Our People in QLD
Alan Lucas - Redland Bay
Following in his father’s footsteps, Redland Bay local Alan Lucas, has joined the Australian Defence Force.
Recently completing a port visit to Darwin while serving onboard Royal Australian Navy Frigate HMAS Parramatta, Alan found time to catch up with his relatives in Darwin prior to setting sail on his next adventure.
“My dad Peter was in the Army, my brother Peter also joined the Army. I thought I’d try something different, so I joined the Navy,” Alan said.
Alan’s decision was also swayed by his affinity with the water. Growing up, Alan was a dedicated swimmer at Cleveland Swim Club in Queensland.
“I’d say growing up near the ocean, swimming as much I did and hearing stories from my dad about Vietnam, for me the Navy seemed to be the right choice,” he said.
The Navy instructors thought it was also the right choice for Alan, awarding him the Student of Merit Award for his studies as an Electronics Technician.
“My parents are proud of my decision to join the Defence Force. My dad encouraged me to join the Navy to see the world,” Alan said.
True to his dad’s word, the Navy has Alan about to set sail on a South East Asian deployment.
“I am looking forward to this trip up top. We’ll visit various ports and have time to see the sites, with a bit of work in between,” he said.
HMAS Parramatta will return to her home port in May. During some time alongside, Alan is looking forward to heading home, catching up with his family and his mates at a restaurant in Cleveland.