08 Oct 2021
Meet Joshua Clunes, class of 2019.
Josh put in an application for Defence whist in yr 12. During the Prelims for the HSC, he attended the assessment session at the defence recruiting centre in Newcastle. Josh passed all assessments and was put forward for two jobs: aviation ground crew(NAVY) and Boatswains mate(NAVY). While he waited for a job to be offered he continued to work part-time at Dominoes pizza and worked on his fitness. Josh was offered the role of boatswains mate.
The training base was at HMAS Cerberus, Crib Point, Victoria and was a blur because it was a steep learning curve in very little time. Josh learned how to shoot the standard rifle the Austyer, basic seamanship, first aid, teamwork exercises and ALOT of physical training! He then went to what is called IET's( initial enlistment training) for 14 weeks and learned how to shoot a 9 mm pistol, the shotgun, the styer f88, minimi machine gun, mag 58 machine gun and the 50 cal machine gun. He also learned defence tactics (basic hand to hand combat), more advanced seamanship and bearing operations.
Whilst in Victoria, Josh was deployed on the civil operation in Melbourne city for managing the hotel quarantine for Covid. In the following months, Josh was posted to HMAS Waterhen Port Services and then onboard the HMAS Parramatta.
After a long time at sea, Josh was deployed again to op covid assist and now is working with NSW Police and NSW health out of the Ministry of Health (the building where the Premier and Dr Chan do their press conference) Josh will be on a 4 month deployment over Christmas and New Year.
“The part which I have most enjoyed is the mates I have made along the way.”