KATHMANDU: A Nepali national has been working as a Navy sailor at the Department of Defence in Australia.
Seaman Dhan Khadka from Chitwan is serving in HMAS Adelaide (a helicopter dock ship), which has been deployed on Operation Tonga Assist 2022.
Khadka arrived in Melbourne on Christmas Day 2008.
“I initially came to Australia on a study visa and studied automotive mechanics technology for two years,” Khadka said. “But I wanted to follow a path where I could be surrounded by people, so I started working in the hospitality industry within hotels and bars in Melbourne.”
Khadka was up for a challenge and took the chance to pursue a more fulfilling career.
His father was an infantry soldier in the Indian Army for 33 years and it was a natural progression to follow in his footsteps and join the military.
“When I was searching for a job on the Defence recruiting website, I read about being a support operations sailor and thought that it best suited my skill set,” he said.
“I enjoy working in the wardroom. It gives me a chance to spend a lot of time with a lot of different people, which I love.”
This is Khadka’s first sea posting and, when he was asked whether he wanted to go ashore on Pangaimotu Island to help with the clean-up, he jumped at the opportunity.
“Helping the local community by cleaning up the island was a refreshing and re-energizing feeling,” Khadka said.
“I’ll always remember helping out. It was meaningful work and I’m proud that my first trip away was able to help the Tongan people. I’m very lucky to have had the opportunity.”
The Australian Defence Force is deployed on Operation Tonga Assist 2022 as part of the Australian Government’s support to the Tongan Government following the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai underwater volcano.
(with inputs from Department of Defence of Australia)
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