Our People in NSW
Ted Guinea - Murwillumbah
Ted Guinea grew up on the family banana farm at Eungella, but it will be a while before his parents Patrick and Julie, who now live at Dunbible, will see him again.
This days Ted, 30, is a radio broadcaster in Victoria but early in the New Year he’ll be even further away. He will be wearing his Army combat camouflage and on duty in East Timor.
“I’m also a Lieutenant in the Army Reserve,” said Ted. “I joined up after uni and, after years of training, I’ll soon be commanding 40 diggers in a real-world operation.
“It’s a long way from a Tweed banana farm — but the platoon is from rural NSW and Victoria, so there’ll be a whole bunch of country larrikins coming with me.”
“It’s the first overseas deployment for most of us,” Ted said. “Hopefully we will be able to use our military and civilian skills over there to make a positive difference. It’s what most of us joined for.
“My job will cover everything from organising the diggers tactically to making sure they stay healthy and get enough rest between patrols.
“But before we go, there will be long days and lots of training. So far I’ve been through a CS gas attack, and learned how to escape from a helicopter blindfolded while it’s upside down in the water. We were all pretty focused for that.”
After eight months in-country, Ted and his diggers will be back in Australia in October 2012.
“I’m already looking forward to that first drink at the ‘Imperial’,” Ted said.
The Australian-led International Stabilisation Force is in-country at the invitation of the East Timorese government while local groups work through their differences in a peaceful and democratic way.
All reservists are volunteers and have to volunteer again to serve overseas. Reserves can also support security within Australia at major events such as the Commonwealth Games or Heads of Government visits.