While growing up in Deniliquin, Peter Seely said he “always wanted to join the Army”.
He’d had good role models in that regard, with his father Geoff Seely involved in National Service and his grandfather Ray Crocker serving in World War II.
Peter finally got his chance at the age of 17, soon after completing his Year 10 certificate.
It launched a career that lasted 35 years.
In that time, Peter has worked in every state of Australia and completed some overseas service.
And while it’s been challenging at times, he wouldn’t have changed it for the world.
“I enlisted in 1977 and went to Kapooka first, and was there every three years.
“I’d be moved on every three years after that, until you ranked up a bit, and then the moves were every two years.
“I started as a Private and ended up Warrant Officer Class One, retiring out as a Regimental Sergeant Major.
“It’s as high as you can go in the enlisted ranks, unless you want to become a commissioned offer.
“The first commissioned rank above that is Lieutenant.”
Peter served in the logistics corps, which was a varied role that included transport, catering and other tasks.
In the three years he spent with the paratroopers, it meant being part of the team who would collect all the parachutes after a jump.
“I was posted to the paratroopers on promotion in 1994, and spent three years there.
“After a battalion jump, which usually saw 600 people jump out of a plane, we’d go and pick up all the parachutes.
“We’d have to do continuing jumps every three months, and there were also operational jumps.”
Overseas service for Peter included Borneo, Malaysia, Singapore and Bougainville.
While mostly peacekeeping missions, Peter said he was involved in conflict.
It was in Bougainville in 1998 that he said he witnesses the “worst” incident of his career.
“It was not an armed conflict, we were there to try and keep the peace ... but that didn’t always work.
“One day I was standing with a Bougainville chief and his granddaughter, and other Australians and New Zealanders.
“A man walked up and shot the girl in the head. But we (the Army) nabbed him and arrested him.
“There were a lot of executions during that time, but I believe we were able to achieve something there.
“By the time my four months there was up, we could see the light at the end of the tunnels, and they were very close to being signed.”
Australian peacekeepers played a key role in brokering peace in the long-running conflict in Bougainville, which is an island province of Papua New Guinea.
According to the Department of Veteran Affairs’ Anzac Portal, the almost decade-long civil war between separatist groups and the Papua New Guinea Government was one of the most significant and violent conflicts in the region since World War II.
An estimated 15,000 people died and up to 70,000 people were displaced.
Australia and New Zealand led three regional peacekeeping missions to Bougainville between 1993 and 2003.
The aim of these missions was to monitor the truce and ceasefire, prevent further major outbreaks of violence, and bring stability to the region.
While that day on Bougainville was a lowlight of Peter’s time in the defence forces, he said there were far more highlights.
At the top of his personal list is being honoured with a Chief of the Army Commendation for his services to the 1st Battalion.
“Your personal drive and professional skill has provided catering support of an exceptionally high standard,” the citation reads.
“You have demonstrated excellence in training, leading and motivating staff, which has been evident in both the field and at formal unit functions.
“In particular, your support to a combined United States and Australian force of 1600 personnel during Exercise Tandem Thrust was commendable.
“Your association with the Townsville School Industry Training Program has improved unit technical skills and raised the esteem of the Army within the winder community.
“Your performance brings great credit upon yourself and exemplifies the qualities that the Australian Army seeks in its Warrant Officers.”
Peter said it was all part of the Army spirit.
“The 1st were infantry soldiers, and you just went out of your way to make them comfortable,” he said.
“The other highlight of my career really was the mateship.
“The mateship you get in the Army, - there’s nothing else like it.
“You never forget them, and I still communicate with many of them regularly today.
“I remember in the 1990s, one platoon I was in charge of had 32 females. I’d never really been in charge of females before, but they were some of the best soldiers I have ever known.
“That was in the helicopter regiment.”
Peter said being in the Army is more than just ‘fighting wars’ and completing peacekeeping missions.
Much of the work the Australian Defence Force does is right here at home, looking after their communities.
During his service he’s helped in multiple natural disaster events, helping with the evacuation and clean up after four cyclones, various fires and floods.
“It’s called Defence Assistance to the Civil Community, and it’s nice to see the gratification.”
With that in mind, Peter said anyone thinking of joining the ADF should “give it a go”.
“It is very worthwhile, and you only need to do a minimum of three years if you discover it’s not right for you.
“But once you get in and start, you’ll find you won’t want to leave.
“But like anything, you need to make enjoyment for yourself to get the most out of it.”
At this time of the year, Peter reflects on his service more, and the service of others.
“Remembrance Day allows us as a community to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
“World War I in particular was such a waste.
“On one day alone, in one conflict, there were 10,000 lives lost.”
Peter retired from the Army in 2014, and after a year returned to Deniliquin to enjoy a full retirement.
His Army catering experience has particularly come in handy at the Deniliquin Golf Club, where he spends a lot of his time. He is usually in charge of the barbecue on special golf days.