Our People in QLD
Damien Etherington - Cairns Post
Forest Gardens local Damien Etherington was relaxing in Townsville on Christmas holidays when he was recalled to be part of the Defence Force’s Operation Queensland Flood Assist.
Damien attended St Augustine’s College and was a long time member of South Cairns Cutters AFL Club and Mulgrave Cricket Club before joining the Army. Now he’s a Ground Crewman Mission Support with the Australian Army Aviation Corps and he’s supporting three Black Hawk helicopters in Rockhampton.
“I didn’t know very much about the Army but the little I heard from my Pop made me want to know more,” Damien said.
“His crazy stories about when he was an ordinance supply corporal encouraged me to join. At first mum was not too keen but now really likes it. She is now encouraging my brother Ryan to join!”
Damien joined the Army in June 2009 and began his specialist aviation training after completing recruit school at Kapooka. After four months on a driver’s course, Damien then completed the basic ground crewman course in Oakey, near Toowoomba. This course qualifies him to work with both Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters.
Now Damien is putting all his hard work and training into practice. Damien’s role is to prepare the landing zone and communicate with the helicopter pilot as they land and take off.
A recent highlight for Damien was when a Chinook helicopter airlifted a Water Purification Unit from Rockhampton to Theodore.
“It is a big responsibility, especially for a digger,” Damien said. “I had to prepare the landing zone and provide advice to a captain and two sergeant engineers on the ground.”
Once Operation Queensland Flood Assist is over, Damien plans to return on leave to visit family and friends in Cairns with his girlfriend, Jess.
“I can’t wait to go clubbing there at the Velvet Underground,” he said.
“I do miss home sometimes but Cairns not too far away from Townsville so it’s not too bad.”