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Op Outreach’s friendly faces
By Cpl Corinne Boer
Edition 1171, July 26, 2007 |
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King of the kids: Pte Brian Little with local boys Jason, Patrick and Jamie.
Photos by Gnr Shannon Joyce |
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| Right at home: Nine-year-old Michelle prepares to take a catch from Pte Temintererei Robuti. |
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OLD friends were reunited and new friends were made when Norforce soldiers visited the Aboriginal community of Hermannsburg on July 13.
A girl shyly approached Pte Temintererei Robuti and her expressive brown eyes widened as she asked, “Do you remember me, Tammy?”, using the soldier’s nickname.
“It’s good to see Tiffany looking healthy. She has grown a lot since the last time I saw her,” Pte Robuti said.
Hermannsburg had been Pte Robuti’s home for two years. Originally from the island of Kirabati, she immigrated to Australia when she was 12. She grew up with many Aboriginal friends in Boraloola and now lives in Tennant Creek.
As she wandered Hermannsburg’s sleepy streets, she searched for old friends. It wasn’t long before she was encouraged to join a game of basketball with fellow Norforce soldier Pte Brian Liddle against some local boys.
The boys conveyed tactics in their native dialect to gain an advantage. Pte Liddle couldn’t keep up with 13-year-old Matthew as he ducked and weaved around the soldier’s legs. “He’s got some tricks up his sleeves. I think he might end up in the NBL,” Pte Liddle said. “I think we lost the game 20-3.”
He was stationed at Hermannsburg to provide logistics, transportation and communication for the NT Emergency Taskforce’s health assessment team.
“At first the kids were a bit cautious and asked if we were going to take them away,” he said. “Now they come up to us all the time. There is one boy that comes to me every morning to ask questions and just hang out.”
As the game of basketball fizzled out, Pte Liddle retired with his entourage to the shade of a nearby council building as Pte Robuti wandered to the sports field where she received waves and calls from the girls practising softball. She received pats on the shoulder and was embraced by the affectionate locals as if she was a member of their family.
“I know those girls really well. They come from really lovely families and when they visited Tennant Creek, they tracked us down and stayed with my family,” she said.
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