While Navy Lieutenant Commander Travis Robinson will be spending Fathers’ Day on the other side of the world, his thoughts will undoubtedly turn to the hugs waiting for him back in Canberra.
The nursing officer is deployed as a United Nations (UN) military observer to Operation Paladin, the ADF contribution to the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation.
His role is to observe, monitor, report and investigate any potential violations of the UN Security Council Resolution 1701, with his work spanning Southern Lebanon – a far cry from his nursing officer role in Australia.
This Father’s Day, he will be thinking about his children Jack (8) and Millie (6).
Lieutenant Commander Robinson admits that life away from his young children will be tough during the 12-month deployment, but technology has made maintaining the connection easier.
“Deployed members are no longer waiting six to eight weeks for a letter in the mail and can voice or video call regularly – which is great for morale,” Lieutenant Commander Robinson said.
While being so far away from family can be difficult, Lieutenant Commander Robinson is driven by a sense of duty and providing the best medical care to the ADF and Australian community.
“There is no greater feeling than being able to represent Australia, both on deployments overseas and within Australia,” he said.
“Although not working as a clinician on this particular deployment, as a nursing officer I have had great privilege in being able to take care of our wounded and ill service personnel in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Similarly, I have had the opportunity to help the Australian community at home, and deployed numerous times assisting in things like flood emergencies and on Bushfire Assist, where I was a member the Navy’s aeromedical retrieval team.
“I regularly work in civilian emergency departments to maintain my clinical skills, currency and competency, which allows me to provide a high level of clinical care to our service personnel, and also volunteer as a Surf Lifesaver on most weekends.”
Lieutenant Commander Robinson hopes to set an example to his young ones of the importance of service.
“As a single father, I am lucky to have family and friends, as well as the ADF, to assist in my absence,” he said.
“But I definitely miss my hugs and I’m looking forward to seeing Jack and Millie’s smiling faces and getting a huge hug and plenty of cuddles on the couch when I’m back home.”
