More Defence news: 03 November 2008 - 09 November 2008
| G Company engineers help out at Gleno High School | From Bourke to the Barracks for Movember | Defence child care centres business as usual | Melbourne Cup in East Timor | Melbourne Cup in the Middle East Area of Operations | Parliamentary delegation tour East Timor | AP-3C Orion named “Stephanie” in honour of Stephanie Rice | C-130 Hercules - 50 years in service | Army Chinooks return to Australia | |
G Company engineers help out at Gleno High School
07 November – Recently, Gleno High School in the Ermero District of East Timor, held a small ceremony to thank the East Timor Battle Group IV (EMBG IV) for their help in providing two extra classrooms for the school. The High School teaches 1200 local children. Recently the school Principal approached G Company, EMBG IV for assistance to build a new roof on one of their buildings, to replace the old tarpaulin roof cover. Officer Commanding G Coy, Major Peter Grant had a small group of EMBG IV engineers help out. The task took the 12 engineers only 4 days to complete, and Head Engineer, Corporal Adam Sheldon said they got a bit carried away and built blackboards, window frames and doors as well. More: Image gallery |
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From Bourke to the Barracks for Movember 07 November - Tomorrow evening, a group of Australian Army soldiers are embarking on a 1,000km marathon relay from Bourke to Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney to raise money for the Movember charity. The 14 personnel will each run approximately 70 kilometres of the journey, which they aim to complete within six days. The journey will take the soldiers from Bourke, through Mulga Creek, Nyngan, Narromine, Wellington, Orange, Mt Panorama at Bathurst, Lithgow, and Katoomba before finishing Holsworthy Barracks. Each year thousands of Australians grow a moustache during the month of November to raise money for men’s health issues – mainly prostate cancer and male depression. Any one wishing to donate can do so through direct deposit to the National Australia Bank: Account Name – Movember Donations can also be made through the Movember web site, by searching under the team name “Run Team”, or directly to the soldiers as they pass through towns in New South Wales. |
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Defence child care centres business as usual 07 November – Yesterday, the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon reassured Defence families that ABC Learning Centres will remain open despite the appointment of Administrators of the ABC Group. Mr Snowdon confirmed the Government’s priority is to ensure working families, including Defence families, who are reliant on ABC Learning, can continue to access child care for their children. More: Media release |
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05 November - Joint Task Force 631 celebrated the Melbourne Cup with a Calcutta held at Camp Phoenix the night before "the Race that stops the Nation". More: Image gallery |
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Melbourne Cup in the Middle East Area of Operations
Reinforcing the larrikinism that Diggers are famous for, the soldiers then held their own race, albeit with donkeys, the Tarin Kowt Guineas. Teams were fielded from the Task Forces various units including infantry, engineers, combat support personnel and one team was provided by their Dutch partners. With decorated steeds and some unique racing silks, the event drew an excited and entertained crowd not only from the Australians, but also the Dutch contingent with whom they share their base. “It is important when we have the opportunity to take time out to relax,” Lieutenant Colonel Shane Gabriel, Commanding Officer of the MRTF explained. Post the Tarin Kowt Guineas, the Task Force gathered to watch the running of the real cup and then all too soon it was back to the task at hand, as the soldiers continue to work in their essential mission of rebuilding Afghanistan and training Afghan soldiers how to provide security to their country. More: Image gallery |
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Parliamentary delegation tour East Timor
03 November – Recently the Commander of the International Stabilisation Force in East Timor, Brigadier Mark Holmes MVO, hosted a Parliamentary delegation tour of the East Timor Area of Operations. The delegation consisted of Mr Kelvin Thomson MP, Member for Wills (Victoria), Mrs Louise Markus MP, Member for Greenway (NSW), Mr Brett Reguse MP, Member for Forde (Queensland) and Ms Michaelia Cash, Liberal Senator for WA. More: Image gallery |
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AP-3C Orion named “Stephanie” in honour of Stephanie Rice
03 November - Recently an AP-3C Orion from RAAF Base Edinburgh’s Number 11 Squadron flew to the Middle East Area of Operations in support of Operation Catalyst and Slipper. The aircraft was welcomed by the task group with a naming ceremony in honour of one of Australia’s finest female athletes. The Orion, now known as Stephanie, was named by Maintenance Shift 23 Bravo after the Australian Olympic swimmer and three time gold medallist, Stephanie Rice. More: Media release | Image gallery |
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C-130 Hercules - 50 years in service 03 November – Over the weekend the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) celebrated 50 years of outstanding achievements by the C-130 Hercules aircraft. The aircraft have been the backbone for numerous Australian Defence Force operations during this time. The Hercules have provided combat air lift capability, including tactical transport of troops and cargo as well as special forces insertion, parachuting and air drops. In recent years, the C-130 Hercules has seen more active duty than any other aircraft in the RAAF, including three based in the Middle East, that continue to provide vital air lift support to Australian and Coalition forces. More: Media release |
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Army Chinooks return to Australia 03 November - After eight months of high intensity operations in support of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the two Australian CH-47 Chinook helicopters and 65 personnel that form the Rotary Wing Group (RWG) are returning to home to Townsville after making a significant contribution to the coalition effort in Afghanistan. The Chinook helicopters are part of the Task Group that provides logistics support under extreme conditions in Afghanistan. The RWG conducted 240 missions and transported about 7900 passengers and more than 2,000,000 lbs of cargo. The RWG was tasked to support ISAF troops in the Regional Command – South (RC-S) sector into Helmand, Zabul and Oruzgan provinces. A third rotation of Chinook helicopters is due to redeploy into Afghanistan in February 2009 to commence operations in March. More: Media release
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