In this Legacy Interview, The Hon. Jeff Kennett AC, former Premier of Victoria, reflects on his military service in the Australian Army and the experiences that shaped his life in both public and military leadership.

Jeff Kennett served as a Platoon Commander (2LT) with 1 Platoon, A Company, 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) from July 1968 to July 1970, including service in Malaya and Singapore. In this conversation he reflects on his time as a young officer in the Army and the leadership lessons developed through military service.

He also shares insights into how the values learned through service — discipline, responsibility and looking after your mates — continued to influence his later career in public life, including his time as Premier of Victoria.

The conversation also highlights the role of the Camberwell Pompey Elliott RSL, where veterans and community members gather to honour service, preserve military history and maintain the traditions of the ANZAC spirit.

This interview forms part of the Camberwell Pompey Elliott RSL Legacy Interview Series, preserving the stories of Australian veterans so their experiences, service and perspectives can be remembered by future generations.

• Interviewee: Hon. Jeff Kennett AC
• Military Role: Platoon Commander (2LT), 1 Platoon, A Company
• Unit: 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR)
• Service Location: Malaya & Singapore
• Service Period: July 1968 – July 1970
• Recorded: 2025
• Location: Camberwell Pompey Elliott RSL – Melbourne, Australia

About the Legacy Interview Series

The Camberwell Pompey Elliott RSL Legacy Interviews capture the personal stories of veterans and members connected to the RSL community. These conversations preserve firsthand accounts of military service, life after the forces and the friendships that continue to bind veterans together.