Winners all. Top row, from leftt: RSM 13 Bde WO1 Chris Baker; Pte Peter Humbert, 16 Bn; LCpl Thom McMahon, 16 Bn; Pte Andrew Meyereck, 11/28 Bn; Pte Steven Henderson, 11/28 Bn; Sgt John Horeau, 11/28 Bn; Pte Paul Buise, 11/28 Bn; Spr Andrew Waller, 13 Fd Rgt; WO2 John Stonebridge, HQ 13 Bde. Front Row, from left: Spr Brenton Gibbs, 13 Fd Rgt; Pte Claire Jacobsen, 13CSSB; Cpl Ron Van Der Sluys, 16 Bn; Pte Tiana Caverley, 10 Tpt Coy; Pte Mat Harris, 16 Bn. Photo provided by Capt David Harris, 13 Bde

By Capt David Harris

BATTLING the wettest Sydney weather in more than 40 years, soldiers from the Karrakatta-based 13 Bde recently took out the coveted 2 Div Milskills championship for the second year running.

Trained by Bde RSM WO1 Chris Baker, WO2 John Stonebridge, Bde HQ, and Sgt John Hoarau, 11/28 Bn, the 11-member section, led by Cpl Ronald Van Der Sluys and LCpl Thomas McMahon, won seven of the 15 stands contended.

Describing the win as gutsy and determined, WO1 Baker said the section was the stand-out competitor among the seven sections that entered from across 2 Div.

“I am extremely proud of these young soldiers,” he said.

“They came from across the Brigade – ordnance, sappers, medics and infantry.

“They all displayed the highest levels of commitment and dedication throughout the four month lead-up training phase and, again, over the two days of the competition itself under the most testing of conditions.

“Their self-confidence and standard of soldiering was streets ahead of their east-coast counterparts.”

While stressing the win was a total team effort, WO1 Baker made special mention of 13CSSB Health Coy medic Pte Claire Jacobsen – one of two females in the section – who joined the team just two weeks out from the competition.

“Pte Jacobsen jammed three months worth of training into a two-week period and came through with the goods.

“It was an extraordinary effort of which she should be rightly proud.”

WO1 Baker also singled out Pte Matthew Harris (16 Bn) and Spr Andrew Waller (13 Fd Sqn) as having demonstrated admirable qualities of leadership, stamina and commitment.

The RSM also thanked the RSL for their ongoing support of the Bde’s milskills team and said all members had proudly worn their distinctive blue tracksuits throughout the competition.

“They told the world who we were.”

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