Chefs’ recipe for a hard ex

By Private John Wellfare

Cook LAC Chris Paxton looks for signs of movement while on picket at the RAAF Scherger accommodation block.

Photo by PTE John Wellfare

COOKS deployed to RAAF Scherger with No. 381 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron had performed base defence duties as well as their culinary role for Exercises Northern Awakening and Kakadu.

Despite facing an early shift start time of 4.30am, the cooks joined the night picket roster and juggled their time between gruelling work hours and guard duties at the base accommodation area.

Corporal Ian Robinson, one of the team of 21 cooks providing for more than 400 people during the exercise’s peak period, said the most important concern had been to make sure the quality of food didn’t suffer because of the long work hours.

“Unlike a lot of other musterings, we have a trade test three times a day,” he said.

“You’ve got to make sure the meal’s right and if it’s not right then you’ve failed in your job. And everyone’s an assessor really.

“When you see the ADGs come in after a few days out in the scrub, all they’re looking forward to is a good hot meal and it’s quite rewarding when they come in and have a really good meal and enjoy it.”

Another of the No. 381 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron cooks deployed to RAAF Scherger, Leading Aircraftman Chris Paxton, said pickets were easier when the roster had been written with the cooks’ working hours in mind.

“It depends on when you have the picket,” he said. “You can be on picket from 1am to 3am and then you’re starting work at 4.30am, so it doesn’t do you much good.

“[When] we’re able to fit the pickets into our working day, we’re up at 4am, do breakfast, do lunch, do dinner and do prep each day until 8pm or 9pm at night and then do pickets, we’re guaranteed four or five, maybe six hours straight sleep.”

While ADGs operated in the outer areas of the base to provide a security screen, static defence of RAAF Scherger’s buildings and assets was primarily the responsibility of No. 381 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron personnel, who performed guard duties in addition to their primary jobs.

 

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