Private Phenessa Cosgrove cuts the hair of WO2 Dave O'Carroll.
29 August 2007
Hawera’s Private Phenessa Cosgrove wanted to deploy to the Solomon Islands to help the local people. She is doing that, although not in the way you might expect.
As a Territorial Force soldier in the 5th Wellington West Coast Battalion, Private Cosgrove’s day job was as a hairdresser. Since her arrival in the Solomon Islands, she has used her skills with a pair of clippers to raise funds for the Solomon Islands netball team to reach the South Pacific Games currently being held in Apia, Samoa.
Private Cosgrove saw the team practicing at Rove in Honiara and after talking to one of the players discovered that they were still fundraising to try and get to Samoa.
Putting her clippers to good work, Private Cosgrove raised $660 in two weeks, cutting the hair of her fellow New Zealand Defence Force personnel in the Solomon Islands.
The netball team have made it to the Games and are currently playing the round robin before the finals are held on 1 September.
Private Cosgrove’s regular daily tasks in the Solomon Islands involve patrolling the streets of Honiara, and providing external security at Rove prison. The mother of two says that the satisfaction of helping the local people and making them feel safe is all part and parcel of being a soldier.
“I really enjoy patrolling in the local communities, interacting with the people and giving them a sense of safety through our presence. They’re so friendly and I love learning about their culture.”
Joining the Army was something that Private Cosgrove had always intended to do, although her career path saw her go into the hairdressing industry on a competitive level. Being a keen sportswoman and coach meant she could relate to the Solomon Islands netball team and what they were trying to achieve.
“I played netball, basketball and athletics on a regional and provincial level, and also coached athletics at an inter-provincial level. I know how hard you have to work to do well in sport, and I really wanted to help the team. I wish them the best of luck.”
The platoon groups deploy to the Solomons for four month rotations and work alongside other supporting nations including Australia, Tonga and Papua New Guinea. New Zealand has contributed to RAMSI since its inception in July 2003.
Today there are 44 NZDF personnel based in the Solomon Islands.
ENDS
Currently 700 New Zealand Defence Force personnel are deployed on 19 operations, UN missions and defence exercises around the world.
For further information please contact Nicole Munro-Johnson, Defence Public Relations, on 04 529 6033 or 021 569 148.