Our People in NSW
Scott Norton - Armidale Man now fighting Taliban
Armidale’s Scott Norton, 35, is now earning his living in the high mountains and dangerous valleys of Afghanistan.
Scott is part of Australia’s OPERATION SLIPPER, aiming to stop Afghanistan turning back into a safe haven for international terrorists. He’s based at Australia’s Rotary Wing Group in Kandahar, southern Afghanistan.
Scott grew up in Armidale and attended Drummond Memorial School. His parents owned the local roller-skating rink before the site became a Saint Vincent’s de Pauls facility.
Scott joined the Army in 1992 after leaving school at the age of 17, and he’s now a Sergeant air-crewman on Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters.
“As a part of the helicopter crew I enjoy the constantly changing environment,” said Scott. “It’s a real crew effort to operate helicopters safely and efficiently in an unforgiving environment like Afghanistan – but it’s rewarding as well.”
Scott is no slouch with overseas deployments. This is his seventh, after four tours in East Timor and two to Papua New Guinea. He was also part of the Domestic Counter Terrorism unit for the 2000 Olympic Games.
Although he is making the most of his deployment, Scott misses his long-time girlfriend Tara. He keeps in regular contact and calls her when he can.
Future plans are very different from high and dry Afghanistan. “I’m looking forward to getting back home to spend some time with my girlfriend. I’m planning on heading north to sunny Cairns to indulge in my passion of diving,” Scott said.
Australia’s Rotary Wing Group (RWG) operates two Chinook Medium Lift Helicopters from Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan. Some 70 Australian personnel are deployed in support of helicopter operations.
The Chinook 47D is a tandem rotor cargo helicopter with a maximum all-up weight of 50,000lbs (22,727kg). The aircraft provides significant lift capability in high density-altitude conditions, making it well suited to operations within Afghanistan’s traditionally harsh environment. Australian CH47D’s tasks include combat support, quick response force and medical/casualty evacuation missions.