Veteran rejects allegation
Ex-officer may sue
A FAR Northern hospital manager is considering taking legal action against an internet group, which has alleged the former navy officer has embellished his military record.
Ross Russo is an operations supervisor with Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, who has served with the Navy, Queensland Police and Queensland Corrections Service.
However the Australian and New Zealand Military Imposters (ANZMI) Group has questioned the right of the Cairns resident to wear a ribbon he has been photographed wearing in public.
A photo of Mr Russo that appeared in a Queensland Corrections Service newsletter from 2009 shows him wearing a Defence Force Long Service ribbon. The ribbon/medal is awarded for completing 15 years of qualifying remunerated service in the Australian Defence Force, including permanent and reserve forces.
ANZMI has alleged on its website that Mr Russo was not entitled to this ribbon as he did not serve the minimum 15 years. When contacted by the Cairns Post, Mr Russo emphatically rejected allegations the group has made about him on their website.
Mr Russo provided certified evidence he had served with the Royal Australian Navy as a marine technical officer, from 1988-1994; Queensland Corrective Services from 1994 to 2000; and Queensland Police Service from 2000-2009.
He said he had also served with the Australian Army Reserves from 2007, but declined to say for how long. When asked about the Defence Force Long Service ribbon, he was unable to provide any evidence that he served with the ADF for at least 15 years.
When questioned about the photograph of him wearing the ribbon, Mr Russo suggested it may have been photoshopped.
He claimed he could not comment further, as he had made official complaints about the website to the Queensland Police Service, and the Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network. He said he was also considering taking legal action against ANZMI. An ANZMI spokesman said the group stood by its claim.
An Australian Defence Force spokesman said it did not provide service history.