Tamworth resident Troy Bartholomai’s time in the Australian Defence Forces started with a desire to help people. It ended up giving him a family, saw him through several major life milestones, and instilled a greater appreciation for those who preceded him in the Defence Forces.
A private in the Army from October 2011 to January 2017, Troy was posted around several locations in Australia, including Tamworth, where he still lives. He also had a seven month deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Speaking to the New England Times, Troy said his years in Defence had several highlights; but a few in particular stand out to the now 36, soon to be 37 year old, whose birthday falls only a few days after ANZAC Day.
“During my deployment in Afghanistan, I was over there for the hundredth anniversary of the ANZACs; it was pretty special to mark that in the way we did,” he said.
“My first child was also born while I was on deployment. I missed it and had to watch it through a camera, but I was still grateful to see it, even if I wasn’t there in person.”
A desire to help people spurs choice to join
Everyone has a different reason for taking the plunge and serving in the Australian Defence Forces. Some do it for their country, others to learn new skills and see the world.
For Troy, his choice to join was inspired by the selfless acts of kindness he saw from Defence personnel during a natural disaster in his native state of QLD.
“Back in 2010 when the big floods hit Toowoomba and Brisbane, I saw Defence helping people, helping out, and at that particular time in my life, I was looking to establish myself in something, so I decided to sign up,” he said.
According to Troy, it was a case of the second time being the charm because he had already wanted to sign up once before, but as a fresh 18 year old, he had a few other priorities in mind.
“I went a bit silly at the time and decided getting a girlfriend was more important, then I grew up a bit,” he said.
“After I saw how Defence was helping people with the floods, I decided that’s what I need to be doing; in the end, it was an easy decision.”
Ultimately, Troy has some fond memories of his time in the services, but he ended up leaving due to a “combination of circumstances,” including a few broken promises around promotions and wanting to spend more time with his family.
“After I got back from deployment, I had a bit of time off, got married, had a little bit more time off, I didn’t come back normal, made a few mistakes, so it just got to a point where I had a choice to stay in the army and lose my family, or leave the army and keep my family,” he said.
“That’s not to knock Defence; I’m grateful for what I got to do and what they did for myself and my ex. We went through IVF for our two kids, which was all taken care of by the Army; without them, I’m not sure we would have our kids.”
Defence Forces more a lifestyle than a job
Since leaving the Defence Forces, Troy is still living in Tamworth and enjoying his retirement.
According to him, after the way his service ended, and the high demands that come with the job, which he calls “more a lifestyle than a job,” he’s not in a hurry to go back to the Army.
“It’s a lifestyle, it’s not a job, you’re on duty all the time, you can get caught up at any moment and have to be ready for whatever comes your way. If you are a single person and you live on base, the Army is your life, there’s not much outside your service that you do,” he said.
“You are away from home a lot, it’s a role you just mould into, it becomes a part of you, it’s hard to explain to people who haven’t done it, but that’s what it feels like.”
ANZAC Day is just around the corner. According to the Australian Army website, the 25th of April was officially named ANZAC Day in 1916, following the 1915 expedition of Australian and New Zealand soldiers to capture the Gallipoli peninsula.
It’s a day filled with services, ceremonies, and reflection, which can have different meanings for everyone. Troy says for him, the day has taken on a whole new aspect after serving in the Army.
Unlike ANZAC Day prior to his stint in the army, which Troy says was more about hanging out and having a drink, the occasion has become a time for him to reflect on the first ANZACS and all those who came after them.
“I didn’t know much about the Army before my service, I was a bit blind to it all really. I marked ANZAC Day, but not in the way I’m doing it now,” he said.
“Since serving, it has become about mates and appreciating those who came before, what they did wasn’t easy. We are lucky to be here today, and serving definitely gives me a greater appreciation for how lucky we are, ANZAC Day is something pretty special.”
Top image: Tamworth resident Troy Bartholomai (Left) with a colleague while serving in the Australian Army.
See what events are happening for ANZAC Day in the region here.
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