Our People in NSW
David Boyd - Even in Timor David has Ulladulla at heart
FORMER Milton boy David Boyd will be among the last Australian Defence Force personnel to leave Timor Leste when his operational deployment to the country ends in early 2013.
Now a Warrant Officer Class Two in the Australian Army, he deployed to Operation ASTUTE in August and still classes himself as an “Ulladulla kid” at heart because of a strong family connection to the area.
Dave is serving as Chief Clerk, administering personnel in Timor Leste ,and doubles as the Company Sergeant Major of Forward Operating Base Phoenix.
“I wanted some adventure, stability and to do something different from my mates from school when I joined the Army in 1985,” David said.
“This deployment has been a great experience and, as an Army reservist, it’s been great to be back in uniform and experiencing the day-to-day challenges of administering a tri-service force,” he said.
“I have also concentrated on my fitness and set myself a challenge to row from Dili to Darwin on a rowing machine. Over 77 days of straight rowing 45 minutes-a-day, I completed the task with a total of 803km,” he added.
“I have fond memories of Ulladulla and my dad Tom Boyd, aunt Helen Boyd, and cousin Rebecca Boyd still live there. My grandfather Jack Gittens, who served in World War II on the Kokoda Track, built the Ulladulla Ex-Servicemen’s Club and was the Patron Member – the main bar is named after him,” David said.
Dave’s current deployment is his second operational experience with the ADF after deploying to Cambodia for United National Transitional Authority in Cambodia for five months in 1993.
He said his most memorable moments are definitely the New Zealand Haka at the International Stabilisation Force parade when the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) mission ceased security operations on 22 November 2012.
“It’s been great meeting the Timorese people but I can’t wait to get back to my wife and family. We are looking at buying a Kombi and doing a few trips up and down the East coast of Australia. It’ll also be good to get home and play Over 35s football (soccer), do some surfing and have a coffee at CBD North Lakes,” David said.