Operation CATALYST: Image Gallery
02 June 2008
Second State of Origin rugby league match
Members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) serving in the Middle East are anxiously awaiting the second State of Origin rugby league match between Queensland and New South Wales on the night of Wednesday 11 June.
Origin football is famous for pitching mate against mate and state against state. That rivalry has spilled over into Baghdad where Origin fever is igniting friendly but keen state parochialism among the normally tight-knit group that forms the ADF’s Security Detachment (SECDET) in the International Zone.
State of Origin time in Iraq not only means it’s mate against mate and state against state, but also Army versus Air Force. For the first time, the current SECDET rotation (SECDET XIII) includes airfield defence guards – the Air Force equivalent of an Army infantry soldier. Although the soldiers and airmen have formed close bonds nearing the mid-point of their six-month deployment, mateship and inter-Service co-operation will be put aside on Wednesday when everyone will barrack for their respective states.
| 20080530adf8237885_370 Air Force Sergent Clayton Haack (l) and the Army's Corporal Anthony Rann have a friendly jostle inside the Security Detachment Baghdad compound as State of Origin fever envelopes Australian forces serving in the Middle East. SGT Haack is a member of No. 2 Airfield Defence Squadron, based at Amberley west of Brisbane. Corporal Rann is originally from Lismore in Northern New South Wales and is part of the Darwin-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment. (Date taken: 24 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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