That’s game over

Out with a bang: Members of 2/10 Fd Regt take post during the 1812 Overture played by the tri-service concert band at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne. Photo by Cpl Belinda Mepham

Overwatch: 77 Sqn F/A-18s (below) fly a patrol over Melbourne. Photo by WOFF Robert Thompson.

Team players: LBdr Michael Rawmiddle, Pte Kylie Hasse and Pte Regan Dransfield (above) enjoy the sights of Melbourne during down time. Photo by Cpl Belinda Mepham.

Great sax: An Army member of the tri-service concert band blows up a storm. Photo by Cpl Belinda Mepham

By Lt Cameron Jamieson

Volume 11, No. 40, April 6, 2006

THE Commonwealth Games are over, but the memory of their success will remain for a long time yet, thanks in part to the commitment of the ADF members assigned to Operation Acolyte.
Reaching a peak-force strength of 2600 personnel, the soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen of JTF636 worked around the clock to ensure the games remained safe, secure and successful.
ADF contribution to the games encompassed land, air and sea assets that worked together with seamless and invisible efficiency.

From Air Force F/A-18s providing air security, to Navy divers keeping an eye on the triathlon swim at St Kilda beach, to soldiers ensuring the Game’s village was secure, the ADF members on Op Acolyte conducted themselves with an unobtrusive yet visual presence that helped provide the right level of security for athletes and spectators alike.

Perhaps fittingly, the Defence presence was best viewed when the musical tallents of the ADF came together in the closing days of the Games to form the largest tri-service concert band in 50 years.

Performing at the Myer Music Bowl to a crowd of more than 11,000, their performance included the 1812 Overture, complete with artillery fire, to the delight of onlookers.

Commander Operation Acolyte Brig Andrew Smith said it had been a fantastic privilege to command the force.

“They were asked to do something that was out of the ordinary, and they rose to the challenge,” he said.

Brig Smith said the task force’s low public profile meant they had achieved a major goal.
“If you look in the newspapers you’ll see lots of things about athletes and the closing ceremony.
“You have to dig right down to find anything about security. So people were able to attend and enjoy the games without worrying about it.

“We’ve been able to deliver the effects we were here to deliver in regards to the security of the games and to the conduct of the games through our ceremonial and general support.
“And we’ve been able to do this while keeping exactly the right level of Defence profile in the community.”

A key to Operation Acolyte’s success was the cooperation between the ADF and the various government and civilian stakeholders.

“Everyone came down here with the right attitude,” Brig Smith said.

“They wanted to work together to deliver a great Games – and that was no accident. We invested, 14 months ago, in having people down here in the forward command element who got to know people and develop relationships locally, and that paid off for us during this operation.”
Brig Smith said he had a lot of good memories from his visits to the various Navy, Air Force and Army assets assigned to his command, and was particularly taken by the commitment personnel made to any task given them.

“I remember seeing Reserve members at around two o’clock in the morning on a vehicle check point,” Brig Smith said.

“They were working hard, pulling together with members of the Victoria Police and contract security people to get the job done.

“They were behind the scenes, and there was no-one else around to see them, but they were still doing a great job.”