Our People in NSW
Steven Markowskei - Pennant Hills Medic in Sumatra Rescue
These days West Pennant Hills man Steven Markowskei is a long way from his normal work at the Adventist Hospital in Wahroonga.
He’s now working at a joint AusAid/Army Primary Health Care Facility in Sungai Geringging village near Padang in Sumatra. It’s part of his other job as a doctor in the Army Reserve.
CAPT Markowskei joined the Army Reserve for the experience and to give something back to the community and this is his third deployment.
“It’s an excellent experience overall,” he said. “I get to see a lot, learn a lot, and see things from a different perspective than from a comfortable city hospital.”
In Sumatra CAPT Markowskei is a Resuscitation Medical Officer and treating acutely injured and sick patients. He says the locals are really grateful for what the Australians are doing.
“It’s been a real privilege to help out and the locals are genuinely appreciative of the care the Australians are providing,” he said.
CAPT Steven Markowskei is currently serving on Operation Padang Assist with the Australian Defence Force’s Joint Task Force 629.
As part of the operation, Australian soldiers, sailors and airmen are working day and night to provide health care, purified water, and to deliver aid supplies to the people of Padang and the surrounding areas of West Sumatra in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that recently rocked the Indonesian province.