Craig Kelly (Hughes, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to add my voice to those who have spoken before me and to pay my respects to Sapper Jordan Penpraze, who sadly passed on 11 October 2012 at Liverpool Hospital from injuries he sustained in a vehicle accident in Holsworthy Army Base. The training incident on 8 October in the rugged bushland of Holsworthy struck home the dangerous conditions our soldiers face at home as well as abroad. As someone who knows from experience, my colleague the member for Fadden described the rigorous training undertaken by members of the Defence Force. This tragic accident brings to the fore the risks associated with the high levels of training our soldiers undertake in preparation for overseas deployment. As the member for Fadden noted, freedom is never free.

Sapper Penpraze enlisted in the regular Army in April before commencing initial deployment training in July at the School of Military Engineering at Moorebank. At the time of his death he was a trainee combat engineer who was about to qualify as a sapper in the Australian Army. No stranger to hard work, a younger Jordan spent several years labouring as a plumber alongside his father before fulfilling a dream to serve as a sapper in the Australian Army. Sapper Penpraze exemplified all the very best qualities of a young Australian today: hard-working, dedicated to pursuing his dreams of service and service to his country. He was young man devoted to family and his mates. He is now and always will be a member of the Australian Defence Force family. Speaking at his funeral the commanding officer of the School of Military Engineering, Lieutenant-Colonel Alan Hollink, said:

When Jordan enlisted into the Army he not only commenced a new career, he became part of the Army family. This is a close family with strong bonds, and while Jordan will remain in our hearts and our prayers his parents and partner remain part of our family and you will always be welcome with us at the home of the sapper.

It takes a special kind of devotion to embark upon a career in Australia's armed forces. I remain eternally humbled and grateful for both their service and my responsibility of representing the Defence community of Hughes. They are the bravest of all of us and we in the south-west of Sydney in the seat of Hughes respect their service with great pride. We feel their loss with the heaviest of hearts. Lest we forget.

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