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Some
of the marchers from RAAF Base Tindal.
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FIFTEEN
personnel from RAAF Base Tindal’s No. 75 Squadron and RAAF Base
Amberley’s No. 23 Squadron have conquered blisters, fatigue and
pain in a 170km march.
For their efforts, they were awarded the Four Days Cross, a medal
recognising marching skills that was first presented by Queen
Wilhelmina in 1909.
The group participated in the Nijmegen Four Days March in the
Netherlands in late July. More than half the team were first-time
participants.
They tackled between 30 and 50 kilometres each day in camouflage uniforms while carrying 10kg backpacks through the towns around
Nijmegen.
Squadron Leader Nicholas Hese, of 23SQN, said the event was “challenging
and enormously rewarding”. “The four-day march places real demands
on teams,” SQNLDR Hese said.
“Our team prepared for months. The rigours associated with the
event means the team must have maximum physical capacity and team
spirit.”
Group Captain Corrie Metz, Tindal Base Commander, said the team
fought through pain and fatigue barriers to discover new endurance
limits. “Their team spirit was great and they encouraged each
other over the finish line,” GPCAPT Metz said.
“[Highlights] include interaction with other nations participating
and the victory march into the city at the conclusion of the event
where thousands of people, cheering and singing, welcomed and
congratulated us.”
MARCHING ON
The first Nijmegen March was in 1909 and since 1944 has marked
Operation Market Garden where Allied paratroopers tried to capture
bridges in Holland to clear a route into Germany.
This
year’s Air Force participants were:
|
AC
Kate
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Vanzino
LAC Gemma Heaton
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CPL
Michael Aram CPL Claire
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Hawkey
CPL Trish Withers
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CPL
Brian Rock WOFF Maeve
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Tennent
WOFF Ian Fairweather
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FLGOFF
Mark Sartor
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FLGOFF
Leon Matheson
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FLTLT
Debbie Van Zanter
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SQNLDR
Nicholas Hese
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SQNLDR
Doug Townshend
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SQNLDR
Derek Andrewarhta
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GPCAPT
Corrie Metz
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