Operation CATALYST: Image Gallery
19 April 2005
Farewell of the Al Muthanna Task Group
Defence Minister Robert Hill said the Task Group, made up of about 470 personnel drawn largely from Darwin’s 1st Brigade, will progressively deploy over the coming days and weeks with all personnel in position by mid-May.
The Task Group will support the Japanese Iraq Reconstruction and Support Group and provide vital training to the Iraqi security force in Iraq's Al Muthanna province.
Based at Camp Smitty, the Task Group will be responsible for providing a stable and secure environment for the Japanese Reconstruction and Support Group as they undertake essential humanitarian, engineering and rebuilding tasks.
The job of training the Al Muthanna provincial Iraqi security force is also an important contribution to help prepare Iraq to take on the task of providing its own security in the future.
"This year following the Iraq elections is vital to the future stability of the country," said Mr Howard. "Now is a crucial time to provide much needed support to the people of Iraq to help them build a safer more prosperous future.
"Australia remains committed to this task and will stay until the job is done."
The Task Group will work closely with its coalition partners including the United Kingdom, who will be responsible for the overall security of the province. "While the Task Group will form part of the coalition, all its members will remain under Australian national command at all times," said Mr Howard.
Operation CATALYST currently comprises approximately 920 personnel. This will increase to around 1370 once the AMTG deploys to Iraq.
| 20050415adf8237482_002 Brigadier John Cantwell AM, Commander 1st Brigade, farewell troops departing from Darwin for Iraq aboard a RAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III on loan from the British RAF. (Date taken: 15 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050415adf8237482_021 Brigadier John Cantwell AM, Commander 1st Brigade, farewell troops departing from Darwin for Iraq aboard a RAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III on loan from the British RAF. (Date taken: 15 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050415adf8237482_022 Brigadier John Cantwell, AM, (left) the Commander of Darwin-based 1st Brigade, farewells the first contingent of troops departing for Iraq's Al Mutthana province. (Date taken: 15 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050415adf8237482_032 Warrant Officer Class One, Robert Aboud, Regimental Sergeant Major of the Darwin-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment, farewells his daughters as he departs for Iraq aboard a British RAF Boeing Globemaster C-17 transport aircraft. (Date taken: 15 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050415adf8237482_035 Warrant Officer Class One, Robert Aboud, the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, farewells his daughter Grace as he departs from Darwin for Iraq. (Date taken: 15 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050415adf8237482_042 Warrant Officer Class Two Tim Finn, from B Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, farewells his daughter Teagan in Darwin as he departs for Iraq. (Date taken: 15 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050415adf8237482_072 Sergeant (SGT) Jeffery Rolfe from 2nd Cavalry Regiment farewells his wife Toni and son Ethan in Darwin before departing for Iraq. (Date taken: 15 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050415adf8237482_073 Sergeant (SGT) Jeffery Rolfe from 2nd Cavalry Regiment farewells his son Ethan before departing for Iraq. (Date taken: 15 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050415adf8237482_081 Trooper Justin Packer, from Darwin-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment, farewells his son Jude Packer as he departs Darwin for Iraq aboard a giant Boeing C-17 Globemaster on loan from the British RAF. (Date taken: 15 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050415adf8237482_102 The 43 ADF personnel that formed the advance party of the Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG) deployed to the Middle East aboard a giant Boeing C-17A Globemaster III aircraft on loan from the British RAAF. Equipment on board included a 2nd Cavalry Regiment armoured ASLAV command vehicle. (Date taken: 15 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050415adf8237482_105 The 43 ADF personnel who form the advance party of the Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG) deployed to the Middle East aboard a giant Boeing C-17A Globemaster III on loan from the British RAF. Equipment on board included a 2nd Cavalry Regiment armoured ASLAV command vehicle. (Date taken: 15 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050415adf8237482_117 Leading Aircraftsman Lee Iselin, a loading team member from RAAF Darwin, preps equipment that will be loaded onto a Boeing C-17A Globemaster III Short Term Strategic Airlift (STSA) aircraft. (Date taken: 15 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050415adf8237482_130 Trooper Daniel O'Neill, a ASLAV driver from 3 Troop, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, assists in the loading of the ASLAV onto a RAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III Short Term Strategic Airlift (STSA) aircraft. (Date taken: 15 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050416adf8237482_003 Royal Australian Navy amphibious ship, HMAS Tobruk, departs Darwin for the Middle East with members of the Australian Army's 1st Brigade deploying as the Al Muthanna Task Group. Onboard were 20 armoured ASLAV's as well as personnel from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade based out of Darwin. (Date taken: 16 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050416adf8237482_040 Able Seaman Jarred Caves and Able Seaman Steve Harvey from Port Services Darwin, HMAS COONAWARRA, help cast off HMAS Tobruk as it was farewelled from Darwin. (Date taken: 16 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050416adf8237482_042 Lucinda Beams farewells Thor Gersbach from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, as HMAS Tobruk sets sail from Darwin for the Middle East. (Date taken: 16 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050416adf8237482_043 Ian, Vicki and Ben Gersbach farewell Thor Gersbach from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, who was on board HMAS Tobruk as it departs from Darwin. (Date taken: 16 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050416adf8237482_048 Commander Mark Hill, Commander of HMAS COONAWARRA, and Lieutenant Commander David Plummer, farewell HMAS Tobruk from Darwin. (Date taken: 16 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050416adf8237482_052 Warrant Officer Class 2 Alby Churchilli, from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment chats with the Prime Minister John Howard. (Date taken: 16 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050416adf8237482_082 Chief Of Air Force, Air Marshal Angus Houston, chats with soldiers who will be deploying to Iraq. (Date taken: 16 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050416adf8237482_088 Prime Minister John Howard, along with Minister for Defence Senator Robert Hill and the Chief of the Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, joined the official farewell of the Al Muthanna Task Group at a BBQ at Robertson Barracks. (Date taken: 16 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050416adf8237482_091 Warrant Officer Class Two, Ian Gambling, and Sergeant Brendan Noy chat with the Chief of the Defence Force General Peter Cosgrove. (Date taken: 16 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050416adf8237482_098 Senator Robert Hill, the Minister for Defence, chats with soldiers who will be deploying to Iraq. (Date taken: 16 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050416adf8237482_114 Prime Minister John Howard, along with Minister for Defence Senator Robert Hill and the Chief of the Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, joined the official farewell of the Al Muthanna Task Group at a BBQ at Robertson Barracks. (Date taken: 16 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050416adf8237482_118 Prime Minister John Howard, along with Minister for Defence Senator Robert Hill and the Chief of the Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, joined the official farewell of the Al Muthanna Task Group at a BBQ at Robertson Barracks. (Date taken: 16 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050416adf8237482_127 Prime Minister John Howard, along with Minister for Defence Senator Robert Hill and the Chief of the Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, joined the official farewell of the Al Muthanna Task Group at a BBQ at Robertson Barracks. (Date taken: 16 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050416adf8237482_139 Leiutenant Colonel Noble and Prime Minister John Howard address the soldiers from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and their families. (Date taken: 16 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050416adf8237482_158 Lance Corporal Paul Portelli, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment's mascot handler, holds mascot Sergeant Courage, a source of intense interest to children of soldiers who are deploying to Iraq. (Date taken: 16 April 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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