Our People in WA
Brock Hewart - Heading to Afghanistan
It will be a while before Trooper Brock Hewart is back at the Queens Beach life-saving club. The Mindarie Senior College graduate is heading for eight months in Afghanistan.
Soon the local soldier will be one of 1550 Australian soldiers who will be helping to train Afghan soldiers and to restore peace and stability in troubled Uruzgan province.
“After College I was a scaffolder for two years, and I was looking for a change from the usual,” said Brock.
“Now I’ve specialised in the armoured corps and I’ve been on jungle training in Malaysia, but this is my first real overseas operation.
“My mum Jan is worried, and my dad Rick is proud – but also worried!
“But our training prepares us for anything. It’s been very high-tempo, very busy. And I’ll be driving a Bushmaster – one of the world’s safest armoured vehicles.
“We get a holiday half-way through and I’m planning on heading to LA – do the California thing. When I’m back home in eight months, I’m planning an even bigger holiday with old school-mates.
“But, before anything, there will be that first beer back at the Boat.”