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A FORMER digger was among the latest group of Australian entertainers who completed a concert tour of Iraq, Afghanistan and associated support locations to boost morale for our forces overseas.
Back in the ’80s and ’90s comedian Dickster – then known as Cpl Richard Kaminski – served in the Army as an infantryman and recruit instructor, but in May this year he was enlisted to serve up a smorgasbord of laughs in the Middle East.
Dickster said he felt at home among the troops, especially the 5RAR boys in Tallil where he struck a real chord – grunt to grunt.
“It was bizarre to realise how much I remembered about soldiering,” he said.
“I could still recite the marksmanship principles and strip a weapon. It just flooded back to me.
“I also found I was constantly watching those guys and the job they were doing – but, strangely, I noticed I was watching them through a soldier’s eyes rather than as a comic.”
In a showbiz tradition that predates the Vietnam War, this, the seventh FACE tour to the MEAO, also included other “veteran” entertainers.
For St Kilda-based comedian Wayne Deakin, it was his third tour, having visited Timor-Leste and Sinai previously – while Sydney-based comedy duo Big Brother, Little Brother were on their third visit to the MEAO.
“Our wives worry when we go, but I’ve bought my wife a piece of jewellery each time I come back,” Little Brother Matt Hedditch said.
“This time she was pregnant and we were both hoping she wouldn’t have the baby before I got back.”
As fate would have it, Matt’s wife, Allison, did go into labour prematurely, necessitating an early return home for the comedian who reports that baby Tomasz, and his mum, are well.
While big-name performers such as Kylie Minogue and James Blundell have featured in past tours, most performers are at the break-through point of their careers when they volunteer.
This time around it was 2006 Star Maker competition winner Cat Southern’s chance to get her boots in the dust.
Adding even more glam to the cast, up-and-coming film identity Renee Brack played MC for the tour.
“She was a real trouper – tough as nails,” Dickster said.
“It wasn’t a glamorous trip by any means, but she mucked in every day and did a real good job.”
Dickster said among his strongest memories from the trip was being huddled around a laptop in a cramped office watching World Cup Cricket until stupid hours.
“And Baghdad was an experience as well, of course. It’s just one big pyjama party over there, and they even put on a fireworks show for us every night.”
Summing up the tour, Dickster said it was, “Cool – but sober”.
“I really want to have a go at Johnny Howard. Sending our guys to fight a war in a country that doesn’t drink beer is just not on.”
Would he go again? “Sure I would – I’d go again tomorrow,” he said.
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