Dannielle Brearley

Photographer unknown. (2024). Dannielle Brearley, navy veteran. RSL Queensland (Service, smiles and Minties | Latest News | RSL Queensland (rslqld.org)

Dannielle Brearley, of Bundaberg, joined the Navy in 1996, straight out of school.  At the age of 20 she found herself deployed to Timor-Leste as part of INTERFET.

“When I arrived, the situation was already peaceful; the guerrillas were out and the UN forces were in place,” Dannielle said.

“I’d never left home or anything like that prior to joining the Navy, so leaving was a whole new experience for me in itself.

“When we arrived on the shores of Timor-Leste and began our peacekeeping duties, it was confronting to see what the community had gone through.

“While we hadn’t served on the frontline, witnessing the aftermath was still incredibly eye-opening for me.

“Some scenes have never left my memory.”

Dannielle was involved in peacekeeping operations which included rebuilding schools and buildings, helping the community and socialising with the local children.

“It was wonderful to meet the local kids; they ran at us like we were celebrities and would always give us the biggest smiles.

“After everything they had gone through, everything they had lost, it was inspiring and heart-warming to see them so appreciative of us just being there.”

Now as a mother herself, Dannielle said she wished she could go back and tell her younger self how honourable her role in Timor-Leste was and how significant her service was to those families.

“I was so young at the time; I didn’t fully understand the significance of what we were doing over there – how important it was to the Timorese that we were there for them,” she said.

“When you join the military as an 18-year-old you can’t quite comprehend the bigger picture.

“You’re instead focusing on getting up every day as per your routine, passing a fitness test and things like that.

“Then when you’re deployed, you just focus on completing your operation; you never fully step back to understand the important opportunity you’ve been given to serve your country and be a part of Australia’s military history.”

After Dannielle discharged in 2002, she worked in property management, started a family and got her Certificate III in Business Administration before joining Bundaberg RSL Sub Branch in 2018 as an Admin Assistant.  

“Two weeks into the role, I took the opportunity to become the Secretary and have been in this role for the last six years. I absolutely love it.” 

Source: RSL Queensland, 4 September 2024.