Reservists savour Solomons stint By Capt Adrian Dolahenty
Edition 1174, September 6, 2007
Special homecoming: Sig Clare Draper at Sydney International Airport with her sister Amanda, cousin Peta Winner and Commander 8 Bde Brig Iain Spence.
SOLDIERS of 8 and 5 Bdes were reunited with family and friends at Sydney International Airport on their return from the Solomon Islands on August 17.
The returning soldiers were rotation 12 of Operation Anode, and after six months of lead-up training and the operation they were looking forward to taking leave.
The operation was the first for many of the reservists.
Sig Clare Draper, 8CSSB, was beaming as she embraced her sister Amanda and cousin Peta Winner.
“Seeing how we could help the Solomon Islanders was the best part,” Sig Draper said.
“They live in grass huts and we live in massive buildings and they get a thrill if you give them a water bottle. It was such a big thing to them.”
Sig Draper’s sister, Amanda, said she didn’t think she would miss Clare so much.
“I was crying thinking about her coming back,” Ms Draper said. “It was amazing.”
Pte Nathan Johns, 2/17RNSWR, had his mother Lyn and girlfriend Angela Young waiting to pick him up from the airport.
“This is wonderful, it couldn’t come quick enough,” Mrs Johns said.
The highlight for Pte Johns was provincial patrolling on the outer islands.
He will soon begin a career as a police officer, but will remain in the Army Reserve.
LCpl Ross Duckitt, 155 Sig Sqn, enjoyed the taste of operational service and has applied to transfer to the ARA.
Met by his partner Kristina and children Alexander and Jessika, LCpl Duckitt described his deployment as “a good experience”.
A veteran of about 40 years of regular and Reserve service, RSM WO1 Stan Paulson said the young troops were initially affected by the abject poverty of many of the islanders.
The RSM said he was impressed with the “capability of the soldiers” that was demonstrated on a daily basis and how the security situation had improved while they were stationed there.
“I’m glad we’re back because we did our job and all our soldiers are in one piece and all our soldiers firmly bonded,” WO1 Paulson said.
