Three generations enlist on same date

It is common for families to follow a tradition of military service. What isn’t common is having three members of the same family join the Navy on the same date, decades apart.

CAPTION: Three members of the Pearn family with a Navy officer at the ADF Careers Centre, Wollongong. From left, Sub-Lieutenant Rhys Pearn, Lieutenant Jordie McLeod, Recruit Breanna Pearn and Leading Seaman Vicki Pearn. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman.

For Leading Seaman Vicki Pearn, it led to questions about fate or coincidence – with July 29 becoming a mysterious recurring date in their family.

“With my son, I didn’t think much of my own enlistment when he joined up,” Leading Seaman Pearn said.

“But when my daughter told me she got this date, I could have done cartwheels.

“I thought, wow, that’s ironic and coincidental.”

Leading Seaman Pearn has served for 28 years, 17 as a reservist, and has seen many milestones, but this one stood out the most.

“I’m so proud that both kids are joining up on this date. The bond between a mother and her children just got a little bit stronger,” she said.

Their family is fifth-generation Defence and third-generation Navy, with members on both sides of the family having served, dating back 110 years.

Her son, Sub-Lieutenant Rhys Pearn, believes it was pure luck but found it difficult to contain his excitement when he found out about his sister’s enlistment date.

“At the time, I was at sea when my sister sent me her letter of offer. I was pretty stoked. I thought it was just a sheer coincidence,” he said.

“It feels like we’re carrying on the legacy, just from the fact that no one will ever forget the day that we joined.”

Sub-Lieutenant Pearn encouraged his sister to join the Navy by sharing his positive experiences.

“I think we had similar drives but different reasons,” he said.

“I gave her advice based on my own journey, emphasising how rewarding a career in Defence can be.”

Sub-Lieutenant Pearn’s sister, Recruit Breanna Pearn, will be joining as an information warfare officer like him.

“My family all had an influence on me,” she said.

“Hearing what my brother said about it, and his confidence in me, saying that I would be great at it.”

Recruit Pearn said her mother will be celebrating 30 years of service in two years, making the date even more significant for the family.

“It does make us feel a lot closer, and hopefully, it will help us remember this milestone,” she said.

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