True Blue Conversations Podcast

On this week's podcast, I speak with Mark 'Trigger' Tregellas. Mark is a former Victorian Police officer & Australian Army 1 st Commando Regiment Veteran & Author. From a teenage athlete, world adventurer, and martial artist, Mark's thirst for adventure led him to serve in the Special Forces Reserves and with Victoria Police.
Stationed in remote towns over 26 years, Trigger spent most of his policing career working closely with three other officers. Amongst his many honours is the Clarke Silver Medal, the Royal Humane Society of Australasia's highest award. He is one of only 3 Victoria Police officers to receive the award in its 150-year history. After retirement, Trigger and his family endured the devastating Black Summer fires, followed by COVID-19 lockdowns that almost broke their hometown apart.
Using his expertise, Trigger set up a recovery website that funnelled nearly one million dollars for the victims of the fires and earned him a Resilient Australia Award. He continues to live in remote coastal Victoria today. Mark is a born storyteller, and wrote his autobiography, Back Up Is 3 Hours Away, which details his incredible career & shares amusing anecdotes as well as incidents that changed his life forever. This is a raw account of what remote policing is all about. Mark, like all veterans and first responders, struggled with the transition from service. He has found purpose again, now helping other veterans and first responders transition and find purpose after service.
Presenter: Adam Blum
Guest: Mark 'Trigger' Tregellas
Editor: Kyle Watkins

On this week's podcast, I speak with former Queensland QPS Police veteran Brendan Haley BM. Joining the QUEENSLAND Police Service aged 18 years, Brendan spent 33 years serving the Queensland community in a variety of locations and roles. Starting his career in the shadow of Queensland's Fitzgerald Commission into police corruption, this young rural kid was thrust into intense urban policing, and the violence and challenges of early 90s policing. His journey would see him move around the state through a variety of roles from general policing, dog squad, country and regional policing, crime squad, operational police leadership before ending his policing career in counter terrorism. His professional journey, in some of Queensland's most notorious areas, left a permanent mark on his being, resulting in diagnosis of PTSD, broken marriages and questions on the fairness of life, particularly after the death of his youngest son. Despite these challenges, tough times drew out his resilience, strength of character and courage to repeatedly place his life on the line for the community he chose to service, with formal recognition of his fortitude culminating in him being recognised by the police service and the Australian community through the awarding of official meritorious certificates and medals, culminating in award of the Australian Bravery Medal. Although Brendan has left policing, he continues to serve his nation, moving into a defence role and taking these experiences and fortitude into a new domain. This is his story it is raw and honest and is a behind the scenes look at what police face on a day-to-day basis to protect our communities, and the cost of that service.
Presenter: Adam Blum
Guest: Brendan Haley BM
Editor: Kyle Watkins

On this week's podcast, I speak with Talissa Papamau (TJ), an Afghanistan veteran
and former combat medic who served in the Australian Army.  Her deployment as part of MTF5 spans the highest loss of Australian life in a 24hr period since the Vietnam War. In this podcast, TJ talks about trying to save the lives of 7 KIAs and 33 WIA Australian casualties in addition to scores of local national Afghani men, women and children.
2nd July 2012 - Sgt Blaine Diddams MG
29th August 2012 - Spr James Martin 
Pte Robert Poate, LCPL Ross Milosevic 
30th August 2012 - LCPL Mervin McDonald & Pte Nathaniel Galagher 
21st October - CPL Scot Smith
TJ also treated double amputee Curtis McGrath, once he was aero medically evacuated to the resuscitation facility in Tarin Kowt who she met him in 2010 as part of the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program. Due to operational demands, TJ provided advanced life-saving treatment for 170 consecutive days, receiving 1.5 days of respite whilst deployed. TJ later instructed the pilot course to train and qualify medics of the PNG Defence helping to re-establish PNGDF Medical Corps, which she recalls as a career highlight.  Since leaving the Australian Defence Force, TJ has worked as a consultant to the federal government in the Defence and Veteran Support Sectors and remains one of the only female former NCOs to be engaged in senior levels of Government. This is a raw and honest chat about the cost of war from the medics who are the forgotten heroes. This is a powerful journey of redemption and finding light at the end of the dark tunnel, and finding purpose again post-military.
Presenter: Adam Blum
Guest: Talissa Papamau (TJ),
Editor: Kyle Watkins

