Our People in TAS
Ben Keep - RISDON VALE SOLDIER DOING HIS BIT FOR TIMOR LESTE
These days Ben, a former student of Dominic College, is a private with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, which is based at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville.
The 23 year old is a rifleman serving with the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in the fledgling new nation of Timor Leste.
“I’m the platoon’s signaller and I help provide security to the local community,” said Ben.
This is his first overseas deployment after joining the Army last year.
“I’ve really enjoyed experiencing a different culture, spending time with my mates, the weather and the swimming holes,” Ben said.
Ben says he joined the military because he wanted to serve his country, take pride in his work and wanted life experience.
“My most memorable moments are conducting a mounted patrol to a local swimming hole where we swam under a waterfall and playing footy with the locals,” he said.
When he’s not trying to improve the lives of Australia’s overseas neighbours, Ben enjoys barracking for Melbourne in the AFL, surfing and fishing.
He said when he gets home he’s really looking forward to having some beers with his mates, seeing his girlfriend, a hot shower, air conditioning and a BBQ!
“I just wanted to say hi to all the lads back home and to my girlfriend Tamara,” Ben said.
He’s one of about 850 Australian Defence Force personnel currently serving in Timor Leste as part of Operation Astute, the Australian Government response to the Timorese Government request for assistance in restoring peace to their country.
The Australians, as part of the International Stabilisation Force, are assisting the Government of Timor Leste and the United Nations Police to provide a secure environment for all East Timorese.