Corporal Terry Cooney, Corporal Roger Gleeson, Sergeant Terry Sheridan and Leading Aircraftman Paul Sullivan with two East Timor Aid Ambulance Service volunteers at Comoro Airfield Support Group.

Since arriving in East Timor last December, Maintenance Section personnel from 386 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron (ECSS) have been busy with many and varied tasks.

SGT Terry Sheridan, CPL Terry Cooney and CPL Roger Gleeson from 386ECSS Mechanical Engineering and Operational Maintenance Section at RAAF Base Richmond and LAC Paul Sullivan from No. 1 Combat Logistics Squadron at RAAF Base Townsville have worked on everything from general engineering and gun-smithing to fleet maintenance and refrigeration.

Sighs of gratitude have been heard all over Comoro Airfield for Maintenance's ability to fix unserviceable vehicles, repair worn out air-conditioners and extend the life of the Mess tent fridge.

While in country, the Squadron is known as the Comoro Airfield Support Group (CASG), which operates under the banner of the United Nations Transitional Authority East Timor (UNTAET).

UNTAET's mandate is to provide peacekeeping and humanitarian support to East Timor, and one of the important roles the Maintenance personnel provide is voluntary community work with the East Timor Aid Ambulance Service. They have carried out a wide variety of works for the Ambulance Service, from panel beating and engine repairs to rewiring electrical systems.

The Maintenance Section has also lent a hand to fellow Republic of Korea peacekeepers by providing specialist technical advice on vehicle and ground support equipment repairs and maintenance.

Regardless of the time spent helping out, SGT Terry Sheridan said: 'All Maintenance Section personnel are extremely proud and honoured to assist both the local community and personnel from other nations, and consider it a highlight of their deployment'.