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Image Gallery: June 2009

22 June 2009
Exercise Diamond Dollar 2009 - 7th Brigade

Brisbane’s 7th Brigade (7 Bde) conducted its biggest exercise in more than a decade from 21-28 June 2009.  Around 2000 soldiers are training in a range of combat environments at Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA), Rockhampton.

Exercise Diamond Dollar, last conducted in the 1990s, is designed to hone soldier and officer combat skills. It involves urban operations, bridge demolition, and infantry and cavalry manoeuvres.

“The Brigade is well into preparations for a range of possible operational environments. Diamond Dollar is a critical phase of those preparations,” Chief of Staff 7 Bde, Lieutenant Colonel Simon Hardy said.

In 2007, 7th Bde became a fulltime motorised brigade and expanded under the Chief of Army’s Hardened and Networked Army (HNA) initiative. Further expansion under the Enhanced Land Force (ELF) initiatives has delivered more units, more personnel, and more equipment.

“Under HNA and ELF, 7th Bde has enhanced its capabilities. We will test these capabilities on Diamond Dollar,” Lieutenant Colonel Hardy said.

Diamond Dollar will deliver considerable economic benefits to the Rockhampton area. Defence spending includes perishables, other goods, and services such as port-a-loo hire and fuel.

“We estimate that between $750,000 and $1,000,000 will be spent in the Rockhampton area on purchases from local suppliers.”

Purchases include approximately $500,000 spent on around 5500kg of fresh meat, 10,000 litres of milk, 8000kg of fresh fruit and vegetables, 3600kg of bread, 144,000 eggs, 3300kg of potatoes, and other goods from local suppliers.

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139 Signals Squadron members Corporal Amy Bellingham (right) and Signaller Stan Gibbs (left) man the radios in the 7th Brigade Headquarters Command Post.

(Date taken: 17 June 2009)
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Soldiers from 4 Platoon, Bravo Company, 8th/9th Royal Australian Regiment (8/9RAR) practice individual urban operations skills and drills at the Urban Operations Training Facility (UOTF) at Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA), Rockhampton.

(Date taken: 17 June 2009)
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Private Andrew Opie, 4 Platoon, Bravo Company, 8th/9th Royal Australian Regiment (8/9RAR) covers his arcs, as his section practice clearing rooms as part of individual urban operations skills and drills training at the Urban Operations Training Facility (UOTF) at Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA), Rockhampton.

(Date taken: 17 June 2009)
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Private Steven Manganaro covers the rear as soldiers from 4 Platoon, Bravo Company, 8th/9th Royal Australian Regiment (8/9RAR) move forward and practice conducting individual urban operations skills and drills at the Urban Operations Training Facility (UOTF) at Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA), Rockhampton.

(Date taken: 17 June 2009)
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A 1st Field Regiment gunner waits for the order to fire during a fire mission at Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA), Rockhampton.

(Date taken: 17 June 2009)
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1st Field Regiment gunners defend their position against an attacking enemy while other members carry out a fire mission at Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA), Rockhampton.

(Date taken: 17 June 2009)
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While defending their position against an attacking enemy, 1st Field Regiment gunners conduct a fire mission at Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA), Rockhampton.

(Date taken: 17 June 2009)
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Camouflaged Communications: A 139 Signals Squadron Satellite Transmission Assembly (STA) provides communications for the 7th Brigade Headquarters at Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA), Rockhampton.

(Date taken: 17 June 2009)
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