After Leeuwin it was the
Sydney trips then off to Cerberus to train as an EM WE.
While there I met a WRAN RO (G) Kathy Simpson and we became
engaged. We were married in December 1969 and still
together today (35 years). We have three children, girl,
boy, girl. Both girls are married, one has a son, the other
a daughter. Our son is still single.In 1970 I realised
that married life with a child and pusser's just didn't work
for me so I started pushing for a discharge. I finally got
out on a medical in 1971. Commenced work with BHP (Port
Kembla) as an electronics tech and stayed with the company
till I received a "voluntary" redundancy in 1981. At the
time I was a foreman on fortnightly staff.
The next 4 years were spent bumming around at TAFE and
university. In 1985 the money was getting very low so I
needed another job.
I scored a job with the NSW government and worked in
various agencies, Education, Corrective Services, Maritime
Services, State Emergency Service. I accepted a voluntary
redundancy from the Maritime Services Board in 1991 when
they corporatised and privatised each port, that was number
two. The next eleven years were spent with the State
Emergency Service but in 2002, after two heart attacks and
other degenerative conditions I was medically retired.
As the saying goes, "three strikes and you're out". I
hope that doesn't hold true on the medical side as I have
already had two strikes, the third is NOT a good option. So
at the moment I am "happily" retired and doing the "dance of
a 1000 steps" (quote attributed to my advocate) with DVA
like so many others from the 17th. I guess I'll be doing
this until something better comes along.
