Driving large military vehicles over winding desert roads and sand dunes is a far cry from taking the family car for a trip into downtown Hamilton, but Army woman Gemma Knight says she is more than ready for the challenge.  The former Hamilton Girls High School student is deploying to Egypt on Wednesday, February 7, to work as a driver with the New Zealand Defence Force contingent based on the Sinai peninsula

Private Knight said the team of New Zealand drivers covered more than 350,000km annually during their work in the Sinai. Their role includes providing transport and driver training for personnel working within the Multinational Force and Observers. New Zealand troops have worked in the Sinai helping to police the conditions of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel since it was signed in 1979.
 
“I’m looking forward to getting overseas, proving the driving skills my Army training has given me and helping another country. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Private Knight said.  Her biggest challenge would be coping with the hot temperatures which regularly reach 40 degrees Celsius in the summer. “Good air conditioning in the vehicles becomes pretty important,” she said.

Private Knight is a former Waikato Under-18 Hockey representative and plays as the goalkeeper in the New Zealand Defence Force women’s hockey team. She will miss the majority of the coming season but will be able to attend a trial to retain her spot in the team when she returns.