Our People in QLD
Jesse Brooke - Hillcrest soldier is up for the challenge in East Timor
Within a year of enlisting as an infantry soldier with the Australian Army, Hillcrest’s Jesse Brooke is serving in East Timor and enjoying the opportunity to experience a different culture that helps him appreciate what he has at home.
“Seeing a different culture like this is a huge eye opener,” Jesse said.
“It is good to experience different lifestyles so you can fully enjoy your own. You realise how good you really have it. We have all learnt a little bit of Tetum (a spoken language in East Timor) and it is great to be able to talk to the locals.”
Aged 18, Private Brooke is currently working as a scout in an infantry section with the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in Dili, which is assisting the East Timor and UN police to maintain stability and security in the country.
He joined the Army after realising he was struggling in Year 12.
“I wasn’t doing too well. I didn’t have any goals to motivate myself, no real challenges. The Army is full of them, and there are increasing amounts of opportunities,” he said.
“My mum helped me a lot with enlisting. She drove me to the city where the recruiting branch was, and helped me prepare for interviews and make career choices.”
Jesse says that he has enjoyed the extra responsibility that has come with an overseas deployment.
“Being deployed has helped me become a much better person and soldier. It makes life a lot more interesting as well.”
While he is not counting the days until he comes home, Jesse is looking forward to catching up with his family and friends.
“Eating some local pizza is also up there in my ‘Top 10’ things to do when I get home,” he said.
Jesse 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 Timorese to allow them to resolve their differences democratically and peacefully.