
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