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Thursday, 11 October 2012
Page: 12107

Mr SNOWDON (Lingiari—Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Minister for Indigenous Health and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Centenary of ANZAC) (15:29): It is with great sadness that we learnt of the young soldier who tragically lost his life today. He was one of 18 members of the Army who were involved in a vehicle accident on the Holsworthy range on Monday, 8 October. This young man, Sapper Jordan Ronald Penpraze, enlisted in the Regular Army in April of this year and, after completing his recruit training, commenced his initial employment training in July. He had been in a critical condition since Monday's accident, and earlier today his family made the heartbreaking decision to switch off his life support.

Jordan Ronald Penpraze was born in Mornington, Victoria on 15 August 1990. He enlisted in the Australian Regular Army on 3 April 2012 and, as I said, on completion of his Army recruit training at Kapooka, he marched in to Holdfast Troop, Initial Employment Training Squadron, at the School of Military Engineering on 26 June. On 11 July, he commenced his Royal Australian Engineer Initial Employment Training. During his time in Holdfast Troop, Sapper Penpraze demonstrated his quick thinking when he and another soldier successfully resuscitated an elderly citizen while on local leave in Liverpool. Sapper Penpraze remained with the elderly citizen, maintaining CPR until the ambulance arrived.

Sapper Penpraze was a respected and very well liked member of the troop. He was a quiet and stoic sapper who possessed a determination to perform to the best of his ability. He took on all lessons immediately with maturity and a strong desire for self-improvement. His commitment to his section and his mates saw him complete his work with no reservations or complaints. He would rather take the hard job or the heavy load to spare a mate who was doing it tough. It was this selfless commitment to his mates that made him such a respected member of 3 Troop.

While Sapper Penpraze completed everything he did to a high standard, he excelled at watermanship, showing his skills with watercraft and a passion for boats. His previous experience allowed him to take on a leadership role during this phase of the course. He maintained this enthusiasm during field training exercises, receiving excellent reports from all field activities.

Sapper Penpraze's very sad death is a reminder to us all that being in the ADF is dangerous, whether in Afghanistan or here at home in training. Our heartfelt condolences go to Sapper Penpraze's family, his friends and his comrades.