Now a Senior Manufacturing Engineer on the Destroyer Capability Enhancement program upgrading HMAS Hobart at the Osborne Naval Shipyard, Brooke looks back at her family’s time at the company with fond memories.
“BAE Systems was a big influence on me growing up. I’d often catch up with mum and her work friends. They’ve always felt like close family, looking after me and keeping up with my life,” Brooke said.
“Dad was a senior manager and travelled a lot. Sometimes he’d bring me back gifts from his work adventures. I’m a big baseball fan and he’s gotten me merch from the Toronto Blue Jays and San Francisco Giants. I still treasure these to this day.”
Over her life Brooke has had many conversations with her uncle and dad’s partner about their time at BAE Systems, but it’s been her parents’ experience that has shaped who she is.
Starting at the business when it was still British Aerospace Australia (British Aerospace Australia evolved into BAE Systems Australia in 1990) in the mid-1980s, Sue quickly caught Doug’s eye, with the two dating and marrying 14 months later.
Brooke followed a few years after and at the time of Sue’s pregnancy, seven other expectant mums in the Edinburgh Parks Manufacturing department were close to welcoming their own bundles of joy. Such a Baby Boom in one team was a rare sight, and it was highlighted further by local news outlets.
The story’s standout was a photo of the forthcoming parents posing with the site’s main gate sign. 18 years later, many from the group recreated the image with their kids now fully grown.
Brooke said, “BAE Systems rubbed off on me more the older I got. It was always cool hearing about mum’s work on fighter jets, Evolved SeaSparrow Missiles, Anzac class frigates or any of the manufacturing projects she’s been involved with.
“I also noticed how easy it was for people to come to work. My parents split up when I was young and I’ve had a good life. I was coparented but primarily lived with mum. I grew up seeing a company that was flexible and understanding around parenting duties. I knew I wanted that in a career.”
After three decades with BAE Systems, Doug retired a few years ago and Sue just celebrated her 42nd anniversary, now contemplating her own retirement in the next year or so.
“BAE Systems is still a common topic at family functions, I see mum at Ed Parks occasionally and when I run into my uncle, he jokes ‘what’re you doing here?’ when he sees me,” Brooke said.
“I had one granddad serve in the British Armed Forces and the other in the Australian Army, who was drafted in WWII. They told me some amazing stories growing up.
“These experiences have helped me to understand the bigger picture, and I feel like I’m playing my part helping Australia’s current military servicepeople by working at BAE Systems.”
Brooke’s godmother also works for the business, as well as two other uncles that were previously at the company.