Our People in VIC
| Ross Proctor - Retired Postie Answers ‘Call Of Duty’ St Arnaud’s retired Post Master, Ross Proctor, is often lured away from home by the ‘call of the duty’ to serve with the Australian Defence Force (ADF). (Date uploaded: 20 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Tanya Goddard - Building A Better Afghanistan Wycheproof’s Tanya Goddard is packing her bags and headed home after a frantic six months in Afghanistan. (Date uploaded: 20 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Brett Knight - Daylesford Daylesford local Brett Knight joined the Navy aged 17, straight out of High School. Now he’s 20 and on pirate patrol off the Horn of Africa. (Date uploaded: 20 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Nigel Hayes - Mildura Mildura’s Nigel Hayes joined the Navy in 1999. Now the aviation specialist is on pirate patrol off the Horn of Africa aboard HMAS Parramatta. (Date uploaded: 19 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Allan Bahr - Ballarat The desire to travel and do his bit for the country has taken local man Allan Bahr from Sebastapol to pirate patrol off the Horn of Africa. (Date uploaded: 19 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Stuart Crocker - Highett Highett’s Stuart Crocker normally works for his brother’s lighting company but soon he’s going global. (Date uploaded: 19 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Patrick Muffet - Brighton Brighton’s Patrick Muffet, 22, used to work in bartending and the gaming industry, but soon he’ll be taking a gamble of a different kind. (Date uploaded: 19 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Peter Maccioni - East Brighton With Swedish mum Ingrid and Italian dad Armando, East Brighton’s Peter Maccioni was multicultural since the day he was born. But soon he’ll be having a new cultural experience completely — eight months in East Timor in his Army uniform. (Date uploaded: 19 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Aaron Pipkorn - Mt Helen Mt Helen’s Aaron Pipkorn, 21, usually works in construction, presenting houses for sale. (Date uploaded: 19 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Dave Augustynek - Fawkner Fawkner based Dave Augustynek has specialised as a shipwright and normally works as a deck-hand around Port Philip Bay, but soon the Army reservist is deploying to East Timor for eight months, commencing February 2012. (Date uploaded: 19 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Matt Clow - Crime Scene Investigator Wodonga’s Matt Clow, 30, reckons that if his job was a TV series it would be called ‘CSI Afghanistan’. (Date uploaded: 19 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Stephen Bongiorno and George Coltman - Ballarat Ballarat men Stephen Bongiorno and George Coltman already have a lot of things in common and soon they will have one more. (Date uploaded: 06 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Andrew Sims - Kyneton Kyneton’s Andrew Sims, 24, usually works for his Dad in the family’s septic tank business. But early next year Andrew will be doing something completely different — he’ll be in his Army Reserve uniform and patrolling the streets and hills of East Timor. (Date uploaded: 06 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Jim Simpson, Adam Hughes, Michael Deutscher, Ryan Wilkins, Pat Aulich, Ben Guerin and Daniel Strack - The Monegeetta Mob Monegeetta’s Army Reserve depot has only been going six years and yet, early next year, will be sending its largest contingent of soldiers to date overseas with almost a third of the soldiers who regularly parade there heading to East Timor. (Date uploaded: 06 January 2012 - 01 image) |
 PTE James Simpson CAPT Daniel Strack PTE Adam Hughes PTE Ryan Wilkins PTE Michael Deutscher_th.jpg) |
| Trevor Ward - Melton Melton father of three Trevor Ward, 39, can usually be found behind the counter at Melton Fresh butchers, but early in the New Year you will have to look for him a bit further out. (Date uploaded: 06 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Michael Amhaz - Toorak Toorak’s Michael Amhaz is his family’s first-generation Australian. But Michael won’t be in Australia much longer. (Date uploaded: 06 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Jack Kent - Phillip Island Early next year Phillip Island’s Jack Kent, 20, will be putting on his Army uniform and heading overseas for eight months on a military mission. (Date uploaded: 06 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| James Maple and Rupert Vicary - Cheltenham and Brighton Local Army reservists James Maple, 23, and Rupert Vicary, 21, will be sharing a genuinely historic moment when they deploy to East Timor early in the New Year. (Date uploaded: 06 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Dale Vistarini - Craigieburn Craigieburn’s Dale Vistarini normally works 9.00am till 5.00pm at Bunnings but, early in the New Year, he’ll be five thousand kilometres away. He’ll be in his Army Reserve uniform and patrolling the streets and hills of East Timor. (Date uploaded: 06 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Jeremy Fergusson - Dixon’s Creek From early in the New Year, it will be another eight months before Jeremy Fergusson, 22, can get his hands on another bottle of wine named after him. (Date uploaded: 06 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Leigh McLean - Dingley Dingley man Leigh McLean, 28, can normally be found installing home-theatres for LMC Home Entertainment. But