Sgt Wayne Tarrant holds LCpl Soult Walter Crock, 3CSSB. LCpl Crock, the mascot of Fd Wkshop Coy, had lost contact with her unit until recently. Photo by Cpl Jason Weeding, 1JPAU(P)

‘Snappa’ reunited with her mates

By Mark Tanzer
ATTEMPTING to bite a Brigadier is guaranteed to land any soldier in deep water – just ask LCpl Soult Walter Crock.

But don’t get too close – LCpl Crock’s nickname is ‘Snappa’, and she lives in a watery pen at Billabong Sanctuary just outside of Townsville.

LCpl Crock is, as guessed, a large estuarine crocodile, long-standing mascot of 102 Fd Wksp within 3CSSB at Lavarack Barracks.

She had visitors recently when fellow 102 Fd Wksp members Maj Nick Faughey, the OC, and Sgt Wayne Tarrant, dropped in to catch up on old times. It was a trip down memory lane for Sgt Tarrant, who had handled LCpl Crock as a young soldier in the 1980s.

In 1985, Soult Walter Crock was loaned to the Army from the Edward River Crocodile Farm and enlisted with the rank of craftsman in RAEME.

A posting order to 102 Fd Wksp quickly followed.

WO2 Sam Brooker, CSM of 102 Fd Wksp, said Cfn Crock was a popular soldier who had her own pen at the barracks and paraded with the unit on ceremonial occasions.

“But by 1987, she’d grown too big and aggressive for her handlers. That’s when Billabong Sanctuary agreed to house her,” WO2 Brooker said.

“However, the story goes that she was removed because she had a go at the then-Brigade Commander.”

With heavy hearts, fellow soldiers helped build a pen for their mate at Billabong Sanctuary, returning to visit and watch her promotion to LCpl in 1988.

WO2 Brooker said that from about 1990, the unit lost contact with LCpl Crock and the legend of ‘Snappa’ faded away.

“We wanted to change that, so this year we contacted Billabong Sanctuary and asked about re-establishing ties with our mascot.

“Billabong Sanctuary has been extremely cooperative and have offered the use of a smaller crocodile for any ceremonial occasions.”

WO2 Brooker said LCpl Crock had been paired with one of the larger male crocodiles at the Sanctuary for many years.

“She’s had quite a few productive years and has recently nested again.”

The smaller crocodile, named Barry, made its first appearance as 102 Fd Wksp mascot at a regimental function held at Lavarack Barracks this month.

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