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Russel John (Rusty) Carsburg died in 2009 at the age of 55. Rusty was a Queenslander, born in Ipswich on 2 November 1953. At the age of 21, Rusty decided to join the Australian Army and enlisted in Toowoomba on 14 March 1975. He was allocated to Artillery and after recruit training at Kapooka, he completed his initial Gun Course at the School of Artillery in May 1975. In October the same year, Rusty qualified as an Artillery Meteorologist at the School of Artillery. His first unit posting was to 8th/12th Medium Regiment at Holsworthy although his physical location was with 131st Divisional Locating Battery which formed part of 8th/12th. Rusty stayed with the 131st until January 1978 when he was attached to the School of Artillery as part of the 131st Divisional Locating Battery Detachment at the School. In November 1978, Rusty was promoted to Bombardier (BDR) and remained part of the Detachment at the School providing Meteorology support to the School of Artillery. While at the School, Rusty completed and qualified in promotion subjects for BDR; Artillery Surveyor Grade One and Two, and as an Operator Command Post for Sound Ranging.
Rusty returned to 131st Battery in September 1980 and was employed in the Sound Ranging Troop. During his time there, Rusty qualified in promotion subjects for Sergeant and completed an Instructor Development course in June 1984. In May 1984, Rusty was promoted to Sergeant in the Sound Ranging Section. In January 1989, Rusty returned to the School of Artillery on promotion to Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2). He was employed as Assistant Instructor Gunnery (AIC) at Locating Wing and involved in teaching a range of subjects including Meteorology, Radar and Sound Ranging. In December 1991 Rusty was posted to Headquarters Training Command at Middle Head in Sydney. He would remain there until his discharge from the Army on 23 September 1999 after completing 24 years and eight months service. |
During his service in June 1983, Rusty deployed on Exercise Northern Star/Southern Cross in the United Kingdom. Rusty was part of a contingent of 131st Battery personnel who represented the Battery on the Exercise. In October 1984 Rusty also represented the Battery at a Divisional Command Post Exercise held at Waiouru in New Zealand. The exercise was held in a tented area of “Paradise Valley” in the Waiouru Training Area and it snowed for the entire exercise.
After discharge in 1999, Rusty was living in Pyrmont and continued his education in several areas. These included obtaining a Master of Business Administration through Charles Sturt University, with a Master in Public Sector Management. He had also completed a Bachelor of Education in Technical Education; a Diploma of Teaching and several Workplace Training Certificates. In 1999, Rusty commenced work with the Hornsby College as Operations
Manager before moving to Northern Beaches College as College Manager in September 2001. He remained there until a move to the Department of Health as Associate Director Facilities Management in June 2008. Rusty succumbed to Cancer issues and died on 7 May 2009. |
