Remembering the fallen, standing with the living

Two decades of service 

Before Tegan Tippett joined the Army in 1995, she was a single mum who saw enlisting as a way to take care of her kids and serve her country.  

At 22 years old, only nine months after the birth of her second child, Tegan commenced training and was allocated to the Royal Australian Ordinance Corps in Wagga Wagga.  

Soon after, she was posted to Sydney with the 1st Field Hospital where she would spend the next three years before embarking on stints in Toowoomba, Brisbane and finally Townsville. It was there, in her hometown, where Tegan would join the 10th Force Support Battalion, be promoted to Sergeant, and deploy to Afghanistan for the very first time.  

"Walking onto the tarmac in 50-degree heat was incredibly overwhelming, even though we'd just come from sweltering Townsville. It really brought home the reality of where we were," she recalls.  

"Day in and day out, I was running the armories, doing the ammunition, counting, stock taking, and making sure the supplies got into theater. I played a significant part in supporting the fighting force in Afghanistan, and beyond."  

In 2013, when both of her sons had completed high school, Tegan was again deployed to the Middle East Area of Operations and appointed as Company Quarter Master, working in support of the Special Force Elements deployed throughout the MEAO. 

2015 marked Tegan’s final deployment to the Middle East, this time as part of the 39th Operational Support Battalion. Upon her return home, she transferred to the Army Reserve to "serve on her own terms", and eventually, transitioned back to civilian life in Brisbane.  

"I joined the Army to deploy and go overseas,” Tegan reflects.  

“You go to defend your country in another country, so it doesn't come home to where your family is.” 

On 11 October 2026, Tegan and countless others will pause to recognise AFGHANISTAN25 – the 25th anniversary of Australian service in Afghanistan, and the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) in relation to Afghanistan, acknowledging the courage, commitment and sacrifice of all who served. 

Tegan on deployment 

A duty to bring them home 

When Tegan reflects on her Defence career, her commentary is sharp and succinct – perhaps the hallmark of a lifetime of efficiency – but there are moments of softness and vulnerability too.  

In the same breath where she speaks of providing logistics support to troops on the frontlines, she pauses to remember one of the most profound chapters of her career – whilst deployed in Afghanistan in 2007, Tegan played an important role in repatriating soldiers who were killed in action.  

"We were tasked with organising the first ramp ceremonies to bring the Australian soldiers home. We had to ensure they were ready to be received by their families," she says.   

"It was a privilege, but it was gut-wrenching. Knowing what they did for their country helped me do my part. You can't just go to pieces. It's your duty to deliver them safely on their last journey home." 

In 2013, Tegan returned to Afghanistan as Special Operations Liaison Officer and continued to support the repatriation process. She describes this deployment as her "most devastating". 

"Corporal Cameron Baird VC MG was killed in action on 22 June 2013, and it was the hardest repatriation I have ever done. He was not only one of the men from my company, but he was also my mate."

Though many years have passed since Tegan served in Afghanistan, she continues to hold the memory of her fallen comrades close.  

Tegan reflects on those who made the ultimate sacrifice at the 42 for 42 Afghanistan Memorial Garden

Honouring courage, commitment and sacrifice 

Tegan’s service carries the lasting weight of loss, but it has also carried many moments of pride. 

She says AFGHANISTAN25 and recognising the 25th anniversary gives veterans the chance to tell their story and continue the healing process.   

"I want people to talk about it. I think it's important to honour those that sacrificed their life in service of their country and embrace the families that were left behind. Acknowledgment is the first step to acceptance," Tegan says.  

"It makes me very proud that I was a part of history, and that my legacy, and the legacy of so many others who served, will remain forever."  

The lasting impact of Tegan’s service in Afghanistan is perhaps best captured in a 2025 tribute she penned to those who served beside her.

"Today, I pause to reflect on my time in the Australian Army and Afghanistan, a campaign that spanned decades, shaped countless lives, and asked more of our people than many will ever truly know.   

We served in harsh landscapes and complex missions; alongside mates we trusted with our lives. We brought home memories, lessons, scars, pride and for some, a heaviness that never fully left.   

To those who returned with hardened souls and quiet battles still fighting every day, I see you.   

To those who carried the burden for as long as they could before surrendering by their own hands, you will never be forgotten. Your service, your struggle, your story remains with us.   

We honour the fallen, we stand with the living, and we speak the names of those who are no longer here to stand beside us. The cost of service did not end when we came home.

Lest we forget."  

On the 25th anniversary of Australia’s involvement in Afghanistan, Tegan shares that veterans should be proud of their service

Remembering Afghanistan 25 years on 

For Tegan, her message to fellow veterans who served in Afghanistan is that “it’s okay not to be okay.” 

“Be proud of your service, be proud that you were in that campaign, don't be afraid to speak up, and take the time to heal," she says.  

Joining their local RSL Sub Branch has also given Tegan and her veteran husband Matthew a way to stay connected with the veteran community. 

"We chose Sandgate RSL Sub Branch because it felt like a very well-loved community of veterans. We went and saw people we hadn't seen in 30 years. It was this mind-blowing reunion," Tegan reflects.  

"There is such a diverse group of veterans to talk to. One day you might speak with someone who served in WWII, and the next you'll be chatting with a Vietnam veteran. It makes us all feel like we can tell our story no matter what era you come from."  

This year, Tegan plans to commemorate AFGHANISTAN25 with her kids by her side, proudly wearing her medals and honouring those mates who made the ultimate sacrifice.