‘The best guy under the sun’: Mum speaks of her pride

Fish-shaped cheese crackers and Reese’s Pieces chocolates are the key ingredients in the care package Robyn Home plans to send her son Lieutenant Douglas Home while he’s deployed in the Middle East

Fish-shaped cheese crackers and Reese’s Pieces chocolates are the key ingredients in the care package Robyn Home plans to send her son Lieutenant Douglas Home while he’s deployed in the Middle East.

“We’ll probably throw some Tim Tams in there as well — and the rest will be USBs full of movies that’s the plan,” she said.

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Donald Home, Robyn Home, Douglas Home, and Louise Clarke. Picture: KERI MEGELUS

Lt Home was one of about 270 Australian Defence Force personnel formally farewelled yesterday at Robertson Barracks ahead of their deployment to the Middle East.

Over 270 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel are farewelled by family and friends at Robertson Barracks ahead of their upcoming deployment into the Middle East Region. Picture: KERI MEGELUS

It’s Lt Home’s first overseas post, and he’ll be away for about six months.

“I’ll definitely miss being able to get out on the 4WD tracks, miss going out fishing — just hanging out with the mates going to Litchfield, Kakadu,” he said. “But mostly it’s the family I’ll miss.”

Mrs Home said the hardest thing for their family would be not having Lt Home home for the festive season

“It’ll be a tough Christmas,” she said.

“I’ll miss him, he’s my baby.

“Doug — his nickname has always been ‘General Doug’.

“He was the type of boy who has been in camouflage for the whole of schooling, he was in army cadets.

“From the day he walked he was the army guy. He’s the kind of kid that put green army guys in the Christmas tree as decorations.”

James Wilkinson, wife Caitlin and kids Charlotte, 2, and Christian, 10, ahead of a deployment into the Middle East Region on Thursday, August 1, 2019. Picture: KERI MEGELUS

Mrs Home said knew her son was always going to serve overseas. “But for him to be trained to now actually go and do the job is the most important thing to me — he’s the best guy under the sun,” she said.

The soldiers, drawn mainly from the Australian Army’s 1st Brigade, will deploy on a six to eight month rotation as part of Theatre Communications Group-9 and Force Protection Element-12.

Together, the troops represent the largest body of deploying 1st Brigade members since 2017.

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Over 270 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel are formally farewelled by family and friends. Picture: KERI MEGELUS

Commander 1st Division Major General Justin Ellwood thanked the soldiers for their service, and urged troops to write home often.

“There is no excuse for losing touch with your families,” he said. “In many ways it’s harder for families than the troops.”

Corporal James Wilkinson’s son Christian, 10, was planning to write regular letters and said little sister Charlotte would send finger paintings.

CPL Wilkinson said it wasn’t his first overseas deployment — but being away from his children was never easy.

“Every dad wants to be home with his kids,” he said.

James Wilkinson with daughter Charlotte, 2. Picture: KERI MEGELUS