When Jarryd Goundrey joined the Australian Army at the age of 18, he probably didn't have anywhere in his mind the idea that a few years later he'd be recounting his stories to an audience live onstage.
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That's exactly what he's doing though, after serving seven years in the armed forces, including serving a deployment in East Timor.
So how does someone go from carrying a weapon in the field to carrying an audience with a punchline?
I used to stand in front of a lot of people giving them orders about really serious things, but I still found a way to slip a couple of jokes in.
- Jarryd Goundrey
"Quite... difficult-ly," Jarryd Goundrey says.
"They're probably the most different, polar-opposite careers. I'd like to think I started doing comedy while I was in the army, as in it was always a part of me.
"I used to stand in front of a lot of people giving them orders about really serious things, but I still found a way to slip a couple of jokes in."
Mr Goundrey spent seven years in the army, from the ages of 18 to 25, and says he spent at least one birthday on active service in Timor Leste, while for the majority of his time he served in the infantry stationed in North Queensland. He became a section commander in his time, responsible for leading a group of eight soldiers.
"All that time, while it was a very serious job and I took it very seriously, I was always looking to do a few gags, and when I got out, it was my chance."
Mr Goundrey says his routine draws heavily on his experience in the forces, especially what goes on behind the scenes; and on his time in East Timor with the United Nations, a place he spent nine months living in and loves.
He plays The Main Bar on Friday night at 8pm. There is a chance for open-mike stand-up before his show. Tickets are $16 via Trybooking.com