Our People in NSW
Tahnee Barnes - Trip to Timor career highlight for Crookwell soldier
Just being able to visit East Timor has been the career highlight for Crookwell cargo specialist Tahnee Barnes.
Tahnee is 20 and working as part of the International Stabilisation Force assisting the East Timorese and UN maintain stability and security in the country.
Her role involves driving forklifts, driving trucks, and controlling cargo coming in and out of the country.
“It’s been a great experience being over here, and we have lots of responsibility because there are only a few of us compared to the number of people involved back home,” she said.
Tahnee is the first member of her family to serve in the Defence Force, and this is her first operational deployment.
“I really didn’t know what to expect when I came over here, but we have a really good setup here at the base, so our accommodation and living is a lot better than I expected,” she said.
Tahnee has had an opportunity to see some of Dili, and has been able to see some sights on some time off recently.
“I was able to have a few days off for ‘R and R’, and was able to do some shopping and see the local sights, which was great,” she said.
“I’ve also been out walking with the patrols, which is a great way to look around and interact with people.”
Tahnee is looking forward to catching up with her partner and playing some soccer when she gets home.
She is one of some 650 Australian Defence Force personnel now serving in East Timor with Operation Astute.
The operation is part of the Australian Government's response to a request from the Government of East Timor to assist in bringing stability, security and confidence to the East Timorese.