Im Anna, my DH is currently posted to holsworthy/sydney for the next few years after being in Townsville. Im from Sydney; and the reason why he is here as we separated in June last year and I came home to be close to family/friends so he followed. We've since reconciled and are awaiting DHA to get off their lazy butts and give us homefind access so we can move back in together.
Ive never been an army wife with kids in Sydney, only an army child so this is new to me.
I am an Army wife with DH posted at Holsworthy. We don't live in Holsworthy, rather in Bexley. I work at Stanmore and wasn't so keen on the huge drive from Holsworthy to Stanmore every day so we moved closer in. Also, my family lives near us I am not sure what's at Holsworthy base for families as my son is only 6 and a half months old, so if you find anything good out, let me know
Please excuse bad punctuation I am bf my daughter while I try and type...
Im in the Army but posted to Richmond Raaf atm and dh is Army at Moorebank, we are both RAE and we live at Glenmore Park which is in the middle of both of our bases. Im on 1 year off atm as we just had our first baby which is a def benefit in the defence force...Is anyone out near me? I feel like im in the sticks as most ppl I know in Sydney are at Holsworthy..
We are in Townsville at the moment but we will see what happens this coming posting cycle (end of year)
DH is away again and at this stage I have no idea when he will be home. He called me just a few minutes ago because he melted his Dress shirt, just in time for Anzac day He wanted to know if I had enough $$ for a new shirt in my account
Hi were not a defence family but DP is thinking of joing the defence forces and Im wondering what are the pros and cons from a family point of view.
Thanks guys
Cheap rent (and a big enough house for larger families )
Seeing the country for free
Meeting lots of new people
Job Security
Allowances
Family centre on base (here anyway is great)
Paid Holidays when you are living in more remote localities
Cons:
Moving when you just got settled
Defence Housing (they can be very painful)
Taking you away from your support networks and then taking DP away.
Not having the choice in where you move.
Personally there are a lot of sacrifices, and it takes a strong woman to be a defence partner, but having been a single mum before I know that you will cope well. I like to think of it in the way that I am making to sacrifices to ensure my kids grow up in a free country.
It is completely different in terms of lifestyle from anything else. I am enjoying the lifestyle though, it can be tough but it gives us the freedom to explore whereas if DH wasn't in the Army we probably would never have been able to afford the amount of travel we do.
Main cons - being dragged across the country frequently on their whim and then having to face major life challenges on your lonesome while your partner is off in the bush/overseas for months at a time. Oh yeah, and the infuriating way Defence complicates even the simplest of life processes.
Pros - Moving around, broadening your life experience, rental rebate, warlike allowances are good (but all the other away-from-home allowances are pretty sad), free medical & dental (with exclusions) for the member only.
The main "myths" of defence life: that there is any glory or recognition in it at all. That housing and medical is free. That you don't pay for your electricity...ummmm...what else? That defence supports defence families while their partners are off at war ...oh...and here's the biggie - that the unit sends someone around to mow your lawn etc while your man is away .
I am not sure what's at Holsworthy base for families as my son is only 6 and a half months old, so if you find anything good out, let me know 
He wanted to know if I had enough $$ for a new shirt in my account 
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