COMMANDER Sandy Coulson has had an impressive career spanning close to three decades of involvement with the Royal Australian Navy.
Comm Coulson was South Australia’s first female navy commanding officer and senior naval representative and held prestigious positions over the years, including South Australia’s navy submarine base executive officer and family support director.
Her illustrious and long career started after she finished a degree in European Languages at Flinders University in Adelaide.
“I was too young for the air force, so I applied for the army and the navy and was selected for both,” she said.
“There was just something which interested me about the navy.
“In South Australia, the navy had been small at that stage and I think it was the lesser known of the two services.”
Comm Coulson joined the defence force during the Vietnam era and said the Australian Army was the most populated defence force at the time.
“You did not see many navy personnel unless a ship came in,” she said.
“I chose the navy and am glad I did.”
Comm Coulson started as a female recruit before working her way to the top.
“In those days, female officers had to join at the bottom as recruits, where males joined as officers from the beginning,” she said.
“Even as a recruit, I knew I was in the right place even from the first time I was yelled at.
“I went on to achieving a great career particularly for a woman of that era and had several highlights.”
Comm Coulson enjoyed serving as an executive officer – or second in command – at the navy submarine base.
“Women were not allowed to serve in the Oberon submarine class but we do have women in the Collins-class submarines,” she said.
“I could only go to sea for a day in a submarine, but I had large responsibility at the base which was a first for a women to have the position in an operational base.”
Comm Coulson served as a family support director where she oversaw responsibility for support provided to all defence families.
“It was a large but important job,” she said.
“If you had an unhappy family, you in turn would have an unhappy service person which means they might leave.
“You lose all the training and expertise so it is important families are well and supported.”
As a childless woman, Comm Coulson found it ironic she was in charge of many childcare centres.
“I also looked after employment for defence spouses,” she said.
“We helped them become employment ready because as people move from one end of the country to another their spouses would be able to get a job.
“It was an honour.”
Comm Coulson said every officer in the military eventually wanted a command.
“I wanted to have my command in my home state,” she said.
“My final job in the navy was to be South Australia’s first female navy commanding officer and senior naval representative,” she said.
“I represented the navy in all various events around the state and was really the face of the navy.
“I also had overall responsibility for the navy cadets.
“I was the first woman to have that position and initially people may have found it peculiar.”
Ms Coulson said her positions were now considered common place for women.
“I was also awarded the conspicuous service medal by the Governor General for that position as part of the 2000 Australia Day honours list,” she said.
“During service, I thought I had done everything and I was not going to go any higher, so I thought I would leave and come home.
“By then, my husband who had been in the navy for 37 years had also retired.”
Ms Coulson said she did miss it, but was too old to return back to the navy now.
“I am in contact with navy people every day through the Women’s Veterans Network Australia South East,” she said.
“I am able to communicate with people and am in the position to help or be a friendly pair of ears,” she said.