early in the New Year he’ll be changing into his Army uniform for eight months as a peacekeeper in East Timor. (Date uploaded: 06 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Tavis McLaren - Bendigo Bendigo’s Tavis McLaren is already packing and he has only just got back from 15 months in London. (Date uploaded: 06 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Michael Chizik - Bentleigh East Bentleigh East’s Michael Chizik, 28, used to be a technical salesman but he’s just given it all away. Early in the New Year he is heading to East Timor with his Army Reserve mates. He won’t be back until late next year. (Date uploaded: 06 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Callum Pritchett - Brighton Early in the New Year, Brighton’s Callum Pritchett, 20, will be putting his electrical apprenticeship on hold. Instead he’ll be putting on his Army uniform and heading to East Timor for eight months. (Date uploaded: 06 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Scott D’Rozario - Dingley Village As a Detective Senior Constable, Dingley Village’s Scott D’Rozario normally works in plain clothes. But the next six - eight months will be very different. (Date uploaded: 06 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| John Spencer - Buningyong When the next Army contingent deploys to East Timor early next year, it will be the first overseas trip ever for some of the younger Victorian reservists. (Date uploaded: 05 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Robert Geddes - Linton Early next year Linton’s Robert Geddes, 33, will be saying goodbye to family, friends and colleagues. Two days later the English teacher at Ballarat Secondary College’s Wendouree Campus will be in his Army Reserve uniform and on duty in East Timor. He won’t be back until October. (Date uploaded: 05 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Daniel Vinicombe - Doncaster East A few years ago Doncaster East’s Daniel Vinicombe, 21, had a dilemma. After Year 12 he’d enjoyed a Gap Year in the Army, but should he become a full-time soldier or study at uni? (Date uploaded: 05 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Matt Dobney - Constructing A Better Future In Afghanistan Portarlington local Matt Dobney has just returned from a frantic six months in Afghanistan. (Date uploaded: 05 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Andrew Sims - Kyneton Kyneton’s Andrew Sims, 24, usually works for his Dad in the family’s septic tank business. But early next year Andrew will be doing something completely different — he’ll be in his Army Reserve uniform and patrolling the streets and hills of East Timor. (Date uploaded: 05 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Stephen Bongiorno and George Coltman - Ballarat Ballarat men Stephen Bongiorno and George Coltman already have a lot of things in common and soon they will have one more. They are both 21, both completed a Gap Year in the Army, and now they are both Privates in the Army Reserve. (Date uploaded: 05 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Marty Jennings and Liam Francis Cook - Warrnambool Warriors Head For East Timor No fewer than seven Warrnambool Army Reservists will be heading for East Timor early in the New Year. They will not return home until October 2012. (Date uploaded: 05 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Nathan Segal - Kew East Only a few years ago Kew East’s Ruth and Greg Segal were at Koonung Secondary, cheering their son Nathan at his graduation ceremony. (Date uploaded: 05 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Dawson Schuck - Templestowe Three years ago Templestowe couple Anneke and Warren Schuck were at Doncaster Secondary College cheering their son Dawson at his graduation ceremony. (Date uploaded: 05 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Stuart Riddett - Glen Waverley Glen Waverley’s emergency nurse Stuart Riddett normally works within a brisk walk of his boss, Cath Woodruff at Alfred Health. But from early next year Stuart will be thousands of miles away in East Timor. (Date uploaded: 05 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Donna Jack - Ocean Grove Ocean Grove Army wife Donna Jack will soon be heading overseas on her own Army adventure. She’ll be saying goodbye to soldier hubby Matthew and their children Sebastian (16) and Nadine (10), and won’t be home till late next year. (Date uploaded: 05 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Kris Witty - Romsey Romsey’s Kris Witty will soon be leaving her partner to cook and mow the lawn by himself — but it’s all in a good cause. Starting early in the New Year, Army reservist Kris will be in her Private’s uniform and on duty in East Timor. (Date uploaded: 05 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Ted Guinea - Mildura Mildura’s Easymix 1467 radio broadcaster Ted Guinea will soon be wearing a coat of a different colour. Early in the New Year he’ll be wearing his Army combat camouflage and on duty in East Timor. (Date uploaded: 05 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Sherman Taylor - Ballarat Camperdown’s Sherman Taylor, 21, normally has two bosses but, from early in the New Year, he won’t be seeing either of them again until October. (Date uploaded: 05 January 2012 - 01 image) |
