Denise Carter speaks to Lynne Cosgrove, patron of Australian Rainforest Foundation about her work, and her journey as the wife of the former Australian Defence Force chief as she returns to Cairns for the opening of the Operation Leapfrog exhibition.

When Lynne Cosgrove was judging weekender’s Operation Leapfrog photo competition, she would have loved to enter an image of her own.

"I have a photo of me with two fat green frogs taken when I was 11 years old," Lynne says.

Born in Sydney, Lynne loved escaping into the countryside as a child.

"One of my most powerful memories is the first time my father took me to the Minnamurra Falls in New South Wales," she says.

Lynne has been patron of the Australian Rainforest Foundation (ARF) since 2003 and since her husband, retired Australian Defence Force chief General Peter Cosgrove, came to Cairns to head up the Cyclone Larry recovery, she has been able to spend more time helping the group.

Being the wife of such a prominent military figure has given Lynne, at times, a difficult life. She has moved 23 times in as many years between the US, the UK, and India.

"When you get to the other end, you have to settle the kids, find doctors and dentists and you have to leave old friends behind," Lynne says.

But not travelling with her husband was never an option.

"We’re both sooks," she says, recalling one time she stayed behind because one of her three sons, David, was in year 12.

"I was miserable for about seven months," she says.

Then there was always the concern for loved ones in danger. Two of Lynne’s sons joined the army, the elder of the two served in Iraq.

Philip was injured in a car bomb explosion outside the Australian embassy in 2005 and now is the only family member in the army.

"It’s totally different when it’s your husband – because it’s what they did before you met them – than when it’s your own child you nurtured," she says.

Lynne is patron for Partners of Veterans Association as she understands the stresses that pass inevitably from vets to their families.

It’s a life she went into with eyes wide open.

At aged 26, Lynne worked in a building society and gave notice to her regional manager so she could travel overseas.

He asked her to reconsider, saying it was time she settle down and suggesting one of his army officer friends, Peter, as a prospective partner.

"He said Peter had won the military cross in Vietnam, had a hot sports car, and he knew a good bottle of wine, so I said, well, give him my passionate regards, and I might see him in six months," Lynne says.

On her return, Peter asked her out on a blind date.

She remembers he arrived at her home wearing a brown leather coat and purple flared trousers, while she wore a long charcoal corduroy dress.

"You could say we were fashion tragics," Lynne says.

Lynne describes the past 10 years particularly of their 31-year marriage as being privileged and "an incredible ride", which has allowed her to meet people from all parts of society including international VIPs.

She has spoken with US President George W Bush of the subtle differences between baseball and cricket.

And she met Queen Elizabeth II twice. The first time was in Buckingham Palace when Peter received an award and her boys were just children.

Later when Peter received his AC at Government House the boys told the Queen they had been to the palace previously.

She asked if they had behaved.

"They said yes because I had a purse full of jelly babies, so they dobbed me in," Lynne says.

Life hasn’t slowed too much for Lynne since Peter’s retirement as defence chief, but at least when she travels now, there is no packing of boxes.

Settled in Neutral Bay, the couple still commutes but home is now more than "a nice place to visit".

"It’s just so good to catch up with old friends who have been on hold for many years," Lynne says.

• Lynne Cosgrove will open the Operation Leapfrog exhibition on May 8 in Cairns at the Reef Hotel Casino at 5.30pm.

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