For 70 years, members of the UK Armed Forces have volunteered their time to help the Wimbledon Championships run smoothly.
This year, a member of the Australian Army made it an international effort.
Sergeant Lars Jessop, an aircraft technician originally from the Sunshine Coast, volunteered to be one of 400 military stewards.
“I saw that the UK Ministry of Defence was looking for volunteers to help out at Wimbledon earlier this year. I thought it would be a unique experience and one I wouldn’t get to do anywhere else, so I submitted an application,” Sergeant Jessop said.
Initially not chosen, Sergeant Jessop was put on a reserve list.
“A few days later I got a call to say one of those initially selected had to pull out and would I be interested in taking their place? It was a no-brainer,” he said.
The relationship between the military and Wimbledon goes back to the end of World War 2, when the championships resumed in 1946. Service personnel were involved in helping direct people to their seats around the damage caused by bombing during the blitz.
Today they help provide security, lining the courts in breaks of play to prevent court invasions, conduct safety checks, ensure good crowd behaviour in the stands and assist members of the public.
“It has been an unbelievable experience and one of the highlights of my time in the UK,” Sergeant Jessop said.
Sergeant Jessop arrived in the UK with his wife and son in January 2023 as part of an Army exchange program.
Head of Australian Defence Staff Brigadier Grant Mason said there were many opportunities for members of the ADF to work with their UK Ministry of Defence colleagues.
“I’m proud of members like Lars who are gaining important skills and knowledge that they’ll be able to take back to Australia with them and help make us a stronger and more capable fighting force,” Brigadier Mason said.
“But equally importantly, they’re strengthening relationships with one of our closest allies by supporting local military traditions in ways that reflect well on both our countries’ Defence Forces.”
