I joined the Australian Army in 1991when I was 20. I was allocated to the Royal Australian Regiment ( Infantry) and commenced my army career. After an overseas deployment to Somalia (1993), I was medically downgraded due to hearing loss . I was told that I needed to find another job in the army. I really enjoyed the Battalion lifestyle, so I wanted to try and change to a Corps where I could still get back to an infantry unit, I decided to train as a Medical Technician in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps. I deployed overseas 3 times as a medic, and reached the rank of Sergeant. During this time, I’d developed complications with my right shoulder, and had two rounds of surgery trying to repair it. This eventually became too much for my shoulder, and I was medically discharged in 2009.

Leading up to my discharge, I had to decide what I was going to do for a living. Medics usually discharge and pursue a career in the paramedic field. My shoulder issues meant that this was not an option for me. With little help from Defence, I decided to future proof my career and trained as an IT Technician. I departed the Army and started my own business JITS ( Jeremy’s IT Solutions). The business was going along well (better that I expected), when the 2011 floods hit. The floods wiped out a bridge that was a major thoroughfare for the road my business was on. Traffic was diverted around the area, making my business no longer “on the way home”. Businesses in the area were offered financial support thorough flood relief funding. Unfortunately for me, as my business was considered juvenile, I could not effectively report historical earnings, and I was told that I did not qualify for the funding. It was decision time, business was down and I was not prepared to get myself into debt to support the business. This was further complicated by the repairs to the bridge would take months.

Opportunity knocked, I was offered a management job in a commercial cleaning company. I remained in the commercial cleaning industry for a couple of years, and then saw an opportunity to work overseas in security. During 3 years overseas, I decided that my exit plan was to study mental health and get a job in community services. I worked as a youth worker, and then moved over to disability services as an Operations Manager. I had another stint back in the youth work sector as a Case Manager, and had the opportunity to act as the Area Manager for a few months. My career in community services came to an abrupt end when I was assaulted by a young person; injuring my shoulder to the extent that I required another round of surgery. Post surgery, I was told that I would no longer be able to work in community services, as it posed too much of a risk to my shoulder.

Time to re-invent myself again, and this brings me to where I am now. What to do with the rest of my life. I am now 4 months post surgery, and had to decide on what next? I dug deep thinking about the fact that I am just about to turn 50, and am slowly becoming unemployable. I needed to find something that I could do at my own pace, in accordance with my pain tolerance levels and the restrictions of my shoulder. Music. It had always been a big part of my life. Much to my parents displeasure, while at school I played the drums. Early in my army career I purchased my first guitar (Fender Stratocaster Sunburst MIM). I got some lessons and really enjoyed this learning experience. The gradual decline of my shoulder meant that I could play less and less, eventually not at all without significant pain.

I have decided to approach my love of music in a number of ways, choosing things that my shoulder can tolerate. The short term challenges that I have set for myself are as follows; bass guitar, keyboard, drums, read and write music, and building electric guitars. My long terms goals are to manage playing the electric guitar, and to train as a Guitar Luthier (building acoustic guitars).

Currently I am able to play the bass guitar for around 10 minutes, which gives me great pleasure. I can play the keyboard for around 20 minutes on a good day.

There is more to all of this, please have a look at the regular posts I put out to keep up with my journey.