Dean Strautins

Dean Strautins is a retired Shire Councillor and former elite special forces soldier with a lifetime commitment to adventure, physical excellence, and continuous education. His adult life is anchored by his service in the SASR and 3RAR, where he specialised in air and water operations, and his later dedication to civil leadership and academic growth. He holds a firm belief that the richness of life is measured by the breadth of one's experiences and the acquisition of new capabilities at every age.

Born in North Fremantle in 1967, Dean spent his early childhood in Armidale, New South Wales, where he developed an early sense of adventure on rural farms. Moving to Canberra at age seven, he spent five formative years in Forrest, finding independence through cycling and sports at Forrest Primary School. After a family move to Perth and a brief period in high school, he sought out manual labour, working as a bike mechanic and a drover on the Minnie Creek and Yinnetharra stations. These early roles solidified his self-reliance and physical toughness. In September 1986, Dean joined the Australian Army, a move that provided the purpose and discipline he sought. After completing recruit training at Kapooka and infantry training at Singleton, he was posted to 3RAR in Holsworthy. Over the next several years, he earned his paratrooper wings and successfully passed the rigorous SASR Selection Course in 1989. His service saw him excel in counter-terrorism roles and advanced parachuting before medical findings led to his transition from the regular army. In early 1994, he entered a new chapter as a full-time university student at Curtin University. In his fifties, he continued his pursuit of knowledge by undertaking an engineering apprenticeship in refrigeration, demonstrating a lifelong dedication to learning.

Dean's professional and personal achievements reflect a high degree of physical and professional soldiering: * **Parachuting Qualifications**: Earned Australian Paratrooper Wings and Maroon Beret with 3RAR (1988); later qualified for British Paratrooper Wings while attached to 2Para. * **Special Air Service Regiment (SASR)**: Successfully passed the SASR Selection Course (1989) and completed 178 parachute jumps during his military tenure. * **Technical Military Specialisations**: Qualified in SASR Water Operations and Air Operations, including High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) and High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) free-fall techniques. * **Counter-Terrorism**: Completed a year-long assignment as a sniper within G Troop, 2 squadron. * **Educational Milestones**: Completed a Year 12 high school certificate through the Army education programme at Enoggerra Barracks; later enrolled in Business studies at Curtin University (1994). * **Vocational Qualification**: Undertook an Engineering Apprenticeship in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning at Carlisle TAFE while in his fifties. * **Physical Excellence**: Recorded a perfect fitness score on a promotional course at Pukapunyal and completed the Perth City to Surf on three occasions with a personal best of approximately 48 minutes.

* **University Award**: Received an award for click-through rate (CTR) achievement during university studies. * **Man of the Match**: Recognised for defensive performance in a soccer match representing his unit in Thailand.

Dean has a long history of civic engagement and community loyalty: * **Local Government**: Served as an elected Shire Councillor for the Serpentine Jarrahdale Shire from October 2019 to October 2023. * **Youth & Volunteer Service**: Engaged in community work as a Cub Scout and conducted independent neighbourhood service such as garden maintenance and selling oak tree seedlings. * **Peer Documentation**: Maintained lifelong connections with primary school and childhood friends, and reconnected with former military colleagues in his professional and civic life.

Dean finds great value in his Latvian heritage, a connection inspired by his aunt Brigita and a visit to his father's childhood home in Aluksne. He believes individuals must take personal responsibility for their own growth, actively challenging themselves through direct experience rather than relying on excuses to remain inactive. He is a father to six children and shares a committed partnership with his fiancée, Linda, who supports his values of continuous growth. Over the course of his life, he has developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors and the simplicity of rural life.