ANZAC Day 2008

28 April 2008
ANZAC Day dawn service in Uruzgan Province

ANZAC Day has been commemorated by Australian Diggers in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan with a Dawn service attended by His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery, AC CVO MC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Around 700 Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) and Reconstruction Task Force (RTF) personnel attended the service.

While the service commemorated all Australians who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, special tribute was paid to the soldiers who have died on service in Afghanistan since. Upturned rifles with berets affixed, symbolised the sacrifice of fallen soldiers, Sergeant Andrew Russell, Trooper David Pearce, Sergeant Matthew Locke, MG and Private Luke Worsley.

Major General Jeffery paid his respects to the fallen and praised the work of Australian forces in bringing stability and reconstruction to the province. This has included the development of schools, hospitals, bridges and security infrastructure. In helping create a secure environment Australians have also worked hard to successfully develop cordial relationships with the local population, some of whom also attended the service.

After the dawn service many soldiers took some time out for a quick respite, before resuming duties in support of the mission.

Australia has deployed an ADF Reconstruction Task Force (RTF), consisting of a combined arms team, to the Uruzgan Province in Southern Afghanistan as part of Operation Slipper. The RTF is in partnership with the Netherlands Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) and forms part of the NATO- led International Security Assistance Force.  The RTF has a clearly defined role to work on reconstruction, improvement of provincial infrastructure and community based projects. The RTF also provides trade training to the local population and military engineering training to the Afghan National Army. This type of assistance is designed to benefit the people of  Uruzgan Province well into the future and form building blocks of a stable  and prosperous community. The RTF contains around 370 ADF personnel from predominately Queensland based units. It includes elements to provide command, security, engineering, and administrative support and is equipped with Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicles (IMV), Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAVs) and armoured engineer plant equipment.  Australia's contribution to ISAF is an important component of the Australian Government's commitment to assist Afghanistan achieve a stable  and secure future.