Image Gallery 2008
17 June 2008
A small place for three soldier brothers
The Australian platoon stationed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) near the town of Same in the south west of Timor-Leste conducts daily patrols throughout their area of operations, both by night and by day. On this occasion they patrolled through the town’s market place where they were warmly received by the locals.
Stopping to chat and admire goods as they moved through the busy Saturday afternoon trading area it was obvious the residents were happy to see the Australian uniform. Whenever the patrol stopped for a brief chat children gathered around to look on with smiles all round. The platoon under the command of LT Jonathan Wick, will spend several months at their FOB where they have already developed good relationships with local Government officials and the general public.
There are some 750 Diggers in Timor Leste as part of the Internation Stabilisation Force. Their job is to assist the Timor- Leste government and the United Nations Police in providing a secure environment in which the various groups can peacefully resolve their differences.
Operation ASTUTE is the Australian Government's response to a request from the Government of Timor-Leste to assist in restoring peace to their country.
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has deployed to Timor-Leste with a mission to assist the Government and the United Nations to bring stability, security and confidence to the Timorese to allow them to resolve their differences democratically and peacefully.
There are approximately 1000 ADF personnel currently serving in Timor-Leste. This force will remain in Timor-Leste continuing to provide a robust response capability to support the Government of Timor-Leste and the United Nations Police force.
Police from Australia and 24 other nations throughout the world provide security in Dili. The ADF provides support to these police operations as required.
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is working alongside the ADF to assist with this mission.
| 20080614adf8262658_004 It's a "Small" world; (Left to Right) Transport Corporal Jeffrey Small 24, with brothers, Infantry Rifleman, Private Andrew Small from the 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR) and Infantry Rifleman, Corporal Gary Small from the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) in Same, Timor-Leste. (Date taken: 14 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080614adf8262658_103 Stepping out; International Stabilisation Force (ISF) Infantry Riflemen, Private Ben Currie and Private Sean Williams make their way down from their Forward Operation Base to the town of Same, in Timor-Leste. (Date taken: 14 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080614adf8262658_149 Colourful; International Stabilisation Force (ISF), Infantry Rifleman, Private Andrew Small from the 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR) takes in the colours of the market place, as a local woman walks past in Same, Timor-Leste. (Date taken: 14 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080614adf8262658_158 Friendly Faces; Private Sean Williams, 20 of Mildura, Victoria, smiles as local children smile back at him while on patrol in the town of Same, Timor-Leste. (Date taken: 14 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080614adf8262658_162 Small Patrol; (Left to Right) Infantry Rifleman, Private Andrew Small with the 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR), with fellow brothers, Transport Corporal (CPL) Jeffrey Small, and CPL Gary Small from 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), chat during a patrol in the town of Same, Timor-Leste. It is the first time they have caught up on Op ASTUTE. (Date taken: 14 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080614adf8262658_177 Happy Days; International Stabilisation Force (ISF) Private Robert Wiedman, 18 from Milmerran, QLD waves to locals as he strolls through the Same Markets in Timor-Leste. (Date taken: 14 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080614adf8262658_183 'Bootielicious'; soldiers from the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) Corporal Gary Small, has fun while he sizes up a T-Shirt on Private Robert Wiedman, at one of the shops in Same Timor-Leste. (Date taken: 14 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080614adf8262658_203 Time Out; Private Sean Williams, 20 from Mildura VIC, waits on the side of the road for the rest of his patrol as local children and a stray dog look on with interest in the town of Same, Timor-Leste. (Date taken: 14 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080614adf8262658_215 Friends in hand; International Stabilisation Force (ISF) Private Andrew Small puts his hand out as children give him ' Fives' in the town of Same, Timor-Leste. (Date taken: 14 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080614adf8262658_225 Time out in Timor; International Stabilisation Force (ISF), Infantry Rifleman, Private Andrew Small with the 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR) waits for his patrol vehicle, on the side of the road with other Australian soldiers as local children gather to sit around them in Same, Timor-Leste. (Date taken: 14 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080614adf8262658_231 Convention centre; International Stabilisation Force (ISF) Infantry Rifelman, Private Robert Wiedman, 18 from Millmerran, QLD holds locals attenion as he waits with his patrol, for vehicle extraction in Same, Timor-Leste. (Date taken: 14 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080614adf8262658_235 Dealer; Infantry Rifelman, Private Robert Wiedman, with the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) shows local children some card tricks as other members of his patrol look on in the town of Same, Timor-Leste. (Date taken: 14 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080614adf8262658_244 Local Boys; International Stabilisation Force (ISF) Infantry Rifleman, Private Robert Wiedman, 18 from Millmerran, QLD with the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) chats to local boys from the town of Same, Timor-Leste. (Date taken: 14 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080614adf8262658_281 A "Small" bit of fun in Timor-Leste; The three Small Brothers (Left to right) Transport Corporal Jeffrey Small with brothers, Infantry Rifleman, Private Andrew Small from the 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR) and Infantry Rifleman, Corporal Gary Small from the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) catch up, discussing how hard it has been to meet up. They finally managed it at Same Forward Operating Base Timor-Leste. (Date taken: 14 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080614adf8262658_351 Foot Patrol; Australian Soldiers with the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) from the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) Alpha Company make their way along the road in Same, Timor-Leste. (Date taken: 14 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080614adf8262658_358 Lead the way; International Stabilisation Force (ISF) Infantry Rifleman Private Shane Johnson, 24 from Eaton, near Bunbury WA with the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), Alpha Company, moves with his patrol in Same, Timor-Leste. (Date taken: 14 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080614adf8262658_368 On patrol in Same; International Stabilisation Force (ISF) from the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) make their way down the road with an Interpreter, to the town of Same, in Timor-Leste. (Date taken: 14 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080614adf8262658_418 Wait out; Australian Soldiers with the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) from the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), Alpha Company, sit on the side of the road waiting to meet up with another patrol in Same, Timor-Leste. (Date taken: 14 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080614adf8262658_435 Knuckles; International Stabilisation Force (ISF) Infantry Rifleman Private Robert Wiedman, 18 from Millmerran, QLD with the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) shows children a 'cool' way to greet each other in the town of Same, Timor-Leste. (Date taken: 14 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080614adf8262658_442 Local interaction; International Stabilisation Force (ISF) soldiers from Alpha Company 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) (Left to Right) Private Sean Williams, Private Robert Wiedman, and CPL Gary Small. Converse with local children in the town of Same, Timor-Leste. (Date taken: 14 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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