By BRIDGET COOK
TOORADIN’s Cameron Devenny spent Anzac Day in service of his country – contributing to the global fight against terrorism and counter smuggling and piracy.
He is one of the reasons why thousands of people turned out across Casey on Friday to honour those who served in defence of their country.
As a member of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Mr Devenny is currently three months into a seven-month deployment in the Middle East on HMAS Darwin.
He is involved in Operation Slipper, which is the Australian Defence Force’s contribution to the global war against terrorism, counter smuggling and counter piracy in the Gulf of Aden, and enhancing regional maritime security.
It is one of many deployments he has been involved in during the past 13 years with the RAN, where he has been required to pack up and leave his family and friends for months at a time.
“After growing up in Tooradin and still a very active volunteer firefighter with Tooradin CFA, I was looking for a life of adventure when I joined the RAN,” Mr Devenny said.
“I joined the navy in April 2001, believing it would offer me a unique lifestyle and many opportunities to travel the world.
“At the age of 31, and 13 years later, I have seen almost all of Australia and much of the world.”
Mr Devenny was involved in Operation Northern Trident, which was a six-month, round-the-world voyage with numerous diplomatic visits and joint exercises with foreign navies.
He has been a recruit school instructor at HMAS Cerberus in Victoria and has represented the navy on several occasions in the sport of dragon boating.
But a highlight for Mr Devenny was when he got to marry his wife Elizabeth in a naval ceremony at HMAS Cerberus.
He said while most of his time with the RAN had been great and rewarding, it was being away from loved ones for long periods of time that was the hardest.
“Serving in the navy today definitely comes with its challenges, one of which is the separation from loved ones,” he said.
“However, navy families are strong and resilient making the most of the time spent together, supporting each other when loved ones are apart and utilising the comradery of the navy network and mateship.”
Mr Devenny said he was not surprised that Anzac Day services continued to draw record crowds each year.
“Those who are surprised by this fact show that they understand very little about our national character and the way in which it comes to affect all who settle in our great country, even those who have lived here for just a short while,” he said.
“It is now a long-standing tradition that on Anzac Day we all pause to remember those that offered up their life in the defence of their nation and their communities, which is the greatest contribution any citizen can make.
“This tradition is as relevant today as it was when our troops landed on the beaches of Gallipoli in 1915.
“The message I hope that most people will embrace is that our future generations need to be reminded that happiness has a price, and that happiness is the product of freedom and freedom is the reward of courage.
“We should be grateful to those that have helped preserve our nation and our way of life through their sacrifices.
“It is in the remembrance of these things that communities across the nation come together on this day and quietly thank every serviceman or women and their families for the freedom of our great nation.”
