Jane Prentice (Ryan, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise on behalf of the people of Ryan to join with my colleagues to recognise and remember Sapper Jordan Ronald Penpraze who tragically lost his life last month. He is one of 18 members of the Army who were involved in a vehicle accident on the Holsworthy range on Monday, 8 October this year. Jordan Ronald Penpraze was born in Mornington, Victoria on 15 August 1990, a short 22 years ago. He enlisted in the Australian Regular Army on 3 April 2012 and on completion of his army recruit training at Kapooka he marched in to the Holdfast Troop initial employment training squadron at the School of Military Engineering on 26 June. On 11 July he commenced his Royal Australian Engineer initial employment training. During his time in Holdfast Troop, Sapper Penpraze demonstrated his quick thinking when he and another soldier successfully resuscitated an elderly citizen while on local leave in Liverpool. Sapper Penpraze remained with the elderly citizen, maintaining CPR until the ambulance arrived.

Sapper Penpraze was a respected and very well liked member of the troop. He was a quiet and stoic sapper who possessed a determination to perform to the best of his ability. He took on all lesson immediately with maturity and a strong desire for self-improvement. His commitment to his section and his mates saw him complete his work with no reservations or complaints. He would rather take the hard job or the heavy load to spare a mate who was doing it tough. It was this selfless commitment to his mates that made him such a respected member of Freetroop.

Sapper Penpraze was just days away from graduating from the Australian Army School of Military Engineering before the fatal accident at Holsworthy barracks. He was training to go into an engineering division that has paid a heavy price in Afghanistan. He had signed up to defend our country. I acknowledge the support the Defence Force, through the Defence Community Organisation, has provided to Sapper Penpraze's family through this difficult time. I ask them to continue to support his family, friends and colleagues.

Sapper Penpraze's death at Holsworthy is no less tragic than if he had died in action on overseas deployment. This young man signed on in the full knowledge that in serving his country he would be putting his life on the line. Indeed, Sapper Penpraze's untimely death is a sad reminder to us all of the dangerous job the members of our Defence Force undertake, whether on deployment in a war zone or in training at home. To Sapper Penpraze's family, friends and colleagues on behalf of the people of Ryan I extend my sincere condolences. Lest we forget.

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