Tonga tough
Volume 11, No. 57, November 30, 2006
By Capt Al Green

Street beat: Pte Scott Brown, 1RAR, surveys the damage on the streets of Nuku’ alofa, Tonga. Photo by Capt Al Green.

IT’S there on our TV – another friendly nation facing adversity – this time Tonga. 1RAR’s Ready Company Group (RCG) is placed on stand-by – stood down – then recalled.

Not expecting her spouse to go, Pte Eliesa Holaafolau’s partner says to him on the way out the door, “Don’t forget the bread on the way home”, she hasn’t heard from him since. He’s busy on the streets of the capital, Nuku’ alofa patrolling and interpreting the language on an island group where he lived briefly as a child.

The likelihood of deploying was always strong. This year, 1RAR’s RCGs have deployed to Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste. Every deployment is different – the criteria for action stemming from a request by the nation concerned.

A Coy OC and national commander in Tonga, Maj Jim Hammett said adaptability is one of the strongest attributes soldiers can possess in these situations.
“Due to the nature of the Ready Deployment Force and short notice deployments, the luxury of specific lead-up training and Mission Rehearsal Exercises simply isn’t there,” he said.
“It’s testament to our troops’ character and capability that they are well suited to adapting their basic skill-sets to a range of diverse situations.”

And that capability was put to test early with one of the first tasks to secure the airhead and ensure that any nationals who wanted to voluntarily leave could. This included tourists, and in one case honeymooners.
Processed by High Commission staff and escorted by soldiers to the returning 707 RAAF aircraft, the relief on the faces was acute. It had been an anxious time for expats and tourists when commercial flights had suddenly ceased, leaving them with the uncomfortable feeling that comes from being being stranded far from home.

On the streets of Nuku Alofa, the adaptability displayed by the troops has manifested itself in other ways. As the Australians are working in support of the Tongan Defence Service, patrolling is conducted jointly with the Tongans. Soon the goodwill evident between the forces also flowed over to the streets.

Central to this effort was Tongan speaking Pte Eliesa Holaafolau. Not only did he make a hit with the locals with his friendly reassuring personality, he was also related to many of those encountered. “Hey there’s my cousin.” A local yelled from his shop doorway before yet another warm embrace.

Other key points such as the power, radio and television stations saw the presence of Australians. They seem to be everywhere, belying the small-foot print of 50 – 46 infantry, 3 signallers and a medic.
Though small in size, the force is capably assisting to stabilise the environment to allow the Tongan military some down time and time to consolidate.

“The Tongan authorities have been magnificent,” commented Maj Hammett.

“They gained control of the situation last week and have maintained stability since. They have been working at a high, sustained tempo and have maintained their capability despite high levels of fatigue – and that’s where the Australian mission here is focussed, providing them with manpower support to provide them a respite”.

While the expectation is for a brief mission, the troops are fully focussed on the job at hand. And appreciation is forthcoming. At midnight the radio station pays tribute. “To the Aussies guarding our gates,” announces the DJ, “this song’s for you.”