Volume 48, No. 21, November 16, 2006
 |
PRAISE: Defence Minister Brendan Nelson with his ADC, FLTLT Sharon Cooper.
Photo by AC Aaron Curran
|
By Graham Davis
IT WAS a case of high praise for a brave nurse when Defence Minister Dr Brendan Nelson took to the podium at the recent Australian Military Medicine and Defence Health Services conference in Brisbane.
Dr Nelson spoke of the exploits of war heroes who epitomise the dedication of Defence health workers to their patients, including Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop. He then added a new name to the hero list.
She is FLTLT Sharon Cooper, an Air Force nurse, and the Minister’s Aide-de-Camp since January 2006.
On June 2, 2004, FLTLT Cooper was serving as a nurse in Timor-Leste. She had joined a crew in a United Nations Bell helicopter flying to the village of Same to bring in a local expectant mother whose labour was in crisis.
“The helicopter crashed and she was knocked unconscious,” Dr Nelson said.
“She suffered spinal injuries and a broken jaw. Five weeks later, she was back at work. She told them, ‘I am more valuable if I return to work’.”
Careflight brought her back to Australia and to the Royal Brisbane Hospital, where she underwent surgery for her injuries.
FLTLT Cooper was noticeably embarrassed as Dr Nelson compared her actions to those of legendary military health care professionals, shaking her head as he spoke.
She said, “Although I appreciate the recognition that the Minister has paid me, I don’t personally believe that my actions are unique. There are many crash survivors who continue to serve in today’s ADF despite their injuries and experiences.
“My heroes and my daily inspiration are my friends and colleagues who gave their lives in the Sea King crash in April 2005.
“The best that I can do to respect their memory and their service is to make the most of the second chance that I have been given – a chance that they were denied.”
All of her fellow crew members in the downed Bell helicopter survived.
