A letter from Air Marshal Robert Chipman to Nikki Coleman apologised for the ‘devastating impact on you and your family’.A letter from Air Marshal Robert Chipman to Nikki Coleman apologised for the ‘devastating impact on you and your family’.t took five years, her resignation and the courage to speak publicly about suffering sexual assault, harassment and abuse within the RAAF, but former Uniting Church military chaplain Nikki Coleman finally has what defence long withheld: an apology.
Coleman received the letter from Air Marshal Robert Chipman three weeks ago, five years after she first raised concerns about the behaviour of a superior and two years after Chipman gave evidence to the committee.“I write to express my sincere personal apology for the treatment you endured during your service in the Royal Australian Air Force,” Chipman wrote in the letter dated 4 March.
Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundupAt the time, Shoebridge queried the assertion of “counter allegations” against the complaining chaplain.Coleman wrote to Chipman immediately, asking him to substantiate his claim or correct it and apologise. She received a written assurance from another officer that the record would be corrected.
In his letter to Coleman, Chipman said he had been unaware the questions related to her “circumstances specifically”. Coleman quit the ADF in March so she could give evidence at the royal commission. It heard she had been traumatised by incidents allegedly including indecent assault, general assault and threats against her life, and had been obstructed initially from reporting them.
“Your contributions to our air force have been substantial. We are a better organisation as a result of your service,” he wrote. “Thankyou.”