The Prime Minister and Lt-Col Frewen with the 2RAR’s Champion Platoon of 2003, 9 Pl, C Coy. Photo by Cpl Sean Burton, Army newspaper.

PM praises Army’s efforts

 

From Leut Chris Woods in the Solomon Islands
PRIME Minister John Howard, praised the troops and police stationed at Camp RAMSI for the success of Op Anode during his whirlwind diplomatic tour of Honiara on August 25.

The soldiers and airmen under the command of Lt-Col John Frewen received high praise for their support.

“We were invited here as friends by our friends in the Solomon Islands,” he said.

“I can say, speaking for the Australian community that the country is full of admiration for the work that you have done and I am sure that I speak for the communities of all the other contributing nations.

“It’s not easy to transplant yourself from your home environment. It’s not easy to win the confidence of the local people, and that is only done if you have an appropriate mix of authority, cooperation and friendship. From what I have been told and it’s evident from what I observe, this particular force has been able to do that very effectively.

“Although it has gone extremely well and has occured without too many undue incidents, I appreciate that it continues to be a mission.”

PM Howard said he was confident in the leadership provided by Nick Warner, the Special Coordinator, Lt-Col Frewen and the Police Assistant Commissioner, Ben McDevitt, and that all personnel understood the importance of the mission.

“When your neighbour gets in trouble you should always be willing to help in a friendly way, and this is a cooperative effort.

“It’s not just an Australian, New Zealand or a PNG effort, it’s cooperation of all the nations of the Pacific.

“To my fellow Australians who are here, thank you very much for what you’re doing in the name of our country and the way in which you once again demonstrate the professionalism and the skill and the commitment of the men and women of the ADF as well as the men and women of the AFP.

“I was certainly struck when I arrived with the obvious welcome and expression of collective thanks for what Australia has done. The road through Honiara was lined by hundreds of school children waving Aussie flags and placards expressing the county’s gratitude to Australia and RAMSI.”