A last hurrah

Stick trick: Musn Matthew Walsh, 1RAR band, entertains Maliana children with clapping sticks. Photo by LACW Kim Eager

By Lieut Ian Lumsden

AMID the smiling faces of hundreds of children, members of the 1RAR band entertained a crowd of around 2500 local Timorese during an impromptu concert at Maliana in Timore- Leste recently.

The band was in Timor-Leste to participate in the handover ceremony of the Australian built Forward Operating Base (FOB) Moleana located a short distance from the township, when they were approached to conduct the concert.

OC 1RAR band Capt Andrew Ryder said the band had barely arrived when they received the request, but jumped at the chance to perform for the local people.

“It is quite a privilege to be here right at the end of the mission,” he said.

“Several of the band members have been deployed to Timor- Leste before and in is quite a special moment for them to see how much the place has changed.

“It’s such a great pleasure to perform to so many smiling faces.”

At the handover ceremony the following day, the band had to compete for the crowds attention as traditional dances were performed by local school children to the enjoyment of the several hundred locals in attendance.

The last of Australia’s peacekeeping forces departed Timor- Leste on June 24, 2005 signifying the end of Operation Spire and the completion of the mission for the ADF.

The handover of FOB Moleana signified the end of Australia’s peacekeeping involvement in Timor-Leste.