SINGING SOLDIERS’ PRAISES

NORTH Queensland music starlet Jade Holland has performed gigs across the world but performing to Australian Defence Force personnel deployed on operations overseas is among her career highlights.

Holland has just performed gigs in the Middle East Region on her fourth defence tour with Forces Entertainment.

She and her band were joined by comedians, The Nelson Twins and duo Estelle Artois and Brendan Forward.

Holland’s first tour was in 2014, after she was invited by a friend to accompany the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment band as a singer.

“I have been asking to go on these tours ever since because I just love doing them,” she said.

“When I toured then there was a lot of Townsville folk there and when they came back they came to one of my shows and I sat there and had a beer with them and it was great to see them on home soil.”

Holland and the other entertainers performed for personnel in Iraq and at Australia’s largest operating base in the Middle East Region over the past week.

“People have been away from their families sometimes for months, so it’s nice to come and talk to the people and bring a piece of home to them,” she said. “We’re never surprised by the questions we get like what’s going on with the footy or what’s happening back home.

“I was super excited to see all the Townsville people again because they are always so welcoming.”