Artist’s Context – Song: Where do I go from here?
Co-writing the song (below) and having the confidence to perform in front of friends and family
was the turning point to continue improving how I live my life, albeit a new life outside of Defence.

Where do I go from here?
Music and lyrics by Donna Bourke, Nath Breakwell, Andrea Clifford (mentor), Sam Miller, Marty Vanzwol, John Shortis (mentor), Monika Ziemkiewicz

Feeling alone, wandering through life
Knifed by dirty commands
You let me fall, I gave you everything
You don’t understand
What makes you so right, you asked me to do this
I’m back from the fight, I’m gonna put this weapon down
Hit the bottle hard, for mates who made the sacrifice

Green on blue betrayed by trusted ones
Please be at peace, your watch is over now
Stand down your selfless task is done
In memory they stand,
Bad times unforgiven
My voice is silent now
Some gave all but all of us gave some

CHORUS: Where do I go from here?
I said, where do I go from here? I have a choice to find my voice again
I have a choice to find my voice again

(Bridge)

Movin on, Movin on
I made it through the night
Left behind the madness
Shining in the light
Never thought I’d feel this way again
I had a choice and I’ve found my voice again
I said, I had a choice and I’ve found my voice again

Artist’s Context – Book: Hidden Courage—My Life as a Female Australian Soldier

Media attention focuses on the lives of the Australian Defence Force personnel who have been deployed to conflicts in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.
My unit was one of the most highly deployed battalions in the Australian Army.
Most members of the battalion had been deployed numerous times—often back to the same embattled regions.
I deployed six times in nine years—three times to East Timor, twice to Afghanistan and a short stint out to sea for four months on border protection operations.

As with most modern military conflicts, the media reported during these engagements
stories of human rights violations, destruction and death, along with the feel-good stories of bravery and heroism.
One story was absent—that of the many women who fought alongside those men serving in the Australian Defence Force.

I was one of those women.

I have had an interesting and diverse career in the Army. I have met many inspirational, brave and strong women.
These women continue to fight for the respect and equal rights they deserve, in what is still a man’s world.

In the absence of relevant or timely stories written by Australian military women, I felt compelled to write my own. This is my story.

This book is available through InHouse Publishing Bookstore