THERE’S a changing of the guard in defence force personnel in Mount Isa.
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Major David Hopgood has commanded Delta Company of the 51st Battalion Far North Queensland Regiment for two years but he and wife Cath, who has worked at TAFE north, leave Mount Isa at the end of the year.
“I’m staying with the 51st Far North Queensland Regiment and moving to Cairns in the operations field,” Major Hopgood said. “I’m sad to leave and tried to stay here another year but the army required me in Cairns.
“I’ll be leaving my role here as the officer commanding Delta Company and Major Jeremy Barraclough starts officially next year.”
The transition has already begun with Major Barraclough in town at the moment getting to know the place and meeting key stakeholders.
Major Barraclough, is a Sydneysider, married with three children and has been in the army for 17 years.
“I originally enlisted and got commissioned in 2000 through Duntroon and I’ve served in a range of infantry and training posts across the country,” Major Barraclough said.
“My current role is officer commanding and chief instructor (at the) adventurous training unit at Kapooka where my role is to develop leaders.”
Major Barraclough said he was attracted to Mount Isa because it was another infantry company.
“I haven’t been at an infantry company for some time now so I’m really excited to get back into it,” he said.
“The company is set up in a really good position, and there is an operational need here contributing to the security of the country.”
Major Hopgood has been taking Major Barraclough on a tour of the area of operations.
“He keeps reminding me the Gulf is a big area, the size of Germany, so there is a lot of terrain to cover,” Major Barraclough said.
“So I’ve seen half of it quite quickly.”
Major Barraclough’s first day is January 16 but expect to see him around earlier.
“I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to work through the holiday to get ready for the new job.”
Major Barraclough encouraged anyone in the area who wanted to be a reservist to get in touch with the company.
“Contact us on 1800 61 FNQR or through our Facebook page.”
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
