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Flying familiar flags
By Andrew Stackpool

Volume 49, No. 03, March 08, 2007
 
BETWEEN THE FLAGS: 10SQN CO WGCDR Craig Heap presents a certificate and returns a donated flag to the MEAO to the general manager of Surf Life Saving South Australia, Elaine Farmer, flanked by the President of North Haven Surf Life Saving Club, Troy Jamieson, and 10SQN’s SGT Shane Harnett.
Photo by CPL Andrew Eddie
 
MEMBERS of the AP-3C task group in the MEAO kept safe this summer with the help of some Surf Life Saving South Australia patrol flags on display at the group’s home-made beach.

SGT Shane Harnett of 10SQN, who has been a member of the North Haven Surf Life Saving Club in SA for about five years, asked SLSSA to donate some patrol flags to be flown in the Middle East.

SGT Harnett deployed to the MEAO in December 2005.

“The flags represented a piece of home to the guys who were deployed and were great for morale,” SGT Harnett said.

The two flags had been flown at the MEAO task group’s volleyball courts for about three years when SGT Harnett asked SLSSA for some replacements.

“The flags were getting a bit tattered but they reminded the guys of being at an Aussie beach back home,” he said.

The flags were taken on an AP-3C operational mission on the last day the flags were flown in the Middle East before being returned to Australia.

CO 10SQN WGCDR Craig Heap presented the old set of flags and certificates of authenticity to the SLSSA Headquarters at Henley Beach on January 31.

The returned flags are a shadow of their former selves, having withstood extremely harsh weather conditions, including temperatures of around 50 degrees Celsius at times.

WGCDR Heap congratulated SLSSA on the great work they are doing and thanked them for donating the flags.

“These flags are of great personal value to surf lifesaving,” SLSSA general manager Elaine Farmer said.

“Surf Life Saving SA will look back and be proud of the support we gave to the men and women serving Australia.”

SLSSA will donate a new set of flags to 92WG each year members operate in the MEAO.

The ceremony and gift was also significant as 2007 marks the Year of the Life Saver, which celebrates a centenary of vital service to the Australian community by Surf Life Saving Australia.