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| Gerard Reeves - Chiltern With one grandfather an ex-soldier and the other in the Air Force, the only way Chiltern man Gerard Reeves could join up without taking sides, was to join the Navy. Now he’s on pirate patrol off the Horn of Africa aboard Navy frigate HMAS Toowoomba. (Date uploaded: 26 October 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Cameron Dudgeon - Lower Plenty Lower Plenty’s Cameron Dudgeon, 42, normally works as a self employed landscape gardener. But this year has been very different. (Date uploaded: 12 October 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Leigh Paynting - Greensborough All members of the Australian Defence Force make personal sacrifices when deployed overseas. But for Greensborough local Leigh Paynting, his sacrifice is bigger than most. He will miss the birth of his second son. (Date uploaded: 11 October 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Kevin Murray - The Final Coming Home Squadron Leader Kevin Murray is a walking, talking advertisement for the town of Melton – and he’s got good reason. (Date uploaded: 05 October 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Lia Halsall - Echuca Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Sergeant Lia Halsall (neè Rowbottom) has swapped her water skis and the Murray River for a set of Army boots and the extreme temperatures of the Middle East. (Date uploaded: 13 September 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Samantha Freebairn - Drysdale aviator living the dream Even playing netball and tennis at Drysdale Primary School, Samantha Freebairn (nee Webster) had a dream: to fly above the clouds as an aviator. (Date uploaded: 18 August 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Benjamin McPherson - Grampian 29 year old Benjamin McPherson, son of Grampian residents Ron and Kathy, loves the Australian Regular Army so much he joined it twice! (Date uploaded: 05 August 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Luke Haitas - Williamstown For Greek-Australian Army Lieutenant Luke Haitas, recently deploying to Greece was not only an insight into his heritage but an eye opening experience in Australian military history. (Date uploaded: 05 August 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Liz Tanner - Cranbourne When 23 year old Liz Tanner joined the Army after finishing high school in Cranbourne she was looking for a challenging and exciting job. Currently deployed to Timor-Leste as part of the International Stabilisation Force (ISF), she has certainly found a challenge. (Date uploaded: 05 August 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Rod Craigie - Local tradie goes to war As a student at Strathmore High School, Rod Craigie decided to become an electrician. While playing football at Pascoe Vale and Brunswick Amateurs, he couldn’t possibly know that his choice of trade would take him half way around the world in uniform. (Date uploaded: 05 August 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Gary Martin - Flying high from Zimbabwe to Richmond Richmond local Gary Martin searched the world for his dream job, and found it right here. Born in Zimbabwe, Gary joined their Air Force in pursuit of his life-long ambition to become a military pilot. However Australia beckoned. (Date uploaded: 05 August 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Vanessa Gamble - Bendigo Bendigo local, Vanessa Gamble wasn't sure what she wanted to do when she left school, but after completing a Gap Year with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) she found her calling. (Date uploaded: 05 August 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Jan Wallace - Wantirna From the steaming jungles of Timor-Leste to the frozen Antarctic, Dr Jan Wallace has no shortage of patients from one end of the globe to the other. (Date uploaded: 05 August 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Shannon Mein - Doreen When Shannon Mein joined the Army in 2009 he was looking for a change of lifestyle and a challenge. Challenge has come in the form of a wedding, a baby and an overseas deployment all in one year. (Date uploaded: 05 August 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Madelaine Byers - Murrumbeena Murrumbeena girl, Madelaine Byers, dream to travel has come true after joining the Australian Defence Force eight years ago. (Date uploaded: 05 August 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Francis Alcantara - Prahran Prahran’s Francis Alcantara has travelled far and wide since his birth in Spain. After settling in Australia with his family in the 1960’s he and his brother won scholarships to Melbourne Boys High School. Now he’s a grandfather and featured in a book by defence journalist Ian McPhedran. (Date uploaded: 04 August 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Christina Walsh - From McDonald's to Afghanistan A few years ago Melton’s Private Christina Walsh was a restaurant manager at McDonald’s. Now she’s getting ready for her first Army deployment to Afghanistan. She will have her Australian Active Service Medal in time for next Anzac Day. (Date uploaded: 07 June 2011 - 02 images) |
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| Shannon Godfrey - Something worth getting your teeth into Born in Brisbane and growing up in Tasmania and Melbourne, Navy dentist Lieutenant Shannon Godfrey has always enjoyed travelling and now she’s on the travel adventure of a lifetime. (Date uploaded: 01 June 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Bradley Whitehorn - Bradley's Tour of Duty Hallett Cove’s Bradley Whitehorn, 22, is planning to get a new Holden Crewman next year, and maybe invest in property too, but he is going to have to work for it first. (Date uploaded: 26 May 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Bernadette Serong - Warrandyte Hometowner Warrendyte couple Ann and Bill Serong have ten children but they will be thinking about one in particular over the next eight months. (Date uploaded: 26 May 2011 - 02 images) |
