Our People in the NT
Sergeant Mark Wellsmore - Darwins' cargo sergeant the most colourful in the Middle East
40 thousand kilograms of mail arrives every month at Australia 's Force Level Logistic Base set up as a distribution centre to deliver military supplies, stores and mail to 1, 400 Aussie troops in the region.
"My defacto spends hours coming up with creative designs on every parcel she sends over to me. When the mail is being delivered I can see mine coming well head of everyone else."
"In the Middle East environment where all the colours are pretty plain, my bright parcels just seem to make the letters inside from my nieces and nephews seem happier and the homebaked cookies taste better."
After 17 years in the Australian Army, his current assignment with Operation Catalyst is the seventh in his career and it's the second time the cargo specialist has been deployed to the region. Last time it was aboard the HMAS Kanimbla in the Northern Arabian Gulf providing landing craft support.
This time its very different, no cool sea breeze and long days unloading and repacking equipment on a variety aircraft and trucks to deliver to Australian troops providing security patrols and community projects in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"In the past two months we've moved half a million kilograms of military supplies and stores to frontline ADF staff across the region."
However the 35 year old Sergeant is keen to get home to Darwin later this year and enjoy a stir fry on the back verandah with his partner and put his feet up to read his favourite motorbike magazine.