Open heart for Honiara

By Rebecca Codey
Volume 48, No. 4, March 23, 2006

Air terminal operator LAC Matthew Shephard of No. 1ATS

A C-130H from No. 36SQN awaits its precious cargo before departing for the Solomon Islands.

Photos by LAC Col Dadd

A TEAM of volunteer medical specialists in Honiara received essential medical equipment earlier this month thanks to the efforts of Air Force’s Air Lift Group (ALG).

More than 3000 kilograms of equipment was transported to and from the Solomon Islands by C-130, in keeping with the Air Force’s commitment to humanitarian assistance.

This latest gesture of goodwill was made in support of the Sydney Adventists Hospital’s Operation Open Heart. Since its inception in 1986, the program has offered medical support to people suffering from disease and ill-health in the South Pacific who cannot be treated by local means.

A large amount of specialist medical equipment was required to support the operation, and the cost of moving this equipment by commercial transport meant that the initiative may not have happened were it not for the support of the Air Force.

Although a routine air lift task for the members of No. 86WG in regards to planning and flying, the men and women realise they are making a difference, according to Executive Officer No. 36SQN, SQNLDR William Kourelakos.

Navigator for the air lift to Honiara on March 9, SQNLDR Kourelakos said the team, ground and air crews, were proud to be a part of the operation.

“It was around 10pm when we arrived at Honiara and the doctors and staff were waiting at the airstrip for their equipment,” he said.

“They were eager to move on with their work, and to know we helped them to do so gives you a sense of pride.”

No. 1 Air Terminal Squadron’s LAC Jeff Coupe, who was among the personnel responsible for ensuring the vital equipment was loaded safely and securely on the C-130, agreed. “You don’t think about it a lot, because at the end of the day it is really just another part of the job,” he said. “But when you do, you feel good knowing you have helped to provide for others in their time of need.”

Chief of Air Force AIRMSHL Geoff Shepherd has praised the efforts of those involved and acknowledged the importance of such opportunities.

“The ADF has supported such programs in the past in Tonga and Papua New Guinea and I am pleased that the Air Force was once again able to respond to an important call for help,” AIRMSHL Shepherd said.

“I am grateful to the men and women of ALG who have worked hard to make the trip possible. Operation Open Heart also represents a great opportunity for the Air Force, giving our crews the chance to exercise the planning and skills required for ADF humanitarian support operations.

“The Air Force, as part of the wider ADF community, continues to provide invaluable support to requests for humanitarian assistance across our region and I am very proud of the important and impressive work that they do in this field.”

Operation Open Heart is a charitable activity supported by AusAID and is manned by medical specialists who volunteer their time and expertise.

The project aims to assist local doctors in diagnosis and treatment, provide urgent surgery for patients, provide in-service training for local medical staff, assist with equipment needs and contribute to preventive cardiac programs.

Since the program’s inception, trips have been made almost every year to countries including Tonga, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Myanmar and Nepal.

The role of the C-130 is to provide tactical air support to the ADF throughout the world, including search and survivor assistance, medical evacuation and aid to Australian and neighbouring civil communities.

It is not always possible for the ADF to respond to such requests, however, the Air Force was pleased to assist on this occasion.

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