Our People in QLD
Chris Evans - Burleigh Heads
Burleigh Heads man Chris Evans, 37, has already deployed overseas in his Army Reserve uniform and now he’s about to give it another go.
After two months jungle training at Canungra, Chris will be deploying to East Timor for eight months and won’t see his parents Brendan and Elaine until early next year.
Chris will be part of the 500-strong Australian-led international force in East Timor. They are there at the invitation of the East Timorese government to help provide stability while local groups sort out their differences in a peaceful and democratic way.
“I was in the Solomons in 2009,” said Chris who, as well as being a rifleman, is his infantry section’s driver and signaller.
“Now I’m looking forward to the next challenge. I feel honoured to wear the uniform and get the chance to help out another country.
“But 8 months is a long time away. I’ll definitely be looking forward to my first surf back at the Point and the first beer at the Burleigh Hotel — not to mention a good sleep in.”
Of the 100,000 Australians entitled to wear Army uniform, some 45,000 are Reservists. They are all volunteers and have to volunteer again if they want to deploy overseas. Reservists also take part in Australia-based border protection and security operations such as the Commonwealth Games. Employers are compensated financially while their reservists are away on duty.