Having spent 10 years in the army as part of the Australian medical team, Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne team leader (General Practice and Primary Care) Carmel Greenwood says ANZAC Day is close to her heart.
“We wouldn’t be here without the sacrifice of those who fought in the war. We have lost friends in Iraq and Afghanistan, so ANZAC means a lot to us. It means another country can experience the freedom we have in Australia,” she says.
Still working with the Reserves, Carmel left the defence force due to family commitments and cites her posting to Rwanda during the civil war for 7 months as one of her highlights. She also says working in the army has meant a sense of discipline stays with you where ever you go.
“In the army, you get told to do something and you do it. Being a team leader here, I have to give instruction to staff but I have to change the way I speak from the army.”
“Working in the hospital is very much like being in the army. We look out for each other, even if we are on different teams “
“Being in defence has helped us to be adaptable at work. We had to jump into tasks, move to different places and meet new people. You don’t know what you are going to expect, but you just do it.”
Colleague Gonja Ozudogru, who also served in the medical unit of the defence force agrees.
“We’re used to the discipline in the army, so even at the hospital; we do our best to finish our jobs here way before deadline.”
“During the first two to three years, I missed the army so much that I was depressed.”
Gonja, a dental assistant at the hospital, arrived from Turkey at 18 years old and joined the force just years later.
“Working in a hospital is the closest to army you get in civilian life. It’s a big team, you work together.”