Diamond shines
Outback troops meet, greet and hunt to eat

On guard: A Norforce soldier is silhouetted against the setting sun at Kalumburu. Photo by Lt Noel Jordan

Band of brothers: Patrol K1 at Mitchell Falls (from left) Pte Henry Waina, Sgt Bob Terms, Lt Noel Jordan, LCpl Danny Shadforth and (front) Pte Gavin Smith. Photo by Lt Noel Jordan

Boat builders: Norforce Kimberley Sqn members assemble a F470 Zodiac during training. Photo by Lt Noel Jordan

By Cpl Cameron Jamieson

NORFORCE soldiers have used a diamond to ensure their engagement with the people of the Kimberley remains close and friendly.

The regional surveillance specialists from the unit’s Kimberley-based squadron recently concluded Exercise Diamond Boab, a two-week exercise designed to enhance community relations and provide training for the soldiers in preparation for future patrolling activities as part of Operation Cranberry.

With its HQ in Broome and depots located in Kununurra and Derby, the soldiers of Kimberly Sqn are responsible for surveillance operations in an AO that covers an area of about 400,000 sq km, nearly twice the size of Victoria.

Sqn OC Maj Patrick Hay said the squadron’s four patrols had roamed far and wide during the 10-day field phase of the exercise, and visited 20 cattle stations, eight Aboriginal communities and seven tourist centres.

“That’s a good result considering the size and complexity of the area we work in,” he said.

The first phase of the exercise involved the deployment of patrols from Broome and Kununurra, conducting community- engagement visits along the Gibb River Road.

“Community engagement is the main effort for Norforce,” Maj Hay said.

“Because we live and work within the communities, and because we draw the majority of our indigenous soldiers from the communities, it’s important that we maintain a good rapport with the locals.”

The second phase of the exercise saw the patrols rendezvous in Kalumburu to conduct military skills training appropriate to the region, including patrol vehicle driver training and watercraft handling techniques.

There was also an opportunity for the Kalumburu indigenous soldiers to teach their fellow soldiers about the local bush tucker, survival skills and hunting techniques.

Kalumburu is situated on the far northwest coast of Australia, and is one of the most remote communities in the country, and earlier this year it felt the full force of Cyclone Ingrid when it crossed the WA coast.

Maj Hay said one of the primary reasons for conducting the training phase in Kalumburu was to re-establish a presence in the community, as it had been 18 months since the squadron conducted a major activity in the area.

“The people of Kalumburu really made us feel welcome, and it was another example of how rewarding it is to work in such a culturally diverse environment,” he said.

“In fact, working at Norforce has been one of the most exciting experiences of my military career.

“You get to live and work in some of the most beautiful land in the country, and you get to meet people from all walks of life.”