Our People in QLD
Krystle Absolon - Townsville
Emergency Department nurse Krystle Absolon, 27, has been about as far as possible from her normal job at Townsville Hospital, but she’ll be home soon.
The Army Reserve signaller has been on a four-month deployment to the Solomon Islands as part of the 15-nation Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI).
Krystle is a radio operator at the RAMSI headquarters near Honiara and responsible for establishing and maintaining communications for the deployed force.
Her ‘stand-out moment’ happened in the early hours of 12 March when the order went out to evacuate the camp because of a potential tsunami.
“We got the order to evacuate in 10 minutes — in the pouring rain and at night,” she said.
“So with our personal gear and rifles and radio equipment we headed for the hills.
“With everyone working together it took us just 20 minutes to get to a secure location where we re-established communications with all our soldiers, and back to Australia.”
But Krystle said She it was great to be finally able to do the job she trained for.
“Ensuring Australia’s borders are strong and helping our neighbours in need is all very humbling,” she said.
“I am very proud to be Australian — and more aware than ever of things I took for granted like women’s rights, education, clean water and health care.”
Krystle said she had made friends for life on the deployment, but she is still looking forward to getting home to her family in Cairns and Townsville.
She attended Trinity Bay High School in Cairns and did her Bachelor of Nursing Science degree at James Cook University, Townsville.
All reservists are volunteers and have to volunteer again to serve overseas. They also can also contribute to security at major events within Australia. Their civilian bosses receive a financial contribution to offset their absence on military duty.
If you want to find out more about Australian Peacekeepers or would like to support the Australian Peacekeeping Memorial Project, please visit the following website: http://www.peacekeepingmemorial.org.au