Sonya served both full-time and part-time in the Australian Army. She joined in 1995 and served in the Royal Australian Corps of Transport and Royal Australian Army Ordinance Corps. This is her story:
I am the first female in my family on both sides to serve in the Australian Defence Force. The first female and first generation Australian, on my dad’s side to serve. My dad immigrated from Holland. I know how proud he is, of me. I served 16 years 8 months.
I was going through a marriage breakdown and my husband at the time was in the Army, and his parting words to me were, “you could never do what I do in the Army”. I took this as a challenge and enlisted to the Army Reserves. I joined as a driver because this was what my husband did, and so, my career started. For me as a mother, it also gave me a focus of employment, as well as a social opportunity. I didn’t want to be that stay-at-home mum, living off the single parent pension – which didn’t go far. The extra income from the Army Reserves helped me buy a car as well as get better housing for my family. It also helped us to go on holidays.
The most difficult part of having a career in the military was the fact I was a single mum, working out how to incorporate being a mum and being a soldier. My kids learnt to adapt so when I transferred to the regular Army they already had an understanding what this single mum in the full-time Army would look like. It was a bit more difficult because there was the expectation to move often through postings. But we managed.
My career progression was slower because I put the children first. I have no regrets. I received respect from my senior ranks for this. I never baulked at anything, and I never said no to a job. Nor to being sent somewhere, either going out bush or on a course. I always said, ‘yes, leave it with me, just give me enough time to organise someone to look after my children whilst I am away’. I never used the children as a reason to not turn up at work. I never used my kids as an excuse to get out of work.
I had the opportunity to serve overseas on Op Mazurka in 2010. I regard my deployment as a privilege. It meant the world to me. I wasn’t just given my medals for the deployment in Egypt, but I earnt them with my service. Op Mazurka has been operating in the Sinai since 1982 it was such a privilege to have served overseas.
The things I learnt most about myself, was to believe in myself. No matter what, no matter how hard it got. I may not get it the first time around, but I will get it in the end. I’m the type of person if you challenge me, I will accept the challenge. If you tell me “You can’t do ‘that’, then I’m like, watch this space I’m going in. If I find out after trying I can’t do it, I know I at least tried. Those around me in the Army gave me the positive reinforcement I needed in my life because I had been in an abusive marriage where I was knocked down on a daily basis. I proved to them all, you can knock me down but I will still get up. In a way it made me more stubborn, more driven, and the Army gave the structure I needed.
Transitioning is hard. It’s really hard and I’m not the only one who feels this way. I do lean on my mates. I can’t work in the civilian workforce because of my injuries. I medically discharged July 2012 and now in retirement from the Army and it is a new era for me. I’m making the most of every moment enjoying what’s out there travelling to experience new things.
When I first reached out to Bravery Trust in 2020, I was very hesitant. I had no other options and needed help to pay the rates and home insurance. The two bills came in the same week. I reached out a second time in 2025, to help pay to fix the front end of my car.
The Bravery Trust team made the whole process so easy. I explained my circumstances and what I had tried to do and who I had contacted to get help. So I wasn’t putting myself in more of a financial hole as I am on one income. I was hesitant as first; pride had a lot to do with that. But once I spoke to them and told them my dilemma, I felt a lot more at ease. On both occasions they have helped me to move forward. I have told other veterans about Bravery Trust and have encouraged them to pick up the phone and ask for help. As I have said many times “ If you don’t ask, you don’t know”.
Any veteran needing help or guidance, I would encourage you to pick up the phone and just talk.
People are at the heart of everything we do. No two veterans are the same.
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