More Defence news: 26 October 2009 - 01 November 2009

Padang mission ends

30 October - The ADF’s month-long mission to help those affected by a major earthquake that struck the Indonesian city of Padang has finished.

The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, said the work done in the aftermath of the earthquake had strengthened the friendship between Indonesia and Australia.

 “Your efforts contributed towards saving countless lives, establishing medical clinics, clearing landslides and repairing vital infrastructure,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

Among the many tasks achieved by the Australian contingent, 1.3 million litres of water was produced and distributed, 1300 patients were treated in a purpose-built medical facility, 63 buildings were assessed for structural integrity and more than 532 metric tons of humanitarian aid was flown into the region.

The final elements of the ADF’s Joint Task Force will depart Indonesia for Australia on the 2 November, after the closure of the Australian Army Primary Health Care Facility and its official handover to the local health authorities.

The Commander of the Indonesian Earthquake Relief Effort, Major General Tanjung, praised the Australians for their dedication to the relief effort in support of the Indonesian Defence Force (TNI).

“Your performance was outstanding to finish your mission in such a short time, we look forward to more opportunities to work together in the future,” Major General Tanjung said.

Joint Task Force Commander Colonel Mark Brewer said he was proud of the performance of his personnel during the operation.

“To see the Australian and Indonesian soldiers working side by side, forging friendships in the aftermath of a natural disaster, will be an enduring feature of this mission,” Colonel Brewer said.

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New patrol base strengthens security in Afghanistan

30 October - Australian and Afghan soldiers have worked together to build a new patrol base that will provide a permanent security presence in Afghanistan’s Mirabad Valley.

Forming part of Operation Baz Panje,  combat teams from the Townsville-based Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force 2 (MRTF 2) and Afghan National Army (ANA) were sent to the area via a coalition air mobile operation.

Major Trotter of the MRTF 2 said the operation was one of the largest air mobile operations involving Australian conventional forces since Vietnam, and disrupted the insurgents’ ability to mount an effective response.

“…it was highly successful in forcing the insurgents out of the area and creating a secure environment,” Major Trotter said.

The construction team included ADF tradesmen and plant operators working alongside ANA engineers.

The base, with amenities and hardened accommodation, includes facilities for coalition mentoring elements as well as joint headquarters to develop the ANA in accordance with Australia’s objective to train and mentor the ANA.

Lieutenant Porter said the new patrol base was the first of its kind in this area.

“The establishment of this base allows the coalition and ANA to further demonstrate their ability to protect the Afghan population and provides opportunities for more development in the region,” Lieutenant Porter said.

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 NZ Troops perform Haka for outgoing Commander in East Timor

28 October - New Zealand soldiers serving in the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in East Timor have given outgoing commander Brigadier Bill Sowry an emotional Haka as a final farewell gesture.

Captain Wayne Burroughs from the New Zealand Navy said Brigadier Sowry was well respected by the New Zealand troops and wanted to farewell him with a traditional Haka.

“We presented a taonga (gift) pounamu mere which is a greenstone warriors club in recognition of his outstanding leadership and command of New Zealand forces whilst he was in command of the ISF,” Captain Burroughs said.

BRIG Sowry, who led the ISF for nine and a half months, thanked the New Zealand troops he had led.

“The Kiwi troops in the International Stabilisation Force provide it with colour, you provide it with culture, you provide it with heart and you provide it with soul,” Brigadier Sowry said.
“You have served your country with great honour and with great skill.

“You have leapt into the hearts of the East Timorese people in a way only a few can hope to in the course of a lifetime.

“You are soldiers with heart and for that I am grateful to have served with you.”
Captain Burroughs said there had been a noticeable change in safety and security in the country over recent months.

“Over Brigadier Sowry’s time we have seen a transition from on street patrolling by the troops to more assistance and capability building for the local community,” Captain Burroughs said.
As part of these improvements, policing responsibilities in three districts and governance of the police academy has been handed back from United Nations Police to East Timorese police. 

The new ISF Commander is Royal Australian Navy Commodore Stuart Mayer who is the first naval officer to command the ISF.

 East Timor military and ISF rebuild sports ground

28 October - A well-known sports ground west of Dili in East Timor has been completely restored by Soldiers and engineers from the East Timor Defence Force (F-FDTL), the United States Navy Seabees and the International Stabilisation Force (ISF).

The official reopening of Gleno Stadium on 24 October included a football match between the Ermera and Dili district teams, an Australian Rules football demonstration, and sporting competitions between teams from the East Timor Army, East Timor Police and ISF.

Project Manager for the reconstruction, ISF Engineer Lieutenant Tommy Gains, said the opportunity to work with the F-FDTL Engineers had been a rewarding experience for the East Timorese and ISF engineers.

“The F-FDTL Engineers were happy to work with us on this project as it was a great training opportunity for them,” Lieutenant Gains said.
“It’s definitely been helpful to us as well as we have had the chance to get to know the F-FDTL Engineers better and we’ve learnt from them as well.

“We were all eager to help do something that would benefit many members of the local Ermera community.”
When work began, the roof had collapsed, there was no plumbing in toilets, no electric lighting, and the change rooms were inhabited by rats.

Work at the stadium required the digging and cementing of new footings, the replacement of walls and finishing touches such as the painting of murals.  The roof trusses were constructed in Dili by the ISF and F-FDTL engineers with the assistance of local technical college students.

The return of football to this well-known landmark is another milestone in the restoration of normality for the people of the Gleno area.

 HMAS Tobruk departs for Pacific aid mission

27 October - HMAS Tobruk will soon depart Sydney loaded with a range of goods, equipment and relief aid to support Samoa and Tonga following the tsunami that devastated the region on 30 September.

The Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, said heavy machinery and donated goods provided by the Australian community – including the Samoan and Tongan communities in Australia, non government organisations and several businesses – will be delivered to both countries.

“Tobruk will carry earth movers, generators, cement mixers and other heavy machinery, provided by the Australian Government, to be used in Tonga to clear debris and rebuild over the next 12-18 months,” Senator Faulkner said.

Total Australian assistance to Samoa and Tonga now stands at $13 million. 

This includes $3 million for emergency relief and recovery activities ($2 million to Samoa and $1 million to Tonga) that was announced in the days immediately following the tsunami.

It also includes Australia’s contribution of $5 million of reconstruction assistance for Samoa announced on 11 October with New Zealand Foreign Minister, Murray McCully, and matched by New Zealand.

Senator Faulkner said Tobruk would enable access to the remote island of Niuatoputapu in Tonga, where the delivery of the earthmoving equipment will allow reconstruction efforts to begin earlier and at a faster pace than would otherwise be possible.

“This assistance mission will provide tangible support to the people of Samoa and Tonga who are rebuilding their lives in the weeks after the tsunami,” Senator Faulkner said.

“Along with the ongoing work in Padang, the HMAS Tobruk mission is another example of how the ADF and AusAID continue to play an important role in supporting our Pacific neighbours to respond to humanitarian crises.”

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