It is not every day you get to meet royalty, and certainly not while receiving one of the Royal Australian Corps of Signal's (RASIGs) most prestigious awards.
Signaller Wikitoria Kirkby, of 1st Signal Regiment, was named signaller of the year last year, and was handed the award by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne during her visit to Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane in November.
The award recognises high achievement in junior RASIGs soldiers, based on an individual's skills, regimental performance and adherence to Defence values.
"I feel very honoured to have received signaller of the year from Her Royal Highness," Signaller Kirkby said.
"It was very unexpected to be honest. I just tried my best, as we all do."
She received the award, in part, for her outstanding work as the communication systems operator for 1st (Australian) Division Commander Major General Ash Collingburn.
Signaller Kirkby said it was a great opportunity to improve her skills in tough situations.
"Over the course of 12 months I supported the division commander directly as his signaller, working a lot overseas and in the field environment," she said.
'It was very unexpected to be honest. I just tried my best, as we all do.'
"It was challenging being away from home so often, but I really enjoyed working as a part of a team and I feel we performed really well."
Signaller Kirkby's squadron sergeant major, Warrant Officer Class Two David Marcato, said the regiment was proud of her achievement.
"I have had the opportunity to witness Signaller Kirkby's growth and development as a soldier, both as her platoon sergeant during her training and again as her squadron sergeant major this year," he said
"She is very deserving, and generally a very good human. She is well liked within the regiment and amongst her cohort."
With four years in Defence under her belt, Signaller Kirkby is excited for what's next.
"I'll be posting down to Adelaide for 2026, I'm keen to learn and do something completely new," she said.
Joining Army and moving away from home for the first time was a big step, but one she is glad to have taken.
"Before joining Defence I was living on a dairy farm, hand milking cows down in Launceston, Tasmania," she said.
As a lover of the outdoors, her new lifestyle has been a perfect fit.
"Joining the Army is just something I'd always wanted to do. I felt it was right, so here I am," she said.
"I love this country, I'm very patriotic."
