Mick Quinney, Jared Morkel named finalists in PM’s veterans’ employment awards

Two Townsville men have been recognised as finalists in the Prime Minister’s national veterans’ employment awards.

Jared Morkel and Mick Quinney, both working for Downer in Townsville, were named as finalists in the national awards, Queensland veteran employee of the year category.

Two Townsville men have been recognised as finalists in the Prime Minister’s national veterans’ employment awards.

Jared Morkel and Mick Quinney, both working for Downer in Townsville, were named as finalists in the national awards, Queensland veteran employee of the year category.

The national veteran employee of the year was won by Australian Catholic University student veteran services manager Aaron Cornwall.

Mr Quinney is a fourth-generation serviceman, completing deployments to the Solomon Islands, East Timor and two tours of Afghanistan.

He left the Defence Force in 2011 and began a trades assistant role under Downer’s defence fuel contract in Townsville.

Former ADF serviceman Michael 'Mick' Quinney is Downer’s defence estate maintenance and operations services works manager.

“Mick wanted to find a role that didn’t involve operating heavy machinery, recognising it as a major trigger for recurring trauma,” information provided by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs says.

He has since rapidly upskilled and is now Downer’s defence estate maintenance and operations services works manager.

Former Royal Corps of Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers serviceman Jared Morkel is now in charge of Downers' defence base services contracts. Picture: Cameron Laird

Mr Quinney organises fundraisers for the mood disorder organisation Black Dog Institute and is a staunch advocate for fellow veterans.

Mr Morkel joined the The Royal Corps of Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, following in his father and grandfather’s military footsteps.

He voluntarily left the ADF in 2013, joined Downer two years later, and is now in charge of defence base services contracts.

Assistant Veterans’ Affairs Minister Bart Mellish said the awards demonstrated the importance of ensuring veterans found meaningful employment after their service, so they continued to provide for their family and the community.

Townsville business Australian Expedition Vehicles won the outstanding veterans’ employer of the year award in 2021.

Originally published as Mick Quinney, Jared Morkel named finalists in PM’s veterans’ employment awards