Solomon Islands

18 November 2010
Operation Anode Brings in the Bosses

Civilian employers of Defence Force reservists have experienced first-hand the conditions and challenges faced by their employees whilst serving on operations overseas.

Twenty-three employers recently joined their reservist employees currently deployed to the Solomon Islands in support of Operation Anode on Boss Lift.

Boss Lift is designed to inform and promote to employers the important tasks being conducted by their reservist employees by providing them with a chance to experience service life in the field via such activities as kit demonstrations, range shoots and base tours.

Boss Lift provides each Operation Anode reserve rotation with the opportunity to showcase the skills they have developed during their service in the Solomon Islands back to their local workplaces in Australia.

Civilian employer support and community support is vital to Australia’s defence capability.

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Corporal Kevin Farrell, Transport Supervisor at Transport Section on deployment to the Solomon Islands shows his boss Kent Robinson, Treasury Wine Estates under the hood of a Uni Mog during Boss Lift.

(Date taken: 09 November 2010)
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Corporal Steve Linton shows his employer Alistair Bowers aspects of his Army Reservists job in the armoury as an Armoury Supervisor on Operation Anode.

(Date taken: 09 November 2010)
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Mr John Circosta (right) Manager, Early Years and Youth, Wyndham City Council in Victoria, is shown over a Four Wheel Drive Vehicle by Army Reservist Private Amanda Simovska. Private Simovska is currently deployed on Operation ANODE, but works as a kindergarten teacher when not undertaking Reserve duty with the Australian Army.

(Date taken: 09 November 2010)
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Mr David Williams with Private Lucas Brown of 8/7 Royal Victoria Regiment, on deployment to the Solomon Islands. Mr Williams owns the Willow Tree Building Company, and is in the Solomon Islands looking at what his employee does in his Army reserve time.

(Date taken: 09 November 2010)
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Mr Terry Lloyd, Deputy Vice- Chancellor of the University of Ballarat with (L-R) Private (PTE) Brad Smith and Lance Corporal (LCPL) Robert Powell, demonstrating conditions of jungle life. LCPL Powell is a Civil Engineering student, and PTE Smith is studying a Bachelor of Business at the University of Ballarat. Both soldiers are members of 8/7 Royal Victoria Regiment on deployment to the Solomon Islands.

(Date taken: 09 November 2010)
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Miss Carolyn Barrie with Private (PTE) Rodney Lenehan from 8/7 Royal Victoria Regiment. PTE Lenehan shows Ms Barrie, who works for the city of Ballart, how to prepare and consume combat rations in the field.

(Date taken: 09 November 2010)
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Mr Gary Pysing (centre) from Rivalea Australia, Corowa NSW is shown the meals provided to combat troops by his civilian employees (L-R) Troopers Wayne Stanley and Chris Youings. Both Army Reservists hail from 4/19 Prince of Wales Light Horse and are on deployment to the Solomon Islands as part of Operation ANODE.

(Date taken: 09 November 2010)
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Deputy Commissioner Ken Lay, Victoria Police tries combat rations for the first time on Exercise Boss Lift. Corporal David Crowe who is a Senior Constable with Victoria Police takes delight in showing his boss the subtle pleasures of living in a tropical rainforest.

(Date taken: 09 November 2010)
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Captain Heather Ferguson and Leonie Christopherson. Leonie works for the National Council of Women of Australia, and is a member of the Defence Reserves Support National Council. CAPT Ferguson works as a nurse, and is deployed to OP ANODE as a medic.

(Date taken: 09 November 2010)
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Mr Damien Moorfoot with Private (PTE) Mathew McClure. Both men work for Bendigo Mining, and PTE McClure is showing his employer the culinary delights of a combat ration pack.

(Date taken: 09 November 2010)
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Participants and Reservists, who call Ballarat home,  gather for a group photo with the Mayor of Ballarat, Cr. Judy Verlin (centre, middle row) as part of Exercise Boss Lift during November 2010.

(Date taken: 09 November 2010)
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A traditional cultural dance performed by Australian and PNG members from Op Anode entertained the troops and their bosses during Boss Lift.

(Date taken: 09 November 2010)
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A traditional cultural dance performed by Australian and PNG members from Op Anode entertained the troops and their bosses during Exercise Boss Lift.

(Date taken: 09 November 2010)
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Mayor of Ballarat Cr. Judy Verlin visits (L-R) Private Keith Lesslie and Corporal (CPL) Daniel Purcell at the Rove Observation Post which overlooks the Rove Prison near Honiara. Prior to deploying to the Solomon Islands, CPL Purcell was a Ski Instructor in the United States.

(Date taken: 10 November 2010)
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Mayor of Ballarat Cr. Judy Verlin visits school children in Honiara during International Children's Day celebrations.

(Date taken: 10 November 2010)
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Mayor of Ballarat Cr. Judy Verlin visits school children in Honiara during International Children's Day celebrations to hand out books provided by the people of Ballarat for the children of the Solomon Islands.

(Date taken: 10 November 2010)
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Mayor of Ballarat Cr. Judy Verlin visits school children in Honiara during International Children's Day celebrations and hands out City of Ballarat patches to the children of the Solomon Islands.

(Date taken: 10 November 2010)
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Private Justin Ludeman places a poppy in the lapel of his employer Mr Stephen Filbey before the Remembrance Day held in the Solomon Islands. Stephen is a Store Manager with Coles in Bendigo and Justin has been working in the store since he was 15 years old.

(Date taken: 11 November 2010)
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Mr Nick Koletsis of Transfield Services lays a poppy with his employees (standing) Trooper Kevin Whitehead and Corporal (CPL) Guy Szypowski .TPR Whitehead is a mechanical fitter for Transfield Services but parades with 4/19 Prince of Wales Light Horse, 1 Troop A Squadron based in Sale. TPR Whithead is on deployment to the Solomon Islands as part of Operation Anode. CPL Szypowski also parades with 4/19 Prince of Wales Light Horse and is contracted to Transfield services.

(Date taken: 11 November 2010)
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