Picnic shows support for Defence families

SLIDE: LEUT Naomi Deignan supervises kids on the jumping castle.

Volume 49, No. 21, November 16, 2006

Two Brisbane-based RAN officers swapped their “whites” for t-shirts and barbecue tongs for a job with a difference late last month.

Lieutenants Naomi Deignan and Bevan Andrews are Military Liaison Officers attached to the Defence Community Organisation’s Brisbane office.

On October 29, 12 members of the DCO office, including LEUTs Deignan and Andrews staged a picnic for the spouses, children and close relatives of those ADF personnel deployed overseas.

The picnic was held at the Army’s Enoggera complex and attracted nearly 400 guests.
Led by area manager Chris Smith, the DCO staffers rotated through numerous roles including manning the barbecue and supervising those using such entertainment as mini-golf, pony rides, the merry-go-round and the jumping castle.

The Royal Artillery Band/Brisbane did a one hour concert while Defence Housing Authority, Toll Logistics and 6 RAR were among those who set up stalls.

DCO itself conducted a stand where information to help spouses and other family members separated from loved-ones because of deployment, was available.

“It was our second picnic. The first was in February and 340 people attended,” LEUT Deignan told Navy News.
“We plan to hold two per year,” she said.

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