Corporal Erin Longhurst, of Inverell, prepares to speak at Anzac Day Dawn Service in France

The former Inverell girl will speak at the Dawn Service for the commemoration of the centenary of the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux in France.

Proud grandfather Frank Syaranamual said Erin was an accomplished dancer with Craze Dance Academy, finished Year 12 at Inverell High School and decided to move to Penrith in 2011.

After heading to New Zealand with her grandparents during her gap year, Erin decided to join the Army as a movement controller.

“Erin accomplished some daring events in NZ such as patting a cheetah in Christchurch, swinging upside down over a canyon on the Nevis Arc swing in Queenstown and doing tandem Skydive from 15,000 feet above Lake Taupo,” he said.

In May 2012, she commenced her basic training at Kapooka in Wagga Wagga.

After marching out she was sent to Puckapunyal in Victoria, then Townsville for training, then posted to Darwin in early in 2013, according to Mr Syaranamual.

During her time in Darwin, she was deployed on active duty for six months in Afghanistan in 2014, following which she did leadership training in South Australia, and a secondment for a month with the New Zealand army.

Afterwards, Erin was offered a posting to Canberra with the Australian Federal Guard, and promotion to Corporal as the Movement Controller for the Guard commencing early 2016.

“She arranges all movements overseas for the Guard when they participate in ceremonies throughout the world.

“In 2016 she went to France to participate in the Centenary commemorations at Fromelles and Pozierres where she met the mayor of Inverell, Paul Harmon,” he said.

In June 2017 Erin was awarded a Gold Level Commendation from the Vice Chief of the Defence Force for her outstanding work in support, and as a member of the Australian Federation Guard (AFG).