Operation PADANG ASSIST
21 October 2009
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs visits Op Padang Assist
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, visited members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and AusAID, in the City of Padang in West Sumatra. While in Padang the minister was shown the Army’s water purification unit in operation before attending a meeting with the Governor of West Sumatra. To finish the visit, he was taken on a flight in a Royal Australian Navy Seaking helicopter to view the earthquake affected areas to the north of the city where ADF members are operating a health care facility and working to clear a landslide affected area, repair a bridge and clear debris from a school.
Operation Padang Assist commenced on 02 Oct 09 after the Indonesian Government accepted an offer of emergency assistance from Australia following two large earthquakes near the Indonesian Island of Sumatra. The ADF Joint Task Force 629 (JTF629) was established, and is working closely with Indonesian authorities, the Department of Foreign Affairs, AusAID and other agencies, to ensure the emergency relief support is delivered to where it is needed most.
| 20091021adf8208022_142 Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, tastes the fresh water from the Australian Defence Force Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit in the City of Padang in West Sumatra. (Date taken: 21 October 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20091021adf8208022_120 Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, hands a certifictae of appreciation signed by the Mayor of Padang City to Lieutenant Tim Rowe as he visits members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and AusAID, in the City of Padang in West Sumatra. (Date taken: 21 October 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20091021adf8208022_111 The head of Padang's water board, Mr Azhar Latif, hands over a certificate of appreciation to the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, during his visit to the City of Padang in West Sumatra. (Date taken: 21 October 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20091021adf8208022_105 The Mayor of Padang City, Dr Fauzi Bahar, hands over a certificate of appreciation to the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, during his visit to the City of Padang in West Sumatra. (Date taken: 21 October 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20091021adf8208022_092 Australian Army engineer Lieutenant Tim Rowe explains the water purification process to the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, and Major General Aslizar Tanjung, Commander of Padang Task Force, Indonesian Armed Forces, during the minister's visit to meet members of the Australian Defence Force, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and AusAID, in the City of Padang in West Sumatra. (Date taken: 21 October 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20091021adf8208022_076 Australian Army engineer Lieutenant Tim Rowe explains the water purification process to the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, and Major General Aslizar Tanjung, Commander of Padang Task Force, Indonesian Armed Forces, during the minister's visit to meet members of the Australian Defence Force, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and AusAID, in the City of Padang in West Sumatra. (Date taken: 21 October 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20091021adf8208022_084 Australian Army engineer Lieutenant Tim Rowe explains the water purification process to the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, and Major General Aslizar Tanjung, Commander of Padang Task Force, Indonesian Armed Forces, during the minister's visit to meet members of the Australian Defence Force, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and AusAID, in the City of Padang in West Sumatra. (Date taken: 21 October 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20091021adf8208022_009 Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, arrives in Padang, West Sumatra, to meet members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and AusAID working in the earthquake relief effort. (Date taken: 21 October 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20091021adf8208022_015 Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, arrives in Padang, West Sumatra, to meet members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and AusAID working in the earthquake relief effort. (Date taken: 21 October 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20091021adf8208022_033 Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, meets Major General Aslizar Tanjung, Commander of Padang Task Force, Indonesian Armed Forces, while visiting members of the Australian Defence Force, Department of Foreign Affair and Trade, and AusAID, in the City of Padang in West Sumatra. (Date taken: 21 October 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20091021adf8208022_042 Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, arrives in Padang, West Sumatra, to meet members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and AusAID working in the earthquake relief effort. (Date taken: 21 October 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20091021adf8208022_059 Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, Major General Aslizar Tanjung, Commander of the Padang Task Force, Indonesian Armed Forces (right) and Colonel Boy Rafli Amar, Head of Padang City Police (left) inspect Padang's Ambacang Hotel destroyed in the earthquake. (Date taken: 21 October 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20091021adf8208022_068 Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, Major General Aslizar Tanjung, Commander of the Padang Task Force, Indonesian Armed Forces (right) and Colonel Boy Rafli Amar, Head of Padang City Police (left) inspect Padang's Ambacang Hotel destroyed in the earthquake. (Date taken: 21 October 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20091021adf8208022_143 Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, listens to the Vice-Governor of West Sumatra, Mr Marlis Rachman, at a press conference during his visit to Padang, West Sumatra. (Date taken: 21 October 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20091021adf8208022_146 Vice-Governor of West Sumatra, Mr Marlis Rachman listens in as the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, addresses the audience at a press conference during his visit to Padang, West Sumatra. (Date taken: 21 October 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20091021adf8208022_150 Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, heads out to board a Royal Australian Navy Seaking helicopter for an aerial view of the devastation caused to areas of West Sumatra. (Date taken: 21 October 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20091021adf8208022_156 Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, boards a Royal Australian Navy Seaking helicopter for an aerial view of the devastation caused to areas of West Sumatra. (Date taken: 21 October 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20091021adf8208022_193 An Indonesian soldier watches as the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, returns from a flight over West Sumatra to see the extent of damage sustained to the region by the earthquake. (Date taken: 21 October 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20091021adf8208022_203 Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, farewells an Indonesian police official after completing his visit to West Sumatra. (Date taken: 21 October 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20091021adf8208022_214 Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, farewells Indonesian officials as well as members of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, AusAID and Australian Defence Force after concluding his visit to the City of Padang in West Sumatra. (Date taken: 21 October 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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