28 July 2025
Driving in the Army is not just a job – it is a responsibility, with drivers trained to handle challenging conditions and get the job done safely.
Lance Corporal Bonnie Farrell, of the 9th Force Support Battalion, is a mission enabler, ensuring mobility and sustainment for deployed force elements.
With more than five years of service, Lance Corporal Farrell has driven heavy transport vehicles, including the Rheinmetall MAN HX81, across highways and Defence training areas.
For Lance Corporal Farrell there is no better place to be than behind the wheel of an Army truck.
Originally from Scottsdale, Tasmania, she is currently supporting Exercise Talisman Sabre at Shoalwater Bay Training Area by transporting soldiers and supplies to training areas around regional Queensland.
Lance Corporal Farrell said a typical trip for her often included multiple overnight stops though remote parts of Australia, transporting equipment and supplies to enable the Army to complete missions.
“For Talisman Sabre 25, I’ve mostly been transporting bulk fuel to the units in the field,” she said.
“The job involves long hours but I find driving relaxing. There’s nothing else like driving the big trucks.”
Lance Corporal Farrell’s enthusiasm for the role is well known within her unit; she is often seen preparing her vehicle for the next long-haul task.
“I’ve been on a few cool trips, the longest was my trip from Amberley, Queensland, to Amata, South Australia. That was about a five-day trip,” she said.
“I get to see remote parts of Australia I’ve never seen before.”
