Army Command and Staff College. He served as Chief Marshal of the Anzac Day Commemoration Council from 2007 to 2017.

Colonel Jason Cooke

Jason has served over 35 years in the Australian Defence Force, currently at the rank of Colonel. Jason has deployed on several domestic operations including the 2009 and 2019 Bushfire Task Forces and the COVID-19 Task Force with the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre. Jason currently works for the Department of Defence as a Deputy Director within the Victorian Barracks Melbourne. He is also President of the Royal Australian Artillery Association of Victoria and is the RSL Anzac Day Chief Marshal.

Jacob Costello

Jacob served for 20 years in the Australian Army, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel following operational deployments to Timor-Leste, Afghanistan and Lebanon. Since leaving full-time service, he has held senior defence industry roles supporting Australian Defence Force capability development. His experience in military protocol and ceremony includes serving as Officer Commanding Kokoda Company at the Royal Military College, Duntroon. Jacob also has a strong interest in military history, holding a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Military and Defence Studies.

Associate Professor Andrew Davidson

Andrew is an academic neurosurgeon at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Melbourne Private Hospital, where he is Deputy Clinical Director of Surgical Services and neurosurgical lead for the Victorian Gamma Knife Centre. A Commander in the Royal Australian Navy Reserve, he has served in Australia and overseas, including operational deployments to Bougainville, East Timor and the Middle East. His service has been recognised with an ADF Chief of Joint Operations Commendation, the US Army Achievement Medal and the US Army Meritorious Unit Commendation. He currently serves in the Navy Health Reserves.

Eamon Hale

Eamon is a serving Army Reservist who has deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. He is a member of the RSL Victoria State Executive, former President of Hawthorn RSL, and former Chair of Region 1. Since transferring to the Army Reserve in 2017, he has served as a Senior Constable with Victoria Police. Eamon has contributed to veteran support initiatives including Operation Veteran Assist, aiding communities affected by fires and floods, and has played key roles in policy and reform discussions relating to veterans’ welfare and the Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans’ Suicide.

Squadron Leader Matthew Little (Retd)

Matthew served in the Royal Air Force (UK) for 26 years receiving two Air Command commendations in the Queen's New Year's Honours List, before relocating to Australia in 2018. As a senior Director of Music and Commander HQ Music Services within the Royal Air Force, his career was deeply embedded in ceremonial activity, especially in conjunction with HQ London District and tri-service ceremonial command. He is also a highly recognised and experienced professional vocalist and compere, working on large-scale music tours, TV and film on the global stage.

Christopher May OAM

Chris is a former Sergeant of the Australian Army, retiring in June 2025. In September 2011, Chris was wounded in action while deployed to Afghanistan; his uniform is now held on display at the Shrine. Following his recovery, he was selected to serve with the Australian Federation Guard, where he was appointed Catafalque Commander for the 2013 Villers-Bretonneux Dawn Service on Anzac Day. For his veteran advocacy, he was a 2017 Victorian Australian of the Year Finalist and awarded the Order of Australia Medal. Chris is currently a Leading Firefighter with Fire Rescue Victoria.

Squadron Leader Peter Meehan (Retd)

Peter held the rank of Squadron Leader in the Royal Australian Air Force Specialist Reserve and deployed as media manager on numerous occasions to joint military operations. He served during the International Peacekeeping Force East Timor period as media manager for the Royal Australian Regiment in 1999. A radio host on GOLD FM and 3AW Melbourne ‘talk radio’ during the 1980s and 90s, Peter delivered the Anzac Day Dawn Service and Remembrance Day Service at the Shrine as MC for nearly 3 decades.

Mohammed Abdur Rahman

Rahman deployed to East Timor with the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR) in 2000. During his deployment, he survived a militia grenade attack in Aidabasalala, and his story is preserved in the archives of the Australian War Memorial. Rahman holds a postgraduate degree and spent 20 years with GM Holden before joining Museums Victoria. He also serves as Victorian representative for the 6 RAR Association. A passionate volunteer, Rahman was recognised by the Australian Government Department of Health & Aged Care in 2022 for 30 years of community service through the Australian Centenarian Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS).

Captain Paul Scott

Paul has served in the Royal Australian Navy for 40 years, with extensive command and operational experience, including command of HMAS Diamantina and HMAS Tobruk, and deployments to East Timor, the Solomon Islands and the Middle East. Paul has held senior appointments across the Navy and Defence, including in information and cyber warfare domains, and now resides in Melbourne, where he continues Reserve service and contributes to academia as an Adjunct Professor at RMIT University.