Retired Squadron Leader Natalie Sands will represent the Royal Australian Air Force as reviewing officer and guest speaker at the Stanthorpe ANZAC Day activities on April 25.
Southern Downs Regional Mayor Ron Bellingham said that Squadron Leader Sands would be guest speaker at the Dawn Service and would also take the salute from servicemen and women, before proceeding to the Civic Centre, where she will be guest speaker at the 11am service.
Squadron Leader Sands joined the 2nd Health Support Battalion as a nursing officer in 1993, serving eight years in the Army Reserves on various postings.
In 2001 she transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force for full-time duty, continuing to work as a nursing officer, providing health support and aero medical evacuation expertise for military personnel.
Squadron Leader Sands was awarded the Australian Service Medal for her nursing during Operation Bel Isi, the peace monitoring mission to our Northern neighbours in Bougainville PNG. She was awarded the Australian Active Service Medal and the Operation Catalyst Campaign Medal for her nursing and aero medical evacuation support in Iraq.
Her service career highlight was participating in the aero medical evacuations of Australians injured in the 2003 Bali Bombings.
Squadron Leader Sands retired from the military and moved to Stanthorpe in 2009.
Gymnast Sculpture approved for Quart Pot Creek
After several months of extreme dedication, the Gymnast Sculpture will find its home along Quart Pot Creek.
In June 2022, the Southern Downs Regional...
