Tarakan on gift run

HMAS Tarakan beached at Koromira Point, Bougainville.

The Mayor of Arawa Mr Paul Nakarawa thanks Tarakan crew members LSBM Salabert and ABMT Birch.

By LCDR Dave Hannah

The ship’s company of HMAS Tarakan (LCDR Dave Hannah) recently delivered books and soft toys to Arawa Orphanage on what may turn out to be her last deployment to Bougainville.

Before Tarakan sailed in February, Mourilyan State School and the Lady Lions of Cairns requested she deliver ten boxes of educational books and two bags of soft toys to the island’s children.

Members of the ship’s company attended a luncheon at Arawa Orphanage and took the opportunity to present the books and toys to Mrs Francisca Sala who founded the facility.

Both Francisca and the Mayor of Arawa, Mr Paul Nakarawa, were visibly moved and thanked the donors for their kindness. After eight deployments to Bougainville in support of Op Bel Isi I and II, this is likely to have been Tarakan’s last.

The Australian Government recently announced that its commitment to the Peace Monitoring Group will cease mid year.

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