Wing Commander Cheryl Neal - Royal Australian Air Force

This story comes from stories that have been written about Cheryl and her incredible career. The Australian War Memorial and NITV's "The Pilot" form part of this story.

Indigenous service women honoured in Canberra's Anzac ceremony

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have been honoured for their military service at this year's Indigenous Anzac service in Canberra.

Wing Commander Cheryl Neal joined the Royal Australian Air Force more than three decades ago. She described it to NITV as "a great journey."

Wanting to leave a small town, travel, and further her education, she found those opportunities in the defence force.

A descendant of the Darug and Yuin peoples, Cheryl Neal was born in Nowra, NSW, and joined the Royal Australian Air Force in April 1987.

She recalled being very homesick when she first enlisted and doubting she would complete recruit training, but she did. Cheryl said her time in the force was not always easy.

She said there were few women at the time, and Indigenous culture was not widely recognised, so she often had to explain her background when asked.

Despite the challenges, she said she had been treated with respect throughout her career.Today, she said, that culture is embraced and a source of pride.

Her career took her to a range of military roles, including postings in England and around Australia.

In 2012, she was posted to Headquarters Joint Task Force 633 in the Middle East, where she tracked and supported Australian Defence Force personnel on deployment. She said reading reports of their service was both humbling and, at times, emotional.

After that deployment, she received a Chief of Joint Operations Gold Commendation.

She also worked with New Zealand personnel to repatriate Maori service members who had died in theatre. She said the cultural significance of returning the deceased home made the experience especially emotional.

Neal now focuses on strengthening the Air Force and helping ensure Indigenous people see a place for themselves in it. She said opportunities in the defence force have expanded significantly, and her service was recognised at this year's Indigenous Anzac Day ceremony in Canberra. She said she felt humbled to be invited.

She added that it was an honour to accept the recognition, especially while acknowledging Indigenous women such as Kath Walker and Margaret Tucker.

For two decades, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans and Services Association has helped ensure Indigenous servicemen and women are commemorated in Canberra each year.

This year, about 400 people gathered in the foothills of Mount Ainslie to honour them, with a particular focus on servicewomen.

As Anzac Day approached, Cheryl reflected on what the occasion means to her.

For her, Anzac Day is a time to honour all current and former Australian Defence Force members. Each year, she tries to visit the War Memorial and learn about a veteran she has not heard of before. One story that deeply moved her was that of Flight Sergeant Arnold Lockyer, an Aboriginal airman whose Liberator bomber crashed near Japan at the end of World War II. He survived the crash and became a prisoner of war but was killed just days after the war ended.

Thirty years later, she had risen to the senior rank of Wing Commander and served in both the Middle East and the United Kingdom.

Wing Commander Neal is currently the inaugural Deputy Director Military Recruiting – Defence Force Recruiting, residing in Canberra with her family.

Part Published 25 April 2018 10:38am, By Nakari Thorpe - The Pilot