Last week, the children from Murrumyip OOSH took part in a special excursion to Canberra to visit the Australian War Memorial. They learned a lot about the Army, Navy and Air Force and what it was like during war time, but they still had plenty of questions, so two of Harden’s finest ex-servicemen, Nic Nadycz and Bradley Giddings and his family made a special visit to Murrumyip to answer some of their questions.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
What motivated you both to join the Defence Force?
Brad: I wanted a change, a chance to be part of a large professional organisation, something challenging, where I got to serve our country.
Nic: I had no choice. The Government held a special lottery and I had to go. I didn’t like that idea, but I made the best of it. I had 6 weeks training in Wagga, then went to Canberra, then Sydney to North Head where I learned about mortars and guns at the ‘School of Artillery’. I ended up going to Malaysia for 13 months and that was a big adventure. My mates and I became like one big family. In total, I spent 2 years in the Army.
How did you keep in contact with your family while you were away?
Brad: We emailed, my wife Carrie sent me care packages with little things from home and once a week, we were allowed to have a phone conversation by SAT phone. There was a lot of delay between the time we spoke and the time the other person heard us, so a 2 minute conversation could take 10 minutes!
Nic: There were no phones like that when I was in the Army. I kept in contact with my family by writing letters and reading newspapers my family sent me. In fact there is a photo of me taken in Malaysia in about 1968, sitting at camp reading a Harden Murrumburrah Express!
As part of their learning experience, the children went on the RSL website, to find out about sending care packages. They were then asked to bring in something they considered to be a ‘luxury item’ and the Centre made up 10 care packages that they sent overseas. Each package contained a stamped envelope, with the hope that a soldier may write back.
