Amy Searle loves Anzac Day, memorably “misplacing” her family’s medals at one event as a child.

The RAN Chief Petty Officer and Colour City local initially chose the Royal Australian Navy over the Army due to her colour preferences, rather than any maritime links in her past.

But after a number of postings in the Gulf and as part of Australia’s sovereign borders operations, she’s now an “old salt” who loves her life of duty and adventure on the high seas.

“I’m Orange born-and-bred, Canobolas and Orange High, I have no military background, but always came to Anzac Day,” she explained.

“I remember I lost my grandfather’s medals; I was probably about 10-years-of age. We eventually found them in the leaves,” Amy laughingly recalls.

Her near two decades serving her country though, was initially determined by colour schemes, and not career choices.

“It was always the Navy I was going to join; I didn’t like the brown uniforms of the Army. Until I joined, I’d never even seen a warship,” she said.

“I now love the sea, being at sea… I’ve been in 17 years on quite a few Anzac Class warships and Armidale Class patrol boats.”

Currently stationed at HMAS Stirling off Western Australia, she has previously fulfilled two deployments in the Persian Gulf as well as with border protection as part of Operation Resolute.

With the Navy taking part in rescuing many groups of asylum seekers on unseaworthy vessels, the work showed the important role that our armed forces now play in so many areas outside of their traditional defensive duties.

“It was a very busy time, doing some really important stuff. Our armed forces have done a lot of humanitarian activities recently, helping flood-hit communities around the country,” Amy said.

It is this sense of common purpose and camaraderie that she finds most gratifying about her vocation.

“We’re highly trained and highly skilled and it’s our lives… it’s being part of a team,” she said.

“We’ve got to rely on each other and it’s the people that you work with, that make it so enjoyable.”

 Despite her years of service, she said that her feelings for Anzac Day are largely-unchanged from when she was a child, although this year she did the reading at the Dawn Service in Orange.

 “They’re probably the same emotions, actually. It’s a privilege to honour those who served their country, many who never came back.

 “It’s an emotional day for everyone, and it’s so good to see everyone at home as well.”

 Although now stationed over the other side of the country nearly 3700km away, she tries to make it back each year with her twins, Harvey and Lucy, for this most special of days for those who always supported her dream.

“I come back for the family, it’s nice to be able to see me… they’ve always been 100 per cent supportive of my decision to join,” she said.

 “I’ve never regretted that decision, not ever,” Chief Petty Officer, Amy Searle concluded.