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Solomons mission
Volume 50, No. 10, June 14, 2007 |
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| HELPING: CPO Quigley with a villager on Ranonga Island in the Western Provence. |
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CPOMT(E) Matt Quigley was one of the first persons on the ground in the tsunami affected Western Province of the Solomon Islands during the tsunami in early April. CPO Quigley was posted to the Solomon Islands under the Defence Co-Operation Program in early February as the technical adviser (electrical) to the Solomon Islands Police Force Maritime Unit. Along with LCDR Scott Mason (maritime surveillance adviser) and CPOMT Damien Dingle (Technical Adviser – Mechanical), he has been responsible for providing assistance and advice to the Solomon Islands Police Force Maritime Unit.
On the day of the tsunami the three RAN advisers, along with RAMSI Participating Police Advisers (PPF), assisted the SIPF in preparing the two patrol boats Auki and Lata to sail north and provide emergency relief assistance. In a commendable effort, both boats were refueled and ready to proceed within 12 hours of the tsunami, and arrived in the stricken areas within 24 hours with basic relief stores such as food and water.
CPO Quigley deployed with the boats and remained onboard for the initial week of relief effort. Assisting his SIPF colleagues, CPO Quigley was on the ground in a number of affected areas before any other relief agency, and apart from providing technical assistance, he assisted in the collection of information from affected areas that could be passed to authorities to assist in prioritising aid effort.
In addition, CPO Quigley assisted in locating and confirming the safety of a number of Australians. |
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