Our People in NSW
Stephen Penfold - To the Rescue
Penrith’s Stephen Penfold, 22, is keeping an Army medical unit in touch with Australia and their Sumatra HQ as they provide critical medical aid to the people of Sungai Geringging, a small village in Western Sumatra which was hit by the devastating earthquake two weeks ago.
Army Signaller Stephen has been on the ground for over a week and has helped establish the primary health care facility that has treated over 400 people so far.
“I deployed to provide communications support on Operation Padang Assist,” SIG Penfold said.
“This has been a very good deployment, we are directly helping a small community and the people are genuinely appreciative of our help.”
A wide range of communication equipment has been established to provide the best support possible to the deployed medical team, including voice over internet protocol (VOIP) and video conferencing links back to Australia.
In his down-time, Stephen has been able to interact with the local children who are always eager for some contact with the Australians.
“I have been out with the kids and had a kick of the soccer ball with them; they help keep you focused on why we are here. They are great fun,” Stephen said.
Stephen is a member of the Sydney based 17th Signals Regiment which is deployed with 1HSB as a part of the governments measured and graduated response to the earthquake that hit nearby Padang in Indonesia.
Operation Padang Assist is providing primary health care, in outlying areas, whilst in Padang rapid structural assessments have been completed and fresh drinking water has been supplied to over 78,000 households in the poorest regions of the city.