Pauline Burgess is set to make the long trip to pay her respects at the 100th Gallipoli service in Turkey.  

“I feel privileged to have the chance to go to Gallipoli,” she said. 

“To me it means an accomplishment of being in the service and it is an honour. In a way it is about keeping that honour going.” 

After serving for more than 15 years, Ms Burgess said her experiences as a soldier meant it was a given that she would reflect on the people who passed away during battle, and honour their selfless deeds for our country. 

Straight out of high school, Ms Burgess started her service career in January 1991 and served in the army for 11 years before she transferred into the air force.

Ms Burgess was deployed to Timor in 1999 and later sent to the Middle East between February and May 2004. 

In the air force she was once again sent to Timor in 2006. 

However, for Ms Burgess, the real highlights of her career were having the opportunity of driving a bus at the Sydney Olympic Games and being part of the honour guard that went to France and Belgian to attend services. 

“We went to each spot where Australians fought and died,” she said. 

After being a transport operator moving supplies, equipment and troops she  moved into a similar role in the air force before she left the service and began work at Mount Isa Mines. 

“I left the army because I had knee surgery and I feared that it wouldn’t be able to cope,” she said. 

Ms Burgess said the best thing about being in the army and air force was having the chance to see the world. 

“You are always put outside your comfort zone and it challenges you,” she said. 

“The friends you make are lifelong friends and you’re doing different things like sports, training and survival training all the time.”