Soldiers bring hope after disaster

By Capt Al Green
Volume 11, No. 40, April 6, 2006

Provision: 3CSSB catering staff prepare meals at an evacuation centre..

THE ADF’s prompt response to Cyclone Larry’s obliteration of the far north Queensland coast and Atherton Tablelands alleviated the human suffering as Defence delivered life-saving aid to those in dire need.

Many of the units involved in the relief effort were redeployed from the field and refitted in order to assist.

After taking a helicopter flight over the devastated area, Commander Operation Larry Assist Brig Mick Slater – along with members of Queensland Emergency Services – formulated a plan to commit resources where they would be most effective.

The plan was simple – sustain and protect. Water, food and shelter was the priority in material terms, along with troops and engineering equipment to clear debris blocking roads and endangering the population.

Brig Slater said the aim was to “stabilise the situation until the civil authorities could consolidate and fully manage the situation without Defence support”.

Cyclone Larry struck on March 20 and by midnight a convoy from Townsville’s 3CSSB was on the Bruce Highway headed north. Troops from 2RAR and engineers from 3CER, along with their heavy plant, followed early the next morning.

The convoys beat rapidly rising floodwaters to be among the last vehicles into Innisfail before road access was cut. Movement was hazardous because of bad weather and debris on the road. By 0600hrs, 19 hours after the cyclone, the first troops were on the ground in Innisfail.

The ground commander, logistician Lt-Col Andrew Bottrell, had established a Combined Task Group (CTG) that coordinated CSSB, engineer and infantry elements. At the height of the operation, some 400 ADF personnel were involved on the ground.

Higher-level coordination and command was run out of a JTF HQ located at 3 Bde in Townsville. The State Disaster Coordination Centre was responsible for the tasking.

The process proved effective, as CTG Operations Officer Maj Brad Robertson said, “Once on the ground we were able to create an immediate effect in our core sustainment role”.

This was assisted by the creation of an air-bridge into Innisfail by RAAF Hercules and Caribous. In the first four days of Op Larry Assist they delivered 75,000 litres of bottled water and 15.5 tonnes of tarpaulins.

As the relief effort gained momentum, soldiers from Cairns-based 51FNQR assisting in Babinda were joined by 3RAR soldiers with 3CER engineering support. Five 5 Avn Regt and School of Army Avn Black Hawks flew the troops in.
Three Iroquois were also on line, as well as a Chinook for heavy lift.

Reconnaissance and aid drops to communities still cut-off from help became one of the helos’ main operational roles as they delivered water and food to outlying areas.

1RAR’s Recon Pl was active in the Atherton Tablelands, reporting on damage in remote communities that the helos could not access because of heavy cloud.

The helicopters played a critical role in the aeromedical evacuation of patients in serious condition, including a car-crash victim, from Innisfail hospital to Cairns. Not all evacuations were airborne: Maj Ben Butson and a medical team from 3CCSB were involved in the rescue of a sick infant from across a swollen river in terrible weather and little light.

“The mother, having trouble waking a one-month-old baby that was breathing irregularly, made a distress call,” he said.

Medical aid: Sgt Neil Atkins and Pte Kristy Eglington, 3CSSB Health Coy, carry medical supplies to a Black Hawk to assist the Innisfail community. Photo by Cpl Rachel Ingram.

A Unimog forded the flooded river and the medical team was able to stabilise the infant’s breathing before taking him to hospital. “Happily the baby is recovering well,” Maj Butson said.

He said the soldiers also helped out at the Innisfail hospital. “Our medics, under supervision, have been asked to assist surge capacity at Innisfail,” he said. “The hospital staff have appreciated having extra skilled staff to lend a hand.”

Elsewhere, a field kitchen prepared more than 1500 fresh meals for displaced locals. Shower facilities were also provided to bridge the gap until water could be reconnected.

One of the subtle aspects of the uniformed presence was the stabilising effect. For example, 2RAR soldiers tasked to reach a small community that had been cut off, arrived to find much tension and stress among the locals. As they methodically set about providing food and water, cleaning up and tarping roofs, the negativity soon evaporated.

“We found that soldiers’ presence in the small communities generated a strong and positive reaction,” OC Maj Jeff Frisby said.
As Pte Corey Lindsay said, “A lot was achieved by reassurance.”

With 1RAR, 2RAR and 3RAR providing the clean-up crews and tarp-roofing teams, engineers were able to use their specialist skills to best effect.

“Our priority was to facilitate mobility and to help re-establish essential services,” OC 25 Spt Sqn Maj Ken Martin said. To that end, his troops cleared roads for access and re-established utilities for water.

As the initial emergency eased, schools became the focus for the engineers who repaired roofing, boarded up broken windows, reconnected water services, cleared fallen trees and made powerlines safe.

Lesley Hughes, the principal of Inclusive Education Centre, a school for special-needs children, said the work done by the engineers was outstanding. She said 3CER sappers not only removed debris, but carefully raked the playground to make it safe.

Lt-Col Bottrell said all the soldiers were incredibly focused and dedicated to the cyclone-recovery effort.

“The hardest thing was to get them to slow down and take a break to ensure that they wouldn’t fatigue too early or suffer any accidents. Aussies helping Aussies in need is indeed a great motivator,” he said.