Finally got around to scanning in some old photos from my years in the Australian Army:
- August 1994 to January 1997 – Officer Training at Monash University Regiment (including Recruit Course in December 1994)
- 26 January 1997 – Officer’s Commission at Graduation Parade and Ball
- January 1997 to late 1997 – Platoon Commander at A Company, 5th/6th Battalion, The Royal Victoria Regiment
- Late 1997 to November 1998 – 5th Platoon Commander at B Company, 5th/6th Battalion, The Royal Victoria Regiment
- November 1998 to October 1999 – Extended leave while working in Switzerland
- October 1999 to May 2000 – Assistant Adjutant, 5th/6th Battalion, The Royal Victoria Regiment
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- My section at Recruit Course, Puckapunyal, 1994
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- On the obstacle course during basic training at Recruit Course, Puckapunyal, 1994
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- Celebrating the end of MOD1 officer training course
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- Out in the field during MOD1 officer training
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- Officer Cadets in the MonUR Mess
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- Karl and Matt on the bus back from Puckapunyal
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- Out in the field during MOD5 officer training course
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- Out in the field during MOD5 officer training course
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- Celebrating the end of officer training, Puckapunyal, January 1997
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- The boys at Graduation Ball, January 1997
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- Dad and Mum ready to put pips on my epaulettes at midnight at the Graduation Ball, January 1997
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- 5/6RVR on parade at the Shrine of Remembrance, Anzac Day 1997
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- Carrying the Queen’s Colours as Senior Ensign on the 5/6RVR Anzac Day Parade through Melbourne
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- Carrying the Queen’s Colours as Senior Ensign on the 5/6RVR Anzac Day Parade through Melbourne
From a group email sent to family and friends after my trip:
In early October I flew out of Switzerland to Dublin, and from there raced straight up to Belfast for the Aussie’s first Rugby World Cup game – versus Romania. It was great being there for the event with what must’ve been every Aussie in Europe. After much beer, little sleep, green-and-gold facepaint and fingernail polish application, we all migrated to the ground to watch a resounding victory. While swilling Guinness’ afterwards in the beer tent we were joined by most of the team, and it was fab to meet and drink with a few of the lads.
After spending an extra day in Belfast to shake my head at the complete stupidity of the Catholic vs. Protestant Northern Ireland thing, I raced across the country to Galway to see me ol’ pal Jimbo, who was working in a great little place called the Salmon Weir Hostel (even Caitlin from “Degrassi” stayed there once – that’s how good it is!). There you go Jim, a free ad for ya! While there I perused the west coast with trips to Connemarra and the Aran Islands in some of the most miserable weather ever (the “true” way to see Ireland I told myself).
Back in Dublin it was time for the big Aust vs. Ireland encounter at Lansdowne Road. It was amazing how many of the same crowd were there for the match, and it was great to be in amongst the Irish lads (and Jem and her Dad!) and the atmosphere of the ground. Once again I had the pleasure of chatting to some of the players, and I even managed to sneak into the official hotel function afterwards. Lucky me.
A bad BLT and an 8-hour bus ride to the Dingle Peninsula saw me in pretty bad shape for the most beautiful part of Ireland, but I still managed to get around and see this “Ryan’s Daughter” country (anyone seen the film or am I the only one?) – rolling, green, stone-walled hills, white beaches, rugged coastline, olde ruins, the works. I loved it. My stomach didn’t.
The food poisoning saw me cross my legs and hope for the best aaaaaaall the way back to Dublin, as I was in no shape to stop in Limerick for the last game of rugger. Luckily I was OK for my flights home, and after 35 hours of aircrafts and airports, I staggered back into Melbourne.
Well, my time has come – for now at least – to leave this land of good chocolate, cuckoo clocks, smelly cheeses, incredible mountains, filthy cigarettes, Nazi gold, ridiculous small dogs, offensive prices, and many somewhat humourless law-abiding people! Hey, but it’s not all bad!!! I couldn’t have asked for more out of the last year. To recap bits of it, in case you’ve missed some….
I’ve been right up into the Arctic Circle,
and down into the underground cities of Turkey,
I’ve done the Heineken brewery tour for breakfast,
and been a drunk fool at Oktoberfest,
I’ve snowboarded myself stupid in the winter,
and climbed my arse off in the summer,
I’ve celebrated New Years in London’s Trafalgar Square,
and danced in front of 700,000 at the Zürich Street Parade,
I’ve walked through ancient cities in Turkey,
but then seen the stolen “good bits” in a Berlin museum,
I’ve tackled 4000m peaks,
and relaxed on the lazy, sleepy islands off Thailand,
I’ve caught a live sex show in Amsterdam,
and been woken to sounds of a free show in my hostel dorm,
I’ve drunk with the Spaniards,
and knocked my socks off on Absinth – 80%! – in Prague,
I’ve made the pilgrimage to Gallipoli for Anzac Day,
and also walked the D-Day beaches at Normandy,
I’ve had a friend try to die on me on Koh Phan Gan,
and had mates pass out on me in Zürich,
I’ve had all my clothes stolen in Sweden,
and bought ridiculous tourist trash everywhere I go,
I’ve seen the Carnavale in Venice,
and been in a bus crash in the Middle-Of-Nowhere Thailand,
I’ve drunk wine under the Eiffel at night,
and stood in awe at the impressive Mont St. Michel,
I’ve slept in a snow cave at 3000m,
on the floor of a train and in a convent dormitory,
I’ve skipped “Sound of Music” style down an archway in Salzburg,
and got drunk and naked on a snowed-in rugby bus from Geneva,
I’ve seen some of the most amazing art you could ever imagine,
but fallen asleep in a Vienna concert,
I’ve travelled third class on a Thai train,
and ridden a fifteen hour non-stop hell bus in Turkey,
I’ve haggled over something worth twenty cents,
but also paid eight bucks for a small beer in Norway,
I’ve been to some of the great cities of the world,
and seen some of world’s worst excuses for beaches,
I’ve met some of the best people I could ever hope to meet,
and I’ve had the most fun I could ever hope to have!
So, basically, I haven’t done much at all!
Where from here? First a little side trip to Ireland for a few weeks to get my fix of Rugby World Cup action (got tickets to two games including Oz vs. Ireland at Landsdowne Road – yee ha!), and then I’m back to Old Melbourne Town. After that…well… I don’t exactly know! I’ll do nothing for a bit and then I’ll do something, but you’ll hear about it all when the time comes.