Our People in QLD
Shane Sheppard - If the boot fits: A former Morven man helps to size up the Aussies on operations in the Middle East
From outback Morven to the deserts of the Middle East, former truck driver Shane Sheppard is playing a vital role in preparing our Australian troops on deployment.
Shane is part of the unit which provides the reception, staging, and onwards movement to Australian troops moving in and out of the Middle East Area of Operations.
“My role over here is weapons support; fixing the weapons of our unti and attached soldiers that we have. We also look after any weapons problems that transiting personnel might have,” Shane said.
Shane grew up Morven, attending the local state primary school before completing his high schooling at Charleville State High. Shane’s parents live in Charleville, while his grand-parents still reside in Morven.
For several years, Shane worked in his father’s trucking business before joining the Army at the age of 24.
“I thought I will give it a crack while I was still young enough and 10 years later I’m still enjoying it!” Shane said.
The Army has promoted Shane to corporal, and certainly moved him around. He’s been posted to Darwin and Townsville, and also collected a couple of medals for overseas service in East Timor.
Now he’s been in the Middle East’s 55C heat since late July.
“It’s a different type of heat of over here because it’s a lot drier than at home. Plus I think the one thing that really stuck to you as soon as you got off the aircraft is the amount of sand you have to contend with.”
Shane said this deployment is one of the highlights of what has been an excellent 10-year career. But spending eight months away from his wife, Kim, and their family is going to be difficult. He has two daughters and two sons: Rheanna, aged 13, Lachlan, 6, Ashleigh, 3, and William, who will turn one in December.
“Since I’ve joined, I’ve pretty much seen three quarters of Australia through the Defence Force and been deployed overseas twice so I’m very fortunate I believe.”
Australia's military contribution to Afghanistan is part of the nation’s broader commitment to Coalition efforts against international terrorism, countering piracy in the Gulf of Aden, and maritime security.
The Australian deployment, comprising around 1550 personnel in Afghanistan and a further 850 across the Middle East, is know as Operations SLIPPER. Under Operation SLIPPER, Australian forces contribute to the efforts of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) - led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, aimed at preventing Afghanistan again becoming a safe haven for international terrorists, and the United States-led International Coalition Against Terrorism.