Our People in VIC
Gavin Milkins - Navy medic part of naval history - again
Churchill’s Lieutenant Gavin Milkins has already been part of the most viewed footage of a Navy rescue operation in recent times, and now he’s part of another rescue, Operation Padang Assist, in Sumatra.
The first footage showed Gavin providing medical assistance to rescued sailor Tony Bullimore in 1997. Bullimore had struck trouble in the Southern Ocean, and HMAS Adelaide went to his rescue. Gavin was one of the medics charged with providing first aid assistance to the stricken sailor.
Gavin specialised as a as a medic 24 years ago when he first joined the Navy, and he has risen steadily to achieve officer rank as Lieutenant.
Now he’s aboard HMAS Kanimbla and part of Australia’s Operation Padang Assist, following the Indonesian Government request for humanitarian aid after the Sumatra earthquakes in early October.
As Kanimbla’s Nursing Officer, Gavin is responsible for the ship’s extensive medical department, and is the link between the ship and the deployable medical field team known as the Primary Care Reception Facility (PCRF).
“Embarking the PCRF onboard and having an organic medical facility come together to perform important medical duties in times of crisis is what we medics train for,” he said.
“We are making a difference to people’s lives now we have arrived in Padang.”
Gavin has served in a number of ships during his time in the RAN, including the former destroyer escorts Derwent and Swan, as well as HMAS Darwin, the former frigate Canberra and former supply ship Westralia.