Anzac Day is extra special for Bannockburn paramedic Angela Ryan.
After spending a decade in the Royal Australian Navy, Angela joinied Ambulance Victoria (AV) in 2016.
“You’ve got to respect the past because that’s why we’ve got our present and our future,” she said.
“Anzac Day reminds us that people have sacrificed so much to have the comforts we have now. In my career, I spent time recruiting for the military and it wasn’t a spiel to me, it was true, it was an honour to be in the military and an essential part of our country.
“A lot of the older war veterans are now gone, so it’s more important than ever to have people remember why it happened, why so many died and why we’re so comfortable in our life now.”
In the navy, Angela did her basic training at HMAS Cerberus before travelling Australia as a dental hygienist.
“There’s only one dental team that manages the whole naval fleet, so there aren’t a lot of opportunities to do sea time,” Angela said.
“I did have a short stint at sea on HMAS Tobruk but mostly I travelled the country visiting different ships.”
Angela joined the navy straight out of high school, applying to the navy, police force and nursing school and entering the one that got back to her first.
“The military was amazing for me as a young person,” she said.
“There were so many challenges, but I just treated it like an adventure. The military is so structured and organised, a bit like AV, and I enjoy that structure and the teamwork.”
