 |
MISSING
PEOPLE |
By
CPL Cameron Jamieson
NO.
324 Combat Support Squadron are grieving. The December 26 disaster
claimed the life of Sergeant Daniel Butler’s wife, Ronda.
SGT Butler and his wife were on leave in Thailand. By December
28 there were reports SGT Butler was injured but alive, but there
was no news of his wife.
“It was harrowing for us, not being able to physically respond
and go and look for them. But we are part of a formed military
unit and we can’t go into Thailand without approval from our authorities
and the Thai government,” 324CSS CO Wing Commander Peter Viggers
said.
The squadron was in contact with the Australian Embassy officials
in Thailand and when the Embassy organised a team to travel to
Khao Lak, the squadron was able to send their padre, Chaplain
Mark Willis, to assist and keep an eye out.
The Butler’s children had been holidaying in China, so the squadron
arranged for their return to Butterworth and for Ronda’s parents
to be flown from Australia.
By New Year’s Eve SGT Butler, his children and Ronda’s parents
were in Butterworth, and three weeks later they returned to Australia
for a memorial service for Ronda.
