Pakistanis go into bat for camp name

Common ground: Prime Minister John Howard at Camp Bradman. Photo by Cpl Neil Ruskin

THE Australian base at Dhanni has been called Camp Bradman because it’s a name very familiar to Australians and Pakistanis alike.

CO Op Pakistan Assist Col Andy Sims said neighbouring Pakistani soldiers suggested the name. “We are collocated with the Pakistan Army’s 28th Bde HQ and the 25th Mountain Regiment,” Col Sims said. “We had suggested Camp Wombat, but the Pakistanis don’t really know what a wombat is. The Pakistanis love sport and they go nuts over cricket though, so they were extremely happy when we went with the cricketing reference.”

Col Sims said the Pakistanis were initially surprised when the first Australians turned up because of the distance involved. “But we’ve worked with the Pakistanis and they knew what Australians would do and provide,” he said.

.