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The one and only Army Infantry Rifle Company unit on the Sunshine Coast, Alpha Company of the Fighting Ninth Battalion, is part of one of the strongest Battalions in the modern Army Reserve and is the proud custodians of a long and distinguished history. The Battalion can trace its history back to the Queensland Volunteer Rifle Brigade established in 1867 and first deployed forces overseas as early the Boer War in 1899. Today the Battalion has depots at Bundaberg, Maryborough, Gympie, Yandina, Caboolture, Enoggera and Loganlea. The Battalion forms part of the 7th Brigade and has an operational focus in its training and has provided soldiers for several overseas deployments in recent years including East Timor, Malaysia, and New Zealand.During a soldiers training he is made aware of the units history and the determination of the soldiers that have passed before them to maintain the unit spirit and keep alive the outstanding unit achievements.
Major Andrew Dahl originally joined the Army Reserve as a soldier and is now the Officer Commanding Alpha Company. Major Dahl recognises the value of the members currently serving the Army, but more importantly, recognises the contributions to the Army that ex-members have made as they move on and leave the unit for many reasons of their own. They have taken with them many memories and experience that cannot be easily replaced.
Major Dahl would like to hear from those ex-members of the A Coy or ex-members of 9 RQR living on the Sunshine Coast from Gympie to Caloundra and even those ex-members from around the Caboolture district and encourage them to contact the unit and make themselves known to the unit staff as an "Old Soldier" and leave their details for future contact. It is the intention of the Officer Commanding Alpha Company to rekindle that spirit that is developed through Army service by reuniting the Old with the New.
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