Navy People: Cairns Cook on Persian Patrol

19 June 2008

Cairns’ Nadine Brischke, 19, is now aboard Navy frigate HMAS Stuart and patrolling the Persian Gulf. Nadine and her 180 shipmates are protecting two major Iraqi oil terminals, which contribute 80% of the country’s income, and chasing down contraband runners in Gulf waters.

Nadine decided to specialise as a steward and has now been promoted to Able Seaman. “I provide service to the officers wardroom on the ship at breakfast lunch and dinner – stewards have a long tradition in the Navy”, Nadine said.

Nadine has only been serving for little over a year, but is excited about deploying with the vessel on active duty.

“It’s very much a confidence-building experience, you have a lot of time to learn about yourself and what you can achieve,” Nadine said.

Nadine’s friends were surprised when she decided to join the Navy — they were unsure whether a defence force lifestyle suited her.

“Friends thought I couldn’t do it because they reckoned I was really, really slack – but I’ve well and truly proven them wrong”, she said

“I’d recommend it for anyone. I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I left school and it has given me direction I needed – I stand on the deck sometimes looking out at the Gulf and pinch myself, thinking, wow! how did I get here?”

Nadine turned 19 over in the Middle East, but is looking forward to getting home towards the end of the year.

“I really miss my own bed. It doesn’t seem like much until you share a room with twelve others – but then I’ll miss being rocked to sleep by the ship every night”, the sailor said.

Nadine is one of approximately 1000 men and women serving with Operation Catalyst, the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) contribution to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq.

Working with the Iraqi Government, the ADF continues to contribute to Multi-National Force efforts to develop a secure and stable environment in Iraq, and assist national recovery programs.