The Leader Newspaper // Special Features ANZAC Day 2019 Supplement | Page 10

COMMEMORATING ANZAC Mark proud of parish work in Afghanistan By Ella Pryor Father Mark Sexton, Nuriootpa very proudly holds his medals - representing his service in Afghanistan, the Middle-East, long service, the Australian service medal and the Nato service medal. As he pulls out and holds his five service medals you can see the pride in Father Mark Sexton, Nuriootpa’s eyes. Father Sexton from the Northern Light Catholic Parish served in Afghanistan for six months in 2011. Going back right to the beginning, Father Sexton joined the Australian Army straight out of school in 1976. Born and bred in SA, Father Sexton spent 20 years in the army prior to going in active and training as a priest. He spent three years full time, and 17 as a reservist. Forty percent of people who identify as Christian in the Australian Defence Force identify themselves as being Catholic, and not once had a Catholic Padre been posted. In 2010 the Chief of Defence at the time said there must be a third chaplain who is a Catholic priest. Father Sexton, being the only Catholic chaplain in Australia to qualify, was asked to go. In late June, 2011 Father Sexton arrived at Al Minhad Air Base in Dubai. “I had to fly from Adelaide to Sydney, to get picked up on a plane that had gone from Townsville to Brisbane to Sydney. Then we went to Perth and then to Darwin to pick up more people then we finally left Australia to Dubai,” said Father Sexton. “From there we flew into Afghanistan. It was around 48 degrees most days in Summer, and when it got cooler it was below zero.” Once Father Sexton arrived in Afghanistan he spent most of his days wandering about to see people, have a chat and let them talk. With a lot of children going through first aid, Father Sexton often had a packet of some sort of sweets to help form a connection where they’d feel comfortable to talk. He laughed as he said Tim Tams went down very well with Americans! On the topic of Americans, Father Sexton noted that they were always very formal and couldn’t follow a lot of Australian’s slang. “They were blown away by the things we could make jokes about that they couldn’t. I referred to someone as either a bogan or feral and they couldn’t believe we used those words,” laughed Father Sexton. “Someone else asked why is the average Australian female better looking than the average American female soldier? My first thought was you’re asking a Catholic priest? Then I said maybe because we have fewer McDonalds than you do!” Another fond memory during his service was seeing 40 schools built and one of the first all weather roads built so farmers could get to the markets faster. Father Sexton explained that most people in the military service and Diggers will only talk about the funny things, not other stuff. One of the reasons he agreed to go was knowing there’s a high chance he was going to deal with people who had post traumatic stress disorder. Father Sexton himself recalled two of his worst memories from his time in Afghanistan. “One day there was a complex attack in Tarinkot for six hours, there were wounded people constantly coming through so myself and the other chaplain had to deal with that,” he said. “The second worse was the day we had three people killed. One that was killed was a twin and his brother, who was also there, was asking us how does he tell his mum his little brother has been killed?” Father Sexton said although it was a very interesting six months, he would do it again if he was asked. Being just purely ministry, Father Sexton didn’t have to worry about administration and the other things done in normal parish work. “You just had to do the job and be there for people to talk to. The biggest thing I’ve taken away from it is a lot of respect for the Australian Digger. They have a wicked sense of humour and have put up with a lot,” said Father Sexton. Father Mark when he was serving in Afghanistan. deemer Lutheran Redeemer Lutheran School School the Redeemer the Redeemer difference difference ght Principal’s Twilight Principal’s Tour Tour Thursday November 5:30pm Thursday November 15th 15th ception to Year 7 places Reception available to Year 7 places available now for 2019 and beyond now for 2019 and beyond ne St Nuriootpa (08) 8562 Vine St Nuriootpa 1655 (08) 8562 1655 [email protected] [email protected] Lest We Forget 8562 2133 14-22 Murray Street, Nuriootpa www.vineinn.com.au 8562 1655 Vine Street, Nuriootpa 8563 1405 195 Murray Street, Tanunda [email protected] 8522 1223 177 Murray Street, Gawler 8563 3004 www.wiechs.com.au With the kind assistance of the participating businesses, The Leader has been able to provide a generous donation to the local RSL sub branches 10 - “The Leader”, Commemorating ANZAC, Wednesday, April 17 2019 Mob: [phone] Mueller Court, Tanunda Lest We Forget Lest We Forget Lest We Forget PGE 212 057 Lest We Forget Lest We Forget