By
LACW Kim Eager
Volume 48, No. 15, August 24, 2006
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MAINTAINING
YOUR SMILE: Dental Assistant CPL Cathy Browning is the first
field recipient of HSW OC’s coin.
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ONE
Air Force Dental Assistant is smiling more than others, the first
field recipient of the Health Services Wing (HSW) OC’s coin.
CPL Cathy Browning received the coin from GPCAPT Tracey Smart,
OC Health Services Wing, in recognition of her exemplary service.
“It is nice to be recognised for your hard work, as people
behind the scenes don’t usually get recognised.”
“I’m rapt to be the first field recipient of an award
of this calibre, I had no idea I was getting it.”
As a dental supervisor, CPL Browning not only filled the senior
non-commissioned officer supervisor position, but has also filled
the dental assistant’s position in surgery. Despite a heavy
workload, CPL Browning has taken on additional unit duties such
as duty security member and ambulance duty driver tasks.
“I love what I do and therefore enjoy my work,” she
said.
“RAAF Base Darwin is a fantastic base to work at – the
people are great, and the staff at Dental are great to work with
too.”
CPL Browning said she was appreciative that both her managers
and the OIC of Health Services Flight, SQNLDR Michael Penman,
had noticed her efforts and nominated her for the award.
“I think I work best under pressure – and the unit has
had a lot of pressure this year with increased base tempo due
to current operations.”
A 10-year veteran of the Air Force, CPL Browning worked in Canberra
and at RAAF Base Edinburgh before taking up her current position
in 2005 at Darwin’s 321 Health Services Flight. She hopes
to be promoted and become an instructor at the ADF Dental School
at HMAS Cerberus.
The HSW OC’s coin was designed by GPCAPT Smart, with the
coins minted this year. Presentation of the coin is intended to
reward Air Force health service personnel for their commendable
service and to recognise the efforts of personnel at base units
that are not under direct command elements.
The front of the coin features the official HSW badge with the
motto ‘Compassion, Skill, Courage.’
The back of the coin has the C-130 Hercules – the aero-medical
evacuation aircraft used since Vietnam. Behind the Hercules are
five red squares in the shape of the Red Cross. The squares represent
the Air Force expeditionary health concept, the HQ HSW at the
core of the system surrounded by the four core capabilities -
support to aerospace operations, aero-medical evacuation system,
deployment of expeditionary health facilities and base health
services.
