Our People in NSW
CAPT Michael Brooke - FROM BONDI TO BABALYON
Captain Brooke is three months into a six month deployment of Iraq , where he is helping the Australian Defence Force contribute to the r ehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq.
“I see great significance in being a soldier from such a young country as Australia and keeping the peace in such an ancient civilisation as Iraq , where 6,000 years earlier the Sumerians established the first civilisation,” he said.
Captain Brooke is the Public Affairs Officer for the Australian Battle Group and his tasks include providing public relations training for the Iraqi Army, media escort for visiting Australian reporters, and producing features and digital imagery for the official Army newspaper.
The former Vaucluse Boys High School student said that being in the Iraqi desert is like being at Bondi Beach – “but without the ocean.”
Captain Brooke said he is enjoying the deployment but is nevertheless looking forward to the day when he returns to beautiful Bondi.
“When I get home in December I’m looking forward to a ring-side seat at Ravesi’s and ogling the local eye-candy,” he said.
What Captain Brooke misses most is being away from his family – especially his mother Maggi, and twin sons Shaun and Michael - who are die-hard Bondi Icebergs and volunteer Bondi surf lifesavers.
“We’ll probably celebrate my return with pizza from The Old Castille and oceans of red wine,” he said with a chuckle.
“There’s a lot to celebrate and be grateful for, particularly that ‘there’s no place like home’.”
Captain Brooke is one of 515 Australian soldiers based at Camp Terendak at Ali Air Base in Tallil. The soldiers are drawn from more than 51 units from across Australia including the 5 th Brigade in NSW.
He is one of 1575 members of the Australian Defence Force who are now on duty in the Middle East as part of Operation Catalyst, the Australian Government’s contribution to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq.
Working with the Iraqi Government and coalition forces, Australian military personnel are continuing to work for a more secure environment and assist with national rehabilitation programs.
These include water and irrigation projects, rural projects to enhance crop and animal production, health clinics, and power supply initiatives.