Dining-in night in the desert

Leading Aircraftman Damien Edwards makes his debut as Mr Vice.

Leading Aircraftman Phillip Bond plays Waltzing Matilda for the desert diners.

A familiar Aussie sight ... Corporal Scott Wadwell and Sergeant Anthony Carville tend the barbecue.

A DINING-IN night that features classic Aussie tucker is nothing unusual in itself – but it’s particularly memorable when it’s held under the desert sky while on deployed operations.

The Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) task group held an all-ranks dining-in night last month to mark the halfway point of the deployment for most of the second rotation in the MEAO.

The venue – a paved recreation area inside the Australian compound that catered for more than 150 personnel – was set up in just over an hour. This was a reflection of the enthusiasm of the volunteers and their supervisor, Flight Sergeant Peter Pinkerton.

In sweltering heat, cooks Sergeant Anthony Carville and Corporal Scott Wadwell prepared an entrée of a prawn cocktail salad, a main meal of marinated steaks and chicken breasts with baked potatoes and salad, and a dessert of fresh fruit salad.

As many of the junior members of the task group had never experienced a dining-in night, Warrant Officers Paul Dowdle and Brenton Bell explained the tradition and basic rules.

It was the first dining in night for Mr Vice, Leading Aircraftman Damien Edwards. He discovered early on to keep a close eye on proceedings as his gavel went “missing”. About an hour later it was returned to Mr Vice, who by that stage had some very sore knuckles. Some said it was a miracle that Padre Squadron Leader Ian Whitley ended up “finding” the gavel.

Leading Aircraftman Phillip Bond “piped” in the port to the tune of Waltzing Matilda using a piano accordion.

The after-dinner speeches by Wing Commander Terry Mackinnon, MPA task force Commander, and Air Commodore Graham Bentley, Australian Commander Joint Task Force for the MEAO, focused on the success of the deployment to date, which is a result of great effort and teamwork.

The MPA task force is noted for being a quiet achiever with a mission success rate of almost 100 per cent. Like other task groups in the MEAO, it has formed a good relationship and reputation with the host nation and coalition partners.

After the speeches, OIC of the Squadron Medical Element Squadron Leader Paul McCarthy offered his head to be shaved following an auction. The bidding finished at $150, followed by a hat being passed around for donations, which came to $300 for a local charity. Unfortunately for SQNLDR McCarthy, the clippers had “technical problems” midway through the haircut.

The festive event provided an entertaining change from the demands of life on deployment.

.