Adventure for student nurse

A Bunbury nursing student has traded in her study and training at hospital to be deployed in the Army Reserves to the Solomon Islands.

Bunbury resident Pte Emma Biersteker, 23, is a second-year nursing student who has spent the last four months as a supply operator for Operation ANODE.

Part of the Combined Task Force 635, she has been working alongside military personnel from New Zealand, Tonga and Papua New Guinea, in support of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, mostly working in the logistics support area.

“I’ve been working in the repair parts store of the warehouse, which requires continual tracking and receipt of items required to keep all our equipment here going,” Pte Biersteker said.

Throughout her deployment, Pte Biersteker has also been able to explore the Solomon Islands and meet the locals.

“I recently had the opportunity to participate in a half marathon for the first time with the local community and also completed a 42km cross island trek, which was a big challenge,” she said.

Pte Biersteker will return to Australia in early December when her deployment is up and will continue her nursing studies.

Reflecting on her time away, she said she was tlooking forward to some luxuries again.

“I’m actually looking forward to cooking my own food again,” she said.