Private Carter Fredericks, of 6th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, provides assistance in his hometown of Redlands, Brisbane, as part of the ADFs response to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Photo by Major Tom Maclean (supplied).
Army vehicles driving through the suburbs were a formidable yet welcome sight in the aftermath of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. On board one such vehicle was a young soldier from the Redlands, who grew up in an Army family, and returned home to help his community in the mammoth clean-up effort.
Private Carter Fredericks is one of dozens of soldiers from 6th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, who are assisting across South-East Queensland in the wake of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
“It is pretty crazy as I never experienced anything like this when I was growing up here,” Private Fredericks said.
He found himself clearing debris off roads only a couple blocks from the house he grew up in.
“I grew up only 500 metres away from here; my parents’ place is pretty close,” Private Fredericks said.
Soldiers with chainsaws cut up fallen trees, while others cleared away the smaller branches.
“All day, we’ve been cutting up trees,” Private Fredericks said.
The reconnaissance platoon infantryman is the youngest of four brothers who have all served in the Army. One of his older brothers was deployed on cyclone response operations around Lismore at the same time.
The Army teams in Redlands moved around the suburbs in their Bushmaster-protected mobility vehicles, working with emergency services personnel. The sight was a pleasant surprise for a lot of local families who offered cold drinks and food to the soldiers as they worked.
Once the tempo of operations slows down, Private Fredericks is hoping to get a chance to visit his parents to see how they’re recovering from the wild weather.
