Hunter Medics Receive High Honour for Iraq Heroics
Two medics from the Hunter region have been formally recognised for their extraordinary courage and life-saving actions during a series of devastating rocket attacks in Iraq. Former Army medic Sarah Nixon and still-serving Sergeant Ashlee Liversedge have been awarded Commendations for Distinguished Service as part of the 2026 Australia Day Honours.
Unprecedented Attacks Test Medics' Resolve
It has been nearly six years since the first rockets tore through Camp Taji, a former Coalition military base approximately 27 kilometres northwest of Baghdad. The initial attack occurred on the night of March 11, 2020, with a second devastating strike following just three days later on March 14. Between these two bombings, three enlisted personnel lost their lives.
Ms Nixon, originally from Eleebana, was stationed at Camp Taji alongside then-Corporal Ashlee Liversedge from Maitland. Both were working at the Taji Medical Treatment Facility when the unprecedented attacks began. The rockets struck multiple soldiers' accommodation quarters, sparking fires and creating chaos throughout the base.
Swift Action Amidst Chaos
Ms Nixon, who served as the duty medic that night alongside Sergeant Liversedge, recalls the first casualty arriving as a fellow medic - a UK servicewoman and one of their own team members. "I didn't even recognise who it was initially," Ms Nixon remembered. "My mind went into work-mode. It was like tunnel vision."
The two medics immediately began treating the flood of casualties pouring into their medical facility. They worked tirelessly for hours after the rockets stopped, with the numbers of injured and dying continuing to rise in their medical tent. Their efforts extended through to the following day as they evacuated seriously injured patients to hospitals in Baghdad.
Commendation for Distinguished Service
On Monday, both Sergeant Liversedge and Ms Nixon received their Commendations for Distinguished Service, specifically cited for "distinguished performance of duties in warlike operations." Remarkably, this is believed to be the first time a woman has received this particular award for a single action.
Their commander at the time, Colonel Nick Foxall, had praised their efforts back in April 2020, stating their "exceptional care and courage" had saved several lives. "They had only been in-country for a short time when they were called on to do their job and, in doing so, displayed nothing but the highest of values when representing the Australian and New Zealand Task Group," Colonel Foxall told defence news publishers.
Personal Journeys and Lasting Impact
Ms Nixon joined the Defence Forces in 2013, following a family tradition of service - her father David was a police officer and she had other family members in the military. She met Sergeant Liversedge after enlisting, during pre-deployment preparations for an earlier placement in Iraq. "We had met the year before," she explained. "She was in the country for a couple of days prior to me arriving and sorted my ID pass and things like that. We became fast friends."
After coalition forces withdrew from Iraq in 2020, Camp Taji was handed over to Iraqi army control. Ms Nixon discharged from active service in 2021 and now works in Western Australia's mining sector, having served as a reserve soldier for several years before completely disconnecting from the army around 2023.
Reflections on Recognition and Service
When reflecting on the honour, Ms Nixon admitted the recognition still feels somewhat surreal. "It still feels a bit surreal," she told the Newcastle Herald. "I think it just highlights all the effort that the whole team put in, and brings it to the forefront of women in defence."
She also shared how the events of those harrowing days continue to stay with her. "I trained and I prepped for it," she said. "I deployed to a war zone. But you don't expect it to actually happen. I certainly didn't expect to be treating one of our medics."
The Department of Defence declined to comment on the specific commendations when approached on Tuesday. However, the awards stand as permanent recognition of the bravery and professionalism displayed by these two Hunter medics during one of the most challenging moments of their military careers.