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| George Gibson - Off to Afghanistan Only a few years ago Private George Gibson was at Mornington High School, then he decided to join the Army for an exciting career. Now it’s about to get even more exciting. (Date uploaded: 26 May 2011 - 02 images) |
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| Correne Seabrook - Hometown Story 23 year old Officer Cadet Corrine Seabrook from Ballarat has swapped her normal job as an administrative assistant at Ballarat base Hospital to compete in the high profile Australian Army Skill at Arms Meeting (AASAM) being conducted at Victoria’s Puckapunyal military base over a 10 day period. (Date uploaded: 26 May 2011 - 01 image) |
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| William Harwood - Altona Altona’s William Harwood has just been presented with a top RAAF award. (Date uploaded: 11 May 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Luke Gregory - Croydon Croydon martial arts enthusiast Luke Gregory, 17, has just set himself another test for his muscle and brains. (Date uploaded: 10 May 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Max Rampling - Myrtleford In February, Myrtleford’s Max Rampling farewelled his mum, school principal Ruth, and his fireman father John, and went off to do something completely different. (Date uploaded: 10 May 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Luke McCoy - From footy field to training field Running around on the football field for many years meant Dandenong’s Luke McCoy’s fitness could stand up to the rigours of Army recruit training – something the former St Johns Regional College student is now very grateful for! (Date uploaded: 10 May 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Alex Blackmore - Career mapped out Mordialloc’s Alex Blackmore has a very clear idea of what he wants from life, and is well on the way to achieving it. (Date uploaded: 10 May 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Domenic Muleta - Desire to help others A desire to serve his country and the inspiration of his step father are the reasons that Cranbourne’s Domenic Muleta has been putting his body and mind through an intensive training program to become a soldier in the Australian Army. (Date uploaded: 10 May 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Brendan Nikolajew - Heyfield Man's Historic Deployment In Afghanistan Brendan Nikolajew is now a long way from Heyfield. The Army Gunner and his comrades are serving alongside British artillerymen in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. (Date uploaded: 04 May 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Christopher Mapstone - Sombre honour for Wodonga Man this ANZAC Day Wodonga’s Christopher Mapstone said this ANZAC Day will make him particularly proud to be an Australian soldier. (Date uploaded: 04 May 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Ryan Robertson - Langwarren This ANZAC Day, Langwarren’s Sharon and Peter Robertson will get a special treat. Their son Ryan, 19, an Able Seaman in the Royal Australian Navy, will be a member of the official Australia’s Federation Guard contingent at Gallipoli. (Date uploaded: 29 April 2011 - 02 images) |
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| Lee Green - Sale Man Keeping The Troops Safe Sale’s Lee Green, 31, is now putting his years of training as an airfield defence guard to the test where lives are on the line. (Date uploaded: 29 March 2011 - 03 images) |
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| Justin Della Bosca - Orange In these times of fire, cyclone and flood, there’s no rest for Orange’s Justin Della Bosca. He’s been at the forefront of flood relief missions in to Queensland over the New Year period. (Date uploaded: 08 February 2011 - 02 images) |
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| Brady White - Melton's man in Afghanistan Ten years ago Melton butcher Brady White felt like a change. He put down his carving knives to join the army as a specialist fitter/armourer and is now on his second deployment to Afghanistan. (Date uploaded: 07 February 2011 - 03 images) |
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| Damien Tudehope - Frankston A few years ago Frankston’s Damien Tudehope battled things out on the cricket and AFL ovals at Monterey High School. Now he’s based in one of the most war-torn pieces of land on earth. (Date uploaded: 01 February 2011 - 02 images) |
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| Angela Bond - Echuca Echuca’s Angela Bond has just been promoted to Navy Captain and it happened not while she was at sea, but while she was surrounded by the desert sands of the Middle East. (Date uploaded: 01 February 2011 - 01 image) |
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| Braidee Bell - Gerogery The Sinai Peninsula in Northern Egypt has never been the most peaceful place in the world. The first battle of Armageddon was fought just north of there over 3,000 years ago between the ancient Egyptians and the Hittites. (Date uploaded: 17 January 2011 - 02 images) |
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