Guest Speaker
 
Brad Church - Life in the Army
 
  • Born in Shepparton and lived here most his life
  • Joined the army when 17 yrs
  • Grew up in Strathmerton
  • Played at sports in Yarroweyah 
  • 45 days of training at Kapuka to commence
  • Holding platoon in Albury/Wodonga
  • Basic drivers course at Puckapunyal
  • Then to Townsville for landing craft training
  • Townsville training for water transport for 60 days
  • Posted to Townsville battalion
  • Part of the 42 Troop (the Ducks)
  • Worked with the Larks for 2 years before moving back to the Ducks
  • Advantages of the Army are the places you get to see from Darwin, Townsville to Broome - getting paid
  • 7 years in Townsville, met first wife - 22 yr olds and 21 yr old children
  • Got injured in the army, then got reposted to Darwin - working with the Indigenous communities and patrolling borders
  • Lots of crocodiles!!!
  • 3 and half months in East Timor - eye opening in a third world country, worked a lot with the US Army
  • Solomon Islands for 20 days, medical and building supplies
  • Did all the training for Bougainville and was called off 2 days prior to leaving
  • Australian Service Medal, United Nations medal, AO medals received during his service
  • Hit the 12-year mark in the army, long service leave, then discharged and met current wife had a son now 14 yrs
  • After the army went into the mining industry, a lot more money and better lifestyle
  • Under ground in the gold mines Tanami
  • Came back to Strathmerton and built a house and now currently driving the delivery truck for Australia post
  • Now heavily involved in RSL, footy jujitsu, basketball coaching 
  • Going to Melbourne every weekend for son playing basketball and footy