Our People in VIC
Paul McCallum - Hamilton Sailor in Sumatra Rescue
It’s another hot and humid day in Padang, Sumatra, with the temperature in the mid thirties and a swathing humidity that washes over the city. In a large, open residential house being used as the Australians operational headquarters, Albury’s Paul McCallum, 33, is busy writing down his observations from another day on the humanitarian relief effort, Operation Padang Assist.
These days Paul is based in Canberra as a military reporter who writes for the Australian Defence Force Newspapers. In Sumatra his job is to tell the story of the diligent and hard working men and women in Australian uniform who are providing emergency relief.
Paul was born in Hamilton and, after Bainbridge College, he joined the Navy age 20, first specialising as a combat systems operator. Then he realised he also had skills behind the camera lense so he transferred to become an imagery specialist.
“It’s something I’d had an interest in for five or six years. I saw it as an interesting and diverse career path,” LSIS McCallum said.
Paul arrived in Sumatra with the advance team only two days after the earthquake struck. One week later he was sending back story after story about the efforts and successes of the Australian forces – on his first deployment as a military reporter.
“I like the fact that I can communicate to others about what’s happening here and what we’re doing to help,” he said. “It’s been an eye opener to see how rapidly an ADF headquarters establishes itself and operates.”
“A highlight has been the day we set up the water purification plant on the beach. Talking to the local kids and seeing their excitement and amazement at seeing salt water turning into clean water!”
Paul is looking forward to seeing his wife and two children when he gets back from the deployment.
“It will be my five year old’s birthday while I’m over here, so I’ll have to make a cake and we’ll have our own special birthday party with her when I get home” he said.
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.