Image Gallery: February 2007
Australia Day Honours For ADF Personnel
26 January 2007
Among more than 50 Australia Day honours awarded to Australian Defence Force personnel, two ADF units have been singled out for their outstanding efforts during recent deployments.
The Australian Medical Detachment – Balad and Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Parramatta were honoured with a Meritorious Unit Citation following their outstanding efforts during Operation CATALYST in Iraq.
The Meritorious Unit Citations highlight the Australian Defence Force’s various roles in support of the Australian Government’s contribution to the rehabilitation and rebuilding of Iraq.
The citations read:
Australian Medical Detachment – Balad: For sustained outstanding service and professional competency in the provision of health care in support of the United States Air Force Theatre Hospital, Balad, Iraq, during Operation CATALYST from 1 September 2004 to 3 May 2005 inclusive and from 29 September 2005 to 31 December 2005 inclusive.
The personnel of the Australian Medical Detachment have displayed outstanding professionalism, loyalty, initiative and selfless dedication to duty. Their selfless contribution to Coalition health services has been instrumental in the preservation of many lives and the maintenance of human dignity. This outstanding devotion to duty, confidence and humanitarian spirit have significantly enhanced the reputation of the Australian Defence Force and the Australian health system.
HMAS Parramatta: For meritorious operational service in the Northern Arabian Gulf during Operation CATALYST from 1 November to 25 March 2006 while conducting maritime security operations in support of the Australian Government’s contribution to the rehabilitation and rebuilding of Iraq.
HMAS PARRAMATTA displayed sustained meritorious service in warlike Coalition operations in Task Force 58; specifically as Maritime Interception Operations Commander, Scene of Action Commander, Surface Warfare Commander and, periodically, Air Defence Commander during operations in the Northern Arabian Gulf and waterways leading up into southern Iraq from 1 November 2005 to 25 March 2006.
The full list of Australian Defence Force personnel who received Australia Day honours can be found here.
AUSTRALIA DAY 2007
Audio files detailing how Australian Defence Force personnel deployed on operations will celebrate Australia Day are available from Director General Public Affairs Brigadier 'Gus' Gilmore at the links below:
Australia Day | In Afghanistan | In Iraq | In Timor-Leste
| 20061126adf8185016_0088 Trooper Caleb O’Brien from the Darwin-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment keeps his eye on the ball during a game of cricket played by the troops of the 1st Reconstruction Task Force in southern Afghanistan. (Date Taken: 26 November 2006) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20061126adf8185016_0091 "Catch it" was the cry as Trooper Clint Gordon from the Darwin-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment dives to make a catch during a game of cricket played by the troops of the 1st Reconstruction Task Force in southern Afghanistan. (Date Taken: 26 November 2006) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20061230adf8185016_0146 1st Reconstruction Task Force Sapper Beau Best adds the finishing touches to a water tank installed at a mosque in the Oruzgan Province of southern Afghanistan. (Date Taken: 30 December 2006) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070104ran8098687_001103 Families wave the Australian flag as HMAS Toowoomba sails for operational duties in the Persian Gulf. (Date Taken: 04 January 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070107adf8205214_0051 An Iraqi officer guides representatives of the Australian Defence Force team onto the sports field as part of the opening ceremony for the Iraqi Army sports day. (Date Taken: 07 January 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070107adf8205214_0090 Representatives of the Australian Defence Force team march past officials at the opening ceremony of the Iraqi Army sports day. (Date Taken: 07 January 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070108adf8205214_0068 An Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV) at a Forward Operating Base in the Ad Bibdibah desert near the Saudi Arabian border. (Date Taken: 08 January 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070110adf8502859_0103 Dinner time as a 1st Reconstruction Task Force mission prepares to overnight "outside the wire" in southern Afghanistan. Private Michael Pettett distributes rations to Private Kane Lukassen from one of the storage containers on the Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicle. (Date Taken: 10 January 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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