Mix of ’pride, fear’ for our soldiers’ families

THREE Geelong families are bursting with pride at the efforts of their favourite sons, husbands and bothers.
They are the families of three Geelong soldiers based in Tarin Kot, Afghanistan, who spent an hour on the phone with Independent earlier this month to let everyone know they were determined to finish their job on the front line.
Jan and Reg Barrand, parents of Sergeant Nick Barrand, Tamie Reynolds, wife of Corporal Tom Reynolds, and Julie Taylor and Lisa Walters, mother and sister of Lance Corporal Daniel Taylor, all said the message did not surprise them.
“There’s not enough understanding in the community,” Lisa and Julie agreed.
“Everyone wants to bring them home but they want to finish what they started in honour of those they have lost.
“They tend to minimise the danger and we don’t dwell on it.
“We can’t live by ifs. We try to be prepared in case the worst happens but you can’t really prepare.”
Jan and Reg Barrand wanted son Nick back on Australian soil but accepted his choice of career since joining army cadets at the age of 15.
“He always had that military bent,” Reg observed.
“He was clever at school, he liked to read, but he always tended towards military books.”
Ms Reynolds said a tight-knit community of army WAGS (wives and girlfirends) helped her get through day to day despite knowing her husband was in one of the most dangerous places on the planet.
“Not many people realise how much good they’ve done and the positive impact they are having. We try to remind ourselves of that when we want them to come home,” she said.
“But I want people to know how proud I am of him and what he is doing there.”
Federal Corio MP Richard Marles said all Australians could feel justifiably proud of the great work of Australia’s soldiers in Afghanistan.
“Here in Geelong we can feel all the more proud that this important work is being carried out by men who grew up in this city and have family and friends among us.”