Our People in VIC
Caroline Brett - Sunbury Soldier in Sumatra Rescue
Sunbury’s Lieutenant Caroline Brett is now part of the massive Sumatra rescue operation. She is now in the hills some 75 kilometres from Padang City at the small village of Sungai Geringging.
The village and the surrounding area suffered extensive damage following the September 30 earthquake and Caroline is part of an Australian Defence Force Primary Health Care Facility.
It’s a long way from Sydney, where Caroline is normally a Platoon Commander in the 1st Health Support Battalion.
“Back home I have twenty five soldiers that I look after from day to day,” she said. “I am generally responsible for their welfare, administration and training.”
In Sumatra Caroline led the main body of troops at the health care facility but soon she’ll be leading a small group of medics that will accompany ADF engineering teams working in the surrounding areas.
Caroline loves the experience of working with locals in the relief effort.
“It’s excellent, the locals are so friendly and welcoming,” she said. “It’s really nice to make a difference and try to help them recover from the disaster.”
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 in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that recently rocked the Indonesian province.