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Mark Butler |
I joined the army in January 1975. Went to the
school of Arty and spent the first 4 weeks waiting for a gun drill
course working as an assistant in Field Wing for warrant officers
like Rick Hampton (BSM 106 Bty), Peter Prewett (BSM 'A' Bty) and a
number of others. Rick Hampton suggested I play rugby for the
School and I thrived under the coaching of Sergeant Reg Shepherd who
scared me on and off the field and on and off the parade ground. I
did the 7/75 gun drill course. With one week to go I was taken off
the parade ground by Sergeant Nigel Longhorn who said, "You have
been selected to play inter-service rugby and you have now
successfully completed the 7/75 gun drill course. You have also
been selected to be a peer instructor on the 8/75 gun drill
course." I was made to do all the written exams which incidentally
I passed. Up until that point I was to be posted to 8/12 Mdm Regt
but during the following gun drill course the peer instructors, who
consisted of Kerry Walsh, Gordon Johnston, John Agar, John Vidmar
and myself, were offered the opportunity to go to Townsville to be
part of the new 106 Tropical Trials Battery. We jumped at the
chance.
I spent the next 18 months in 106 Fd Bty where I had great times
with the lads of 4 Field Regiment. My mentors were men like Nev
Tickner and Bill Pritchard who were great rugby buddies. (I loved
that rugby team). I spent all my time in 106 Bty on the guns and
when I aspired to branch out I was sent back to the School of Arty
to do a signals course. During that course my mother fell quite ill
and I applied for a compassionate transfer which was successful. I
was then transferred to 'A' Fd Bty at 8/12 Mdm Regt where I
completed my career. ' A' Fd Bty was just like 106 Fd Bty, full of
great guys who went on to become good friends. My first week in 'A'
Fd Bty involved competing in a Regimental athletic carnival. I won
all my events and immediately became the BC's golden child. The BC,
Major Kevin O'Brien, was a sports fanatic and looked after his
sportsmen. Consequently I got courses and trips overseas. (I am
proud to say that I am still good friends with retired Brigadier
Kevin O'Brien).
In 1980 I found that being multi skilled in artillery means you get
to go out on more exercises and as a result I spent more time in the
bush than I did at home. As a result, when they asked me to rejoin
I told them that I was not interested. I still regret that
decision. Since leaving the army in 1981 I have been employed in a
number of fields. I started out working in a brewery, then as a
courier, then I travelled the country for 2 years with my wife doing
anything and everything. I then settled down in Mollymook on the
south coast of NSW where I worked in a timber mill for a while and
then I became a surveyor where I could employ my artillery training
and gain civilian qualifications. In 1996 I joined the NSW Police
Force at the age 40 after receiving advise from my former 'A' Fd Bty
mate, Dave O'Meara who had been a cop since 1981. I am still in the
force where I enjoy a similar camaraderie that we enjoyed in the
army.
I have been married to my soul mate Kim since 1982 and we have two
kids, a boy and a girl. We live in the southern suburbs of Sydney
where we are very happy. |
