Face-to-face exchange

Volume 48, No. 5, April 6, 2006

WGCDR Johan Bosch, Base Commander of Ohakea Air Force Base, welcomes Australian ANZAC Exchangee FLGOFF David Stary to New Zealand with a traditional Maori hongi greeting.

WITH A traditional welcome and a moving Haka performance, five Air Force personnel were welcomed to New Zealand last month for the start of the ANZAC Exchange.

FLGOFF David Stary, CPL Barry Cuthbertson, CPL James Coolahan, CPL Michael Petersen and CPL Denny Makara will spend the next three months working, experiencing and exchanging ideas with their Kiwi counterparts.

The exchange allows personnel from both countries to experience different cultures, work environments and operational tempos, to gain knowledge of trade differences and processes and take this back to their units with positive outcomes for all.

The Air Force participants, along with 25 other personnel from Navy and Army, boarded an early flight out of Richmond on a four-hour flight to Ohakea New Zealand.

Upon arrival, the Australian ANZAC contingent was greeted by the New Zealand ANZAC contingent with a traditional powhiri (welcome) ceremony. This included a moving performance of a haka by the Ohakea base personnel.

The Base Commander, WGCDR Johan Bosch, welcomed the Australians with a bilingual speech in Maori and English. WGCDR Bosch reminded all participants of the bond between our two countries, the history we share and the importance of the ANZAC Exchange program.

After a quick face-to-face with their NZ reciprocal exchanges, the five Air Force personnel were whisked away to continue their journeys to Auckland and Woodburn bases where they will spend the next three months working, experiencing and exchanging ideas with their Kiwi counterparts.

Expressions of interest for ANZAC 2007 will be out soon and a website containing further information is currently under construction. For more information, contact SGT Michelle Peterkin on (02) 6265 3070.

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