Our People in QLD
Michael Paterson - A ‘Medico’ in the RAAF
Group Captain Michael Paterson, who was born and raised in Rockhampton, joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1984 after a “chance conversation with another nurse”, when he realised that the RAAF was a great way to broaden his nursing career. After his Registered Nurse training at the Rockhampton Base Hospital, the RAAF helped him complete a Bachelor of Health Science.
He explains out moments were when he was deployed in “Detachment Command in Iraq 2004-2005, Command of No 1 Expeditionary Health Squadron 2003-2006, as well as his role now as the Commander of Health Services Wing”.
A particular highlight was when he was chosen as one of four Aero Medical Support staff to accompany the last 60 or so surviving World War I veterans on a pilgrimage to Turkey to commemorate the event that shaped the nation. Their job was to get the aged gentlemen to Gallipoli and back ‘Standing on the Gallipoli peninsula literally holding hands with a Gallipoli veteran, you can’t have a moment like that and not think, “My God, Mike Paterson from Rocky, [you’re] standing here with these men,”’ he says.
The former St John’s Ambulance Brigade member has been a part of many deployments. As part of the ‘medico’ team he has been deployed to “Bougainville 1999-2000 (Operation Bel Isi); Solomon Islands 2001 (Operation Trek), East Timor 2001-2002 (Operation Tanager), [and] Iraq 2004-2005 (Operation Catalyst)”.
Michaels’s experiences while on deployment in Pupua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, East Timor and Iraq, and his work in Australia and Turkey are featured in the upcoming book Air Force by Ian McPhedran, available on August 1.
When he asks about how he felt getting interviewed for a book, replies “I was uncomfortable talking about myself.” then he modestly adds “I was keen to talk about the great team that I had the privilege to lead”
When Michael is at home he enjoys running and spending time with his family.