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Navy
assets deployed in support of Op Helpem Fren were a huge
success at a special open day held in early August.
The aim of the day was a meet and greet for the Solomon
Islanders.
|
Navy
assets deployed in support of Op Helpem Fren were a huge success
at a special open day held in early August.
The aim of the day was a meet and greet for the Solomon Islanders.
It provided the first opportunity for the Islanders to meet the
people from the participating nations and gain insights into the
operation’s capabilities.
And meet them they did, with crowds massing at the Honiara town
ground long before the day began. Estimates placed some 10,000
people visiting the various displays.
High on the ‘must see’ list was one of the Sea King
helicopters flown in from Manoora as a static display.
Meanwhile, down the road at the Point Cruz wharf, HMAS Wewak took
time out from her busy schedule to become a major drawcard.
Her ship’s company worked tirelessly in the tropical sun
to ensure as many people as possible toured the ship. At the end
of the three-hour ship open time, some 1200 Solomon Islanders
had visited. Another 300 had to be turned away.
Wewak and Manoora personnel were busy elsewhere with displays
by the LCH of her firefighting equipment, while the LPA’s
boarding and diving teams demonstrated their container climbing
and scuba gear.
Noteworthy was the large number of people who thanked members
of the CTRF for their presence and indicated how much safer they
now felt.
LEUT Chris Woods, one of the deployed Public Affairs officers
summed the whole day up. “The Op Helpem Fren Open Day was
the best show in town and everyone wanted a piece of the action.”
