Pride in their stride at marches
Sydney embraces Middle East heroes

Words of praise

“I was a little nervous when they went. But they were very professional. I am delighted they all came back.” – CAF Air Marshal Angus Houston “I felt like a smile with legs. It’s an amazing day to be an Australian.” – CDF General Peter Cosgrove “Overwhelming and humbling.” – Brigadier Maurie McNarn, Commander Australian Forces, while describing the 100,000 people who turned out to welcome home Defence personnel in Sydney “I will never forget the love that flowed between families and personnel. I say thank you to families. I salute the great Defence community family.” - Prime Minister John Howard. To the ADF members, he continued: “I salute the service personnel. I am very proud of what you have done.”

Air Force personnel assemble outside Town Hall during the well-attended Sydney welcome home parade. Photo by LAC Steve Duncan

An Air Force singer gives her rendition of the national anthem in Sydney. Photo by CPL Jason Weeding

Two Hercules fly overhead as Air Force personnel receive the crowd’s applause along George Street in Sydney. Photo by LAC Steve Duncan

Above: More than just a face in the crowd was this Leading Aircraftwoman during the march in Sydney. Photo by CPL Jason Weeding

Air Force personnel during the welcome home march in Sydney. Photo by Phil Barling

Corporal Dom Rossetto is interviewed by Channel Seven on a perfect Sydney morning before the start of the parade. Photo by LAC Steve Duncan

By Graham Davis
More than 100,000 people, some standing 40 deep, others throwing ticker tape, gave 1400 Defence personnel, both uniformed and civilian, a rousing “welcome home and well done” when they marched proudly through the streets of Sydney on June 18.

Many wore the green and white Australian Active Service Medal signifying they had deployed to the Middle East.

Others did not because they had remained at home to provide the vital support that made Operations Slipper, Bastille and Falconer so successful.

Ray and Kay Phillips drove to Sydney to watch Flight Lieutenant Michael Phillips march. He had been in the Middle East with No. 36 Squadron. Wife Kim and their son Samuel, 12 months, also enjoyed the parade.

Air Force Corporal Dom Rossetto was invited to tell his story to the media as was Captain Peter Jones, the Gulf Task Group Commander earlier this year and the man in command of 2000 sailors, soldiers, marines and Coast Guard personnel from Australia, the US, UK and Poland.

As the noon chimes struck on the GPO clock, the well-turned out ceremonial motor

cyclists from the NSW Police started their machines and with a police patrol car, its beacons flashing, led the Sydney Detachment of the RAN Band out on to George Street North.

Leading the marchers was Brigadier Maurie McNarn who had led the Australian forces in the Middle East and who was recently honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. Next came the RAN contingent, followed the Army group, the Air Force and the 23-member Defence civilian contingent.

Police estimated the crowd at more than 100,000. Others suggested 150,000. Metre by metre the marchers were cheered and applauded.

Hundreds of veterans from previous conflicts mingled with the crowd. Signs told of how many were feeling.
With the RAN, Army and two Air Force bands interspersing the marchers, the 1400 personnel moved along George Street.

Although ticker tape is a thing of the past, office workers went to their shredders and soon shredded paper fluttered from windows on to the marchers.

Then the first of the elements of an impressive flypast took place.

First were three RAN helicopters, one carrying a huge White Ensign. Next were two Air Force Hercules followed by two flights of Hornets, four in each flight.

Waiting to welcome the marchers were the Administrator, Sir Guy Greene, Prime Minister John Howard, Lord Mayor of Sydney Councillor Lucy Turnbull, Premier of NSW Bob Carr, Chief of the Defence Force General Peter Cosgrove, Defence Minister Senator Robert Hill, Minister Assisting him Danna Vale, Parliamentary Defence Secretary Fran Bailey, members of the consular corps and many other VIPs.

Minutes before the marchers arrived, there was loud applause for a Sydney City garbage collector as he made a final check on the Town Hall forecourt and with a flourishing wave departed on the back deck of a garbage truck.

With speeches and formalities over, the marchers and VIPs were invited to disperse to assemble later in the afternoon for a reception at the Darling Harbour Convention Centre.

But the crowd did not want to leave, instead moving through the barriers to shake the hands of those who marched.

 

 

 

 

 

Fantastic day at Perth

Lined up and looking the part, these Air Force personnel received hearty congratulations during the parade in Perth. Photo by AB Phillip Cullinan

Just part of the 10,000 strong crowd that lined the streets of Perth for the welcome home parade. Photo by CPL Jason Weeding

The Prime Minister John Howard with airmen from No. 92 Wing at RAAF Base Edingburgh at the official welcome reception in Perth for ADF personnel who served in the MEAO. Photo by CPL Gary Dixon

A member of the Air Force Band blows his own trumpet in Perth. Photo by AB Phillip Cullinan

Flags wave and people cheer these Air Force personnel for what they had achieved during operations in the Middle East. Photo by CPL Jason Weeding

By Anna Marsden
Well over 10,000 Perth residents turned out to cheer and say thank you to Australia’s military forces that took part in Operations Slipper, Bastille and Falconer.

The Perth Welcome Home March may have been smaller than Sydney’s, but the enthusiasm from the crowd and pride on the part of the marchers was unmatched.

“It was a fantastic day,” said Squadron Leader Tania Jones, an administrative officer for the P-3 maintenance crews and personnel in the Gulf. “The support of people in Perth was unbelievable. From go to whoa, the crowd just cheered continuously.

“I almost got a tear in my eye and some of my friends marching said the same thing, particularly when you saw the old guys, the Vietnam vets, cheering us on. It was really, really nice!”

The Perth Welcome Home March for ADF personnel and Defence civilians who contributed to Operations in the Middle East and Afghanistan was held on June 20.

With impeccable timing a lone Seahawk helicopter flew down the length of St George’s Terrace just as the Navy contingent arrived at Council House.

Moments later, five F/A-18s in formation cruised overhead as the Air Force contingent arrived in the Council House precinct.

A young Air Force Flight Lieutenant slipped out of the superbly catered reception after the Perth Welcome March and came back through the secure entrance carrying a full bag from a fast food outlet. “Mate, I’m from Tindal. That’s 300 ks away from the nearest fast food. Do you think I’m going to miss this chance?” So saying, he disappeared back into the throng of chardonnay-quaffing canape eaters.

A lone cadet carrying an SASR banner represented the SAS contingent who could not be identified for security reasons. (The SAS didn’t miss out entirely, however. Dressed in civvies, they slid quietly into the reception while all other attention was focused on the march and were treated to a private audience with the Prime Minister.)

For the marchers and their families, the reception in a marquee on the Esplanade lawns was a high point of the event.

Families and ADF members were treated to superb catering and an Air Force swing band.

.