Image Gallery: March 2009
26 March 2009
Sergeant Brett Till has returned to Australian soil
A C-17 Globemaster returned the Sergeant to RAAF Richmond yesterday (25 March 2009), where he was met by an honour guard from the Incident Response Regiment (IRR).
Sergeant Till, 31, was killed in action in Afghanistan earlier this month while trying to render safe an improvised explosive device during a routine clearing operation.
The highly respected Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician, from Sydney’s Incident Response Regiment (IRR), was serving with the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) in southern Afghanistan.
The Commanding Officer (CO) of SOTG earlier stated that Sergeant Till’s actions had “without question … saved the lives of his mates.”
Sergeant Till’s sombre welcome home began when his family, accompanied by military dignitaries, met the bearer party on the RAAF Richmond apron.
The party was piped into a reception area for a short indoor service, led by the IRR Chaplain.
CO IRR presented Sergeant Till with his posthumous awards; the Afghanistan Campaign medal, the International Coalition Against Terrorism clasp and the Army Combat Badge.
Following private reflection by the family, Sergeant Till was borne by his mates to a waiting hearse.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP; the Member for Greenway representing the Shadow Minister for Defence, Mrs Louise Markus MP; Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston; the Chief of the Army, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie, and Special Operations Commander Australia, Major General Tim McOwan.
More: Media Release
| 20090326adf8239716_002 Sergeant Brett Till's bearer party is piped to a welcoming ceremony at RAAF base Richmond. (Date taken: 26 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090326adf8239716_003 Family watch a bearer party from the Incident Response Regiment carrry Sergeant Brett Till to a welcoming ceremony at RAAF base Richmond. (Date taken: 26 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090326adf8239716_005 Chief of Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, Chief of Army Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie, Special Operations Commander Australia Major General Timothy McOwan salute as the coffin of Sergeant Brett Till is marched from a RAAF C-17 Globemaster. (Date taken: 26 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090326adf8239716_007 The repatriation ceremony held at RAAF base Richmond was attended by Minister for Defence, The Hon Joel Fitzgibbon and Member for Greenway representing the Shadow Minister for Defence, Mrs Louise Markus MP. (Date taken: 26 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090326adf8239716_015 Sergeant Brett Till's coffin is carried from the Royal Australian Air Force A41 C-17 Globemaster by his mates, led by Army Chaplain Charles Whitton, to his waiting family and friends. (Date taken: 26 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090326adf8239716_ 016 Sergeant Brett Till's coffin is carried from the Royal Australian Air Force A41 C-17 Globemaster by his mates, led by Army Chaplain Charles Whitton, to his waiting family and friends. (Date taken: 26 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090326adf8239716_ 039 The solemn Ramp Ceremony was attended by Chief of Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie, and Special Operations Commander Australia, Major General Timothy McOwan. (Date taken: 26 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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