Navy People: Representing Australia at Gallipoli is a once in a lifetime experience
25 January 2011
This ANZAC Day, Langwarren’s Sharon and Peter Robertson will get a special treat.
Their son Ryan, 19, an Able Seaman in the Royal Australian Navy, will be a member of the official Australia’s Federation Guard contingent at Gallipoli. They will be watching him live on TV as he performs at the commemoration service in ANZAC Cove.
“My brother Private Zak Robertson and I joined in late 2009. We both attending St Peter’s College Cranbourne then I joined the Royal Australian Navy and he joined the Army. We both wanted a bit of life experience,” said Ryan.
“I’ve already deployed to south-east Asia on exercise with four other navies. I was on board HMAS Tobruk and HMAS Arunta.
“When I was promoted to Able Seaman I had two choices — go to Sydney and wait for another sea-posting, or volunteer for the Guard. I thought of the opportunity to get a better understanding of working in a tri-Service environment, so I jumped at the chance.
“I have been lucky enough to have travelled all over the country, but representing Australia at Gallipoli is a once in a lifetime experience. It will be the pinnacle of my career so far.
“On the day I will be part of the Catafalque Party - we march on and guard the memorial with weapons reversed.
“I’m sure I will have a much better understanding of what the sailors and soldiers went through. To go through so much and then have no victory must have been really difficult to deal with. I feel a great sense of remorse and sorrow for the family and friends that lost their loved ones during this conflict,” said Ryan.
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