THE
Air Force has been thanked for its part in delivering a 25-pound
gun to Papua New Guinea earlier this year.
Papua New Guinea’s Koiari people, along with the Kokoda Memorial
Foundation, expressed their appreciation to RAAF Base Richmond’s
No. 36 and 37 Squadrons, who delivered the gun in April.
Flight Lieutenant Leon Roiter, from 37SQN, and Flight Lieutenant
Jamie Riddell, from 36SQN, accepted certificates on their squadrons’
behalf.
FLTLT Roiter piloted the C-130J that transported the gun to PNG.
It was placed by Kokoda Memorial Association volunteers at a permanent
artillery memorial site at Ower’s Corner to mark the 60th
anniversary of the first defeat of the Japanese in the defence
of Australia.
The gun was donated by Australian Defence Industries to acknowledge
the strong bond between the Koiari people and Australian soldiers
during the Kokoda battles in World War 2.
The Koiari tribesmen, also known as the “Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels”,
carried Australian supplies along the Kokoda Track and helped
our wounded back to hospital.
Three original Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, Gai Euva, Tabu Taete and Bokoi
Emilo, attended the certificate presentation at the Royal Australian
Artillery National Museum as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations.
Students from Mosman High School, who held a walkathon to raise
money for the refurbishment of a school in PNG, also donated a
cheque for .
