Our People in NSW
Brett Sprague - Former chiropractor now serves in East Timor
A change of career four years ago has led Port Macquarie Army officer Brett Sprague to East Timor, where he has a constantly changing role and increased responsibility. It’s another first for Brett’s multi-faceted life.
Brett, now 37, used to be a chiropractor, but he’s now he’s an Army Captain and an information officer with the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in Dili, assisting the East Timorese and UN maintain stability and security in the country.
Before East Timor Brett had been an artillery observer, trained to bring down powerful bombardments on enemy positions, but that role also brought some unusual assignments.
“Being part of the group to provide the 21-Gun Salute to the Pope on his visit to Australia in 2008 is one of the highlights of my career, and serving on operations here in East Timor is the other,” he said.
Brett says he was motivated to join the Army because his father was a Vietnam veteran who passed away when Brett was very small.
“He loved his job with the Army and his example, and my association as a child with other retired serviceman, encouraged me to find a job in the Army that would better use the university education my parents fought for me to have,” he said.
“I received a lot of support during university from Legacy, which allowed me to study in the United States, and for that I was always very grateful,” he said.
One of Brett’s tasks while in East Timor was to help coordinate the entertainment tour during which Australian celebrities Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson and Ian Moss visited Australian and New Zealand troops.
“The entertainment tour consisted of four very high-quality concerts for the soldiers, and being involved was one of the highlights of my deployment so far,” he said.
Brett has been impressed by the friendliness of the East Timorese, but is looking forward to heading home to Port Macquarie to catch up with his family.
“I will be spending some time with my Pop and see for myself how his new horse is going,” he said.
Brett is one of 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 Timorese.