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Our People in NSW

Private Wayne Brown - Selfish… only when it comes to fishing

11 years on and Wayne Brown is still doing what he loves most, getting out and working hard. Although a qualified fitter machinist Wayne trained in Regional Force Surveillance as a patrolman at the Taylor Barracks in Karratha Western Australia in order to work part time as an Army Reservist.

“I joined because it’s different to what I do in civilian life, I meet lots of interesting people and it gives me the chance to give something back to the country,” Brownie said.

Wayne ‘Brownie’ is a patrolman from the Pilbara Regiment 2 Squadron and is working with NORFORCE as part of Operation Outreach the Australian Defence Force’s logistical contribution to the Northern Territory Emergency Response Task Force (NTERT). The effort he is contributing is towards improving the lives of Indigenous Australians in remote Northern Territory communities through education, health and logistical support.

“To see with my own eyes the communities and the meet the Indigenous people of Australia has helped me to personally grasp the conditions in which they live and understand the issues that they face,” Brownie said.

Working with Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA) the ADF is also providing transportation of the child health check teams, made up of civilian nurses and doctors from all parts of Australia, into remote aboriginal communities throughout the Northern Territory.

NORFORCE (North West Mobile Force) is one of three Regional Force Surveillance units across Northern Australia supporting Operation Outreach. Adding to the strength of NORFORCE are soldiers from the Pilbara Regiment who are providing assistance in aboriginal communities across the Tiwi Islands and the NT including the community of Wadeye.

NORFORCE have built significant goodwill, trust and recognition in indigenous communities over the last 25 years and has a high proportion of Aboriginal soldiers whose language and understanding of indigenous traditions is relied upon to ensure a successful mission.

Brownie is looking forward to completing this round of work in Wadeye and getting out to do some fishing with friends in WA.