Western Australian MP Nola Marino shares personal story during insightful trip to Ex. Brolga Run

A Western Australian MP has opened up about her personal ties to the Defence Force during her visit to Townsville to learn more about the people behind the uniform. Read what she said.

The shadow Assistant Minister for Education and the member for Forrest, Nola Marino with soldiers from the Australian Defence Force, Japanese Self-Defense force and U.S. Army during her visit to the Townsville Field Training Area for Exercise Brolga Run 2024. Photo: Major Taylor Lynch

A Western Australian MP has travelled nearly 4000 kilometres to witness one of the country’s largest military exercises and hear the soldiers’ personal stories after understanding first hand the impact that servicepeople’s roles have on their family members.

The shadow Assistant Minister for Education and the member for Forrest Nola Marino is passionate when it comes to national security and the unique perspectives of Australian soldiers, which is why she underwent a lengthy trip to witness the Defence Force display first hand.

Her interest in the Defence Force doesn’t just lie in the safety of our country and our troops, but also stems from a personal place, after a family member was killed in action in the south pacific.

“My mum was a war widow from World War II,” Ms Marino said.

“My two sisters never knew their dad so we grew up knowing exactly what it is that we ask of our Defence Forces and what they have to sacrifice and their families have to sacrifice so we get to live like this.”

The shadow Assistant Minister for Education and the member for Forrest, Nola Marino chatting to soldiers from the Australian Defence Force, Japanese Self-Defense force and U.S. Army while visiting the Townsville Field Training Area for Exercise Brolga Run 2024. Photo: Major Taylor Lynch

Ms Marino opened up about the immense impact it had on her two older sisters who had been too young to remember their father.

“My mum was married twice, so her husband was killed in 1943 in New Guinea … and none of us ever forgot her husband, Jack, was part of our family even though he wasn’t there,” she said.

“When you live with sisters who lost their dad in those circumstances it makes it very real.”

For Ms Marino, Jack’s story will never be forgotten as her family continues to carry on traditions started by her mother to honour the man she loved.

“Every year, Anzac Day was the day that Mum really had to acknowledge his death because she saw her husband off on a train and then at one point you get a telegram that says your husband is missing and presumed killed,” she said.

“You don’t get a funeral, you don’t get a body, you get no finality.”

“So every year Mum, out of her own little garden would put a little posy of flowers at the flagpole or on the gates and for many, many years hers was the only floral tribute to the Anzacs and our defence force people.”

The shadow Assistant Minister for Education and the member for Forrest, Nola Marino chatting to soldiers from the Australian Defence Force, Japanese Self-Defense force and U.S. Army while visiting the Townsville Field Training Area for Exercise Brolga Run 2024. Photo: Major Taylor Lynch

Ms Marino was first elected in 2007 and has always made it a priority to assist the Australian Defence Force in any way she can, a position she is privileged to hold.

“Just to hear first-hand from them (service people) what it is that they are dealing with in today’s military so that’s what I’ve done and I’ve had some really wonderful experiences and met some of the best people,” she said.

“Just listening to them talk about what they do, why they are doing it, how they are doing it and they want to improve all the time, they’re just really exceptional people.”

Throughout her years, she has been provided with the chance to tour different exercises and bases around the country as well as visit troops during active service.

“I was fortunate enough to be on the ground with the troops in Afghanistan in 2011 in the week leading to taking out bin Laden,” she said.

“Part of the reason I wanted to go was I knew we’d lost one of our first Combat Engineers to an IED and prior to that I knew we had problems with the CV joints on the light armoured vehicles which essentially is the steering component.”

“Over the years I’ve been able to get to a number of these programs and fit that in and every time it always hits me, I just love meeting the people and listening to them and their dedication.

“They are so capable, so efficient in a very quiet and unassuming way. They just get the job done, and that’s why we can rely on them.”

Originally published as Western Australian MP Nola Marino shares personal story during insightful trip to Ex. Brolga Run