SLR drill recalled on a day of peace

Corporal Barry Williams participates in the UN Peackeepers’ Day Parade. Photo by SQNLDR Tim Shaw.

By SQNLDR Tim Shaw
Air Force personnel were in the forefront of the first Day of International Peacekeepers during commemorations in Dili, East Timor.

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Anan said of the day – May 29 – that it “commemorates the sacrifice and selfless commitment of peacekeepers serving throughout the world. It celebrates what UN peacekeepers have done, in so many countries, to relieve suffering and reconcile warring parties.”

Corporal Barry Williams, of Air Movements section, RAAF Base Amberley, has served for more than four months in East Timor as the Air Movements liaison officer in the UN Air Operations Centre.

CPL Williams works alongside military and civilian personnel from more than a dozen different countries.

“I was proud to take part in the commemoration parade alongside workmates of so many different countries,” he said standing in front of the UN Hospital following the parade. “I carried a Filipino M16 for the parade. I had to scratch my brain on the old SLR drill. It was certainly challenging trying to standardise the drill of so many different countries in our parade practices.”

The parade was held outside the Presidential Palace or “Palace of the Ashes”. More than 170 participants from the various troop-contributing countries, UN police, East Timorese military and police and UN internationals took part . President Xanana Gusmao reviewed the parade.

Wing Commander Tom Cowan, Chief of Air Operations and CO of the Headquarters Peacekeeping Force Australian staff, said the parade was “a marvellous commemoration to the many past and present ADF personnel who have served with the UN here in Timor and in other missions, and particularly for those ADF members who gave their lives in the pursuit of peace.”

.