Page 9 - BOL Apr 22 Edition
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Australian Citizenship:             Daughter Lt Kulbinder Sandhu         Puran (daughter to Brijinder’s oldest son
       In 2015 Brijinder and Kulwant made the   (Indian Army 2002-2007)         Swinder) described her 5-week basic
       full transition to their new Country by   Born in the Indian State of Orissa in   training as exceptionally challenging. “It
       taking out Australian Citizenship. Kulwant   1976, following the Sandhu military   was only with close teamwork with my
       described their home in Mango Hill “as a   tradition was the natural pathway for   fellow soldiers  that got us  through the
       beautiful place. We love living in Mango   young Kulbinder who after leaving school   course and was the major reason for my
       Hill and walking around the community.”  studied as a computer technician and   success” stated Puran to the Mango Hill
                                           joined the Officer  Training College in   News.  Puran is continuing her Reserve
                                           2002. Lt  Sandhu served in the National   Career whilst taking on a University
                                           Cadet Corps of the Indian Army until 2007.  degree in Business and HR and hopes to
                                                                                work in Cyber Security in coming years.

                                                                                Gurmehar Sandhu
                                                                                It would seem that sport runs strong
                                                                                in the Sandhu family where daughter
                                                                                Gurmehar was a student at North Lakes
                                                                                State College, representing the School
                                                                                and the Pine Rivers District in Athletics,
                                                                                Soccer and Volleyball and being named as
                                                                                Sportswoman of the year over two years.
       Five (5) Generations Of Sandhu
       Family Military Connection:         In 2009 Kulbinder commenced a Master of   Following her graduation from North
                                                                                Lakes State College, Gurmehar currently
                                           Accounting degree at the University of Qld
       Brijinder knew little of his Grandad Kartar   and obtained Australian residency in 2011   works in the Australian Dept of Homeland
       Sandhu, except that he was a soldier in   with Husband Baljit, daughter Gumehar   Security.
       the Indian Army in World War 1.   Whilst   and son Harjas. They first lived in Runcorn
       not involved in the Gallipoli campaign   before heading over the Brisbane River to
       where Indian soldiers served with great   live in North Lakes. The family moved to
       distinction, Kartar Sandhu made a big   the Capestone community of Mango Hill
       impression on the young Brijinder many   to be  close to daughter Gurmehar  and
       years later as he too joined the Indian   parents Brijinder and Kulwant and for the
       Army, this time as a sovereign nation.  closeness of having a Railway Station in

                                           Mango Hill East.
       Brijinder’s Dad, Major Mohinder Singh,
       fought in the Indo-Pakistan Campaign   Australian Citizenship:
       in 1971 which resulted in the eventual   In 2013 Kulbinder and Baljit along with
       partition of Pakistan and the creation of   Gurmehar and Harjas confirmed their
       Bangladesh.                         decision to move to their adopted country
                                           by becoming Australian Citizens.
       When Lt. Brijinder Sandhu graduated
       as an Officer in the Indian Army of 1962,
       tensions on the Indian Chinese Border
       were very tense with a month-long
       standoff threatening to plunge the region                                Hajas Sandhu
       into a  large scale war.  Over the  next 35                              Still at home but enjoying his cricket, 15
       years, Brijinder Sandhu would serve in                                   year old brother Hajas Sandhu has gained
       Artillery Regiments in several campaigns                                 a cricket scholarship at Nudgee College
       including the 1970’s Indo-Pakistan clashes                               following two very successful years at the
       rising to Lt Colonel and Aide de Camp as                                 Lakes Cricket Club in the Brisbane North
       a Staff Officer.                                                         Junior Cricket Association including a
                                                                                career highest score of 153.








                                           Grand-daughter (Pte Puran
                                           Sandhu – Aust Army Reserve)
                                           Like Grandfather like Granddaughter. Born
                                           in Sydney in 2001, it was no surprise when
                                           young Puran Sandhu decided to join the
                                           Australian Army Reserve graduating in
                                           January this year. Her reasons?  A different
                                           lifestyle, a challenge and the opportunity
                                           to train in communications (Signals)
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