Remembrance Day reflections
This Remembrance Day, we hear from former Australian Defence Force personnel who are now Bupa team members.
Peter Solomon spent more than two decades in the army and reflects on his time and how it’s shaped his life.
I make it a mission to laugh a lot, as life can be way too serious.
Remembrance Day is an incredibly important day for me. It’s a time to remember all those who served before us and, for me, it’s a time to reflect on the many I have served with who are no longer with us. I have many very good friends and work colleagues who suffer both the mental and physical injuries of war and it’s a very important opportunity for me to reflect on my own service.
My greatest sense of pride came from the opportunity to serve with, and later lead, some of Australia's finest young men and women in peace time. I was also part of war like operations and felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility to bring people home to family and loved ones.
My time in the army taught me one very important lesson – don’t take life for granted. Things can and do change in a heartbeat.
With that in mind, I will always be true to myself, what you see is what you get. I make it a mission to laugh a lot, as life can be way too serious. I find the hardest wellbeing priority for me is being kind to myself – it’s a work in progress!
Susan Kruk was in the Army Reserve signed up against the advice from careers advisors in high school.
It’s a day to reflect and show our respect to their selflessness and bravery.
I put off enlisting after school, after being encouraged to go to university but soon found that the urge to be a part of something ‘bigger’ and to ‘doing something for my country’ was still strong.
When I enlisted, my initial goal was to complete 10 years’ service, which I did and to serve overseas which I proudly did twice.
To me this is a day of reflection in remembering the diggers that fought on the battlefield and never returned. It’s a day to reflect and show our respect to their selflessness and bravery also to the sacrifice that they and their families, made for their country in both war and peacetime.
I don’t consider myself the picture of health and wellness at the moment as injuries have reduced my physical capabilities. I do know that there’s always a way to keep moving. It could be as simple as standing up at the computer and having a stretch or walking to school pick up.