On this week's podcast, I speak with former Australian Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment veteran Kurt Ludke. Kurt was born in Invercargill, NZ, and later moved to Western Australia. Kurt joined the army in 1998. After basic training, he was posted to 1 RAR in Townsville. Kurt faced adversity early in his career looisng his Mum to an aneurysm. Kurt took a compassionate posting for a few months before posting back to 1 RAR.
Kurt deployed on multiple overseas deployments include multiple trips to East Timor, Afghanistan & Iraq.
In 2005, Kurt applied and was selected for selection in 4 RAR Commando. After passing selection, Kurt moved into the reo cycle, where he was successful and posted into the regiment.
Kurt served on SOTG Rot 4 in Afghanistan in 2007, Rot 8 in 2008, and Rot 12 in 2010. In the lead-up to Rot 12, Kurt and his company lost a good friend, Mason Edwards, in a prep deployment exercise. This was the start of several losses for the Company. 
Kurt was involved in the Battle of Shah Wali Kot. Only a few days later, on the 21st of June, three Australian Commando's were killed in a Blackhawk helicopter. Kurt talks about being on the ground that day when he arrived at the crash. 
Kurt went on to serve on TAG EAST, and the Special Forces Training Centre SFTC Kurt also served in Iraq. Kurt talks about burnout and suffering from PTSD, losing mates, and, after 19 years of service, having an administrative discharge. Like all veterans and first responders, Kurt struggled with the transition back to civilian life. He found purpose again, completing his MBA in 2022 and representing Australia at the Invictus Games in 2023. This is a powerful chat about the cost of serving at the elite level and finding purpose again after service.
Presenter: Adam Blum
Guest: Kurt Ludke 
Editor: Kyle Watkins

On this week's podcast, I speak with Robert Kilsby, a former Australian Special
Forces Special Air Services Regiment Vietnam combat veteran. Born on Boxing Day
in 1951 in the small coal-mining town of Leigh Creek, South Australia, Robert's early
years were steeped in the spirit of adventure—bushland escapades, go-kart races,
and the kind of rugged independence that would come to define his life.
By age 14, Robert had already experienced one of life's hardest lessons—his
parents' separation. But instead of falling, he rose. He understood something rare at
that age: that people, even parents, are human. That insight marked the beginning of
a lifelong journey of resilience, purpose, and service.
In 1969, just one day after Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, Robert began his
military career. He joined the Australian Regular Army with a determination to be a
part of the Vietnam War before it ended. Not long after, at just 18 and a half years
old, he became one of the youngest soldiers to be badged as an SAS Trooper—an
elite path marked by grit, humour, and unstoppable drive.
From high-risk operations, including those with SEAL Team 1 in Vietnam, to
developing unconventional warfare tactics back home, Robert helped shape the
future of Australia's Special Forces. His career spanned infantry, intelligence,
Mandarin Chinese language training, and leadership roles in SASR counterterrorism
operations. His post-military life has been just as extraordinary. From
founding Veterans In Motorsport – Australia, to paddling 2,450 kilometres down the
Murray River at age 70 to raise funds for homeless veterans. Even after facing
down stage 4 cancer in 2022 and open-heart surgery in 2024, Robert's next mission
is already underway: becoming a keynote speaker and author. His
message? 'Ultimate Freedom – How to Be in Charge of Yourself' from his 2026 book
Ultimate Freedom – The Five Fundamental Principles to Being In Charge of Yourself.
A philosophy forged in fire, lived on two battlefields—one in combat, the other in life.
 You're about to hear from a man who's never stopped pushing limits—who
embodies courage, service, and reinvention. 
Presenter: Adam Blum
Guest: Robert Kilsby
Editor: Kyle Watkins