By LEUT Chris Woods
In the Solomons

Three members of HMASManoora’s stern door party standby to receive one of her Army LCM8s. Photo by LSPH David Connolly

The Bikfala sip blong Straya, the Pijin name for HMAS Manoora (CMDR Martin Brooker), arrived in Honiara after a rough voyage from Townsville to provide logistic and medical support for personnel involved with the Regional Assistance Mission in the Solomon Islands.

Day one of Op Helpem Fren (Pijin for ‘Help a Friend’) was the biggest military deployment by the ADF into the Pacific since WWII.

Hundreds of ADF personnel, members of the participating police forces and military personnel from New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga with their equipment, landed by sea and air on the troubled island nation.

Manoora’s transport and lodge ashore capability has been critical to the success of the mission.

Once the LPA anchored, her two Army LCM-8 landing craft worked tirelessly unloading their vehicles, equipment and regional personnel onto the beach as C-130 and civilian Boeing 767 aircraft conducted similar operations at Henderson Airfield.

The tactical lodgment phase was essential to establish an immediate presence. Manoora’s casualty reception facilities and her two Sea King helicopters assigned to aerial medical evacuation duties, remain a vital component of the Combined Task Force’s (CTF) capability.

“It has been great to put into practice all the capabilities that the ship has to offer. Everybody was involved and it was a team effort in a real world operation that is helping the people of the Solomon Islands,” CMDR Brooker said.

There are many challenges for the maritime component ahead.

Integrated planning between the military component and the participating police forces (PPF) of the Regional Assistance Mission has created interesting scenarios for naval planners attached to the Combined Task Force (CTF).

HMAS Hawkesbury departs Sydney for deployment in the Solomons.

With the PPF and military contingent established on Guadacanal, planning to provide vital logistic support to the police elements is well underway.

The police are re-establishing law and order outside Honiara, with police posts being established at Avu Avu and Auki on Lalaita and others to follow.

The post at Avu Avu required a major effort from Manoora. Because of the remoteness of the area she transported the police there and then landed them by Sea King.

Also vital will be maritime patrols of Solomon Islands’ territorial waters with a focus on the Bougainville border region. A member of the PPF already has sailed with HMAS Whyalla to patrol the Shortland Island area, just south of Bougainville

At the forefront of the planning are LCDR Iain Jarvie, the Maritime Plans Liaison Officer and LCDR Fred Ross attached to CTFHQ located ashore.

The operational tempo is beginning to pick up as a result of the guns hand-back program, LCDR Jarvie said.
“This is the first time that the Navy has supported a police-led mission,” he said.

“My job is to look at the maritime issues arising from police requirements to conduct surveillance and interdiction operations.”

According to PPF Assistant Commissioner Mark Johnsen, working with the military has been a very rewarding experience.

“They plan everything to the ‘enth’ degree,” he said.

“They will be looking at boarding a number of boats and visiting villages along the coast to spread the word about the gun amnesty.”

The weapons amnesty is receiving wide support. A considerable amount of arms and ammunition have already been handed into police for destruction and strict laws will be enforced after August 21.

The military component of Op Helpem Fren will remain in the Solomon Islands for as long as they are required.

Op Anode Conditions of Service

The nature of service for Operation Anode is non-warlike for the purpose of conditions of service entitlements.

The conditions of service include:

• A tax-free allowance of A$55.50 a day.
• Comprehensive compensation and rehabilitation coverage under the Veterans' Entitlements Act and the Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Act;
• Additional recreational leave;
• Pre-embarkation leave or reunion with a partner before deployment for those deployed for more than six months.

The package is designed to provide appropriate support to personnel while they are involved in the mission to assist the Solomon Islands Government to restore law and order.

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