Ahigh level seminar at Government House in Adelaide this month was attended by two female army officers who spent their formative years in Millicent.
Captain Tayla Davies and Lieutenant Jess Allan retain close family ties with Millicent despite several years of interstate and overseas postings.
They accepted the invitation of Her Excellency the Governor of South Australian the Honourable Frances Adamson to attend the Women in Defence Leadership Forum and Luncheon.
Personal growth, work and family and organisational culture were among the topics canvassed by Her Excellency, Deputy Commissioner of South Australia Police Linda Williams and Australian Army Major General Susan Coyle.
Australian Defence Force members heard from the high-ranking trio about their careers and experiences and how their workplaces have changed over time.
Following the forum, the Governor, Major General Coyle and Deputy Commissioner Williams participated in small breakout group discussions, where they shared their insights and advice to those in the formative years of their careers.
The two army officers from Millicent were among the 60 in attendance.
Lt Allan opted for a career with the Australian Defence Force as a teenager and soon after completing her studies at Millicent High School.
She is perhaps best known for her involvement with the AFLW as she made her debut with the Adelaide Crows in 2018.
Her football career has been interrupted by her interstate army training but she did make 14 appearances with Greater Western Sydney.
A transfer back to her home state in 2023 means Lt Allan can resume playing with the Adelaide Crows and alongside her elder sister and triple premiership player and All Australian Sarah Allan.
Capt Davies has kindly provided this snapshot of her career to The SE Voice.
“I am a Millicent local but moved to Melbourne to study when I finished high school,” Capt Davies said.
“After four years in Melbourne I realised I wanted something different for my life than I originally planned.
“While searching for a new and exciting adventure, I applied for a career in the Australian Defence Force.
“After undergoing a battery of tests and interviews, in January 2015, I found myself dragging my very supportive husband to Canberra to commence training at the Royal Military College – Duntroon.
“At the end of a challenging 18 months, I graduated as Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineer Corps and posted to Woodside in the Adelaide Hills.
“Since my first posting I have enjoyed various other postings including Sydney from January 2019 to December 2021, Wodonga in 2022 and now back to Adelaide in 2023.
“Other notable career milestones include promoting to Captain in 2020, attending International Engagement Activities in America and the UK, and deploying to the United Arab Emirates on Operations.
“Overall, it has been a very rewarding career, sometimes I look back at where this job has taken me and the friends I have made along the way, and am so happy I decided to join the Army.
“As a mum to a 16-month-old, I do not have a lot of leisure time, but I make the most of the time I do have at home either cooking, adventuring with my dogs or catching up with family and friends.”
