Cfn Mathew Hall reunites with his children, from left Reece, Deane and Kate, after 4 months away in the Solomon Islands.Photo by Sgt Mark Dowling, 1JPAU(P)

Aviators home and on a high for Christmas

By Andrew Stackpool
MECHANICAL problems failed to damp the spirits of Army aviators returning home recently.

Forty-five 171 Sqn personnel returned to RAAF Amberley by C130 Hercules from Op Anode on November 20.

They were then driven to Toowoomba to meet waiting families and loved ones.

While about 30 families waited excitedly at the 25/49RQR Barracks, the hired bus slowed to an overheated halt as it neared the top of the Toowoomba Range, delaying the formalities by nearly half an hour.

One wife quipped, "Why don't you make them run here!" which eased a little of the anxiety and tension of family members who hadn't seen their loved ones for four months.

Fortunately the problem was rectified and the aviators and theirfamilies were happily reunited.

Also waiting was a short official welcome from CO 1 Avn Regt Lt-Col Neil Turton.

He read an Order of the Day from CO 16 (Avn) Bde Brig Tony Fraser congratulating the squadron members on their outstanding performance in the Solomons, before closing with his own thanks and congratulations.

The members and families were then able to get on with the business of personal reunification.

In a subsequent interview with ABC radio, detachment commander Maj James Brown congratulated his people for a job well done and made particular mention of the work of the ground crews who maintained a 100 per cent aircraft serviceability rate during the deployment.

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