General News
20 November, 2024
Footy field mishap was a blessing for dedicated Lance Corporal
Jordan Tamate said he ended up joining the Army Reserves after suffering from a footy injury.
Among the soldiers participating in last week’s Normanton activities was Mount Isa-based reservist Lance Corporal Jordan Tamate.
The 28-year-old admits he never intended on becoming a soldier.
“I think the army found me – it wasn’t the other way around,” he told North West Weekly.
LCPL Tamate was playing on the wing for the Normanton Stingers in the Battle of the Gulf rugby league competition eight years ago when he was knocked down, twisted his ankle and found himself being carried off the field.
“Someone was helping me off the field and I couldn’t even see who he was cause the lights were so bright on the field,” he explains.
“He sat me down and started putting ice on the leg, telling me how to elevate it.
“It turns out the bloke was a Warrant Officer in the army barracks in Normanton.
“He must have noticed how I was playing and working with the other guys on the field because he started telling me I should join the army.”
LCPL Tamate was working as an apprentice plumber for the Bynoe CACS in Normanton at the time, whose main office sits directly opposite the 51st Battalion barracks.
“My injury was causing a lot of problems, and I wasn’t making my hours at work as a plumber and began thinking about what else I could be doing,” he said.
LCPL Tamate walked across the road, past the train tracks, through the front gates of the army depot and up to the front desk and asked to speak with the Warrant Officer.
Making a full recovery from his injury, LCPL Tamate says he hasn’t looked back since then – he relocated to Mount Isa, specialised as an army signaller and has been promoted to Lance Corporal, serving at times as a second in charge.
“I just really enjoy being in the army and going out on patrol and you pick up a lot of new skills,” he said.