Meet our Volunteers: Rick Parry

He might not be the longest-serving Associate Member at our project shed (he joined our team in 2021), but certainly Rick is one of our most active ones. But what a distinguished “pre-wheelchairs” career! “I joined the Navy Reserve in 1967 as a Radar Plotter (yes, the same guys they use in recruiting advertisements), and retired 51 years later, in 2018”, he said. Why the Navy Reserve? Well, his father was a Navy officer, his brother was a Navy diver… “By joining the Reserve, I could do
anything the full-time guys can, but I can also do the civilian thing” he replied. His varied deployments included a total of 5 years full-time service. He was tested as a Navy Diver (where he busted his ear drums) so had to change to a Gunnery Sailor up to the rank of Petty Officer. Then he was commissioned as an officer, retiring as a Lieutenant-Commander (equivalent to Major in the Army). Rick served in various deployments including the United Nations, the Australian Navy, The US Navy, and other coalition forces.

In “civilian” life he worked with the Department of the Navy for 5 years, then moved to the Commonwealth Employment Service (CES) and ultimately… the Australian Taxation Office, helping businesses to get on top of the newly introduced GST at the turn of the Century. He was then snatched up by the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to do the same thing over there.

Personal life? Believe it: yes, he does have one! He married Sharon in 1996, and together they travel, both locally (caravanning) and internationally. For some extra excitement: hunting and fishing when time allows, and perhaps reading the occasional Lee Childs novel, spy books, or watch a Wolverine movie.

I keep being astounded when I see the wide range of professional backgrounds of our volunteers!