Operation SLIPPER: Image Gallery
23 May 2007
Netherlands royalty visits Australian Trade School in Afghanistan
Heir apparent to the Dutch throne and eldest son of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander Nicholas George Ferdinand, made a surprise visit to Dutch and Australian troops in the central Afghanistan province of Oruzgan.
Prince Willem-Alexander made a special stopover at the Australian-run Trade Training School to view the work of its students and hear about the progress the school has made in developing local capacity.
Warrant Officer Class Two Shane Johnsson, who runs the Trade School, said he was honoured by the Prince's visit.
"It was a bit of a surprise actually, but he seemed impressed with what he saw here," WO2 Johnsson said.
Earlier, the Crown Prince dined with an school friend and now Australian soldier, Bombardier Jozef De Goode. Jozef said it was great to see his old friend again, albeit in very different circumstances.
"My last memory of the Prince was at our tenth birthday party at the Royal Palace of Soestdvinen - I beat him in go-carts that day," Jozef recalled.
The Trade Training School is a popular initiative conducted by qualified tradesmen from the Reconstruction Task Force. It offers courses in construction for locals to develop skills and improve their future employment prospects.
The school will also offer courses in basic power generation techniques, which in time, will facilitate a range of services to form building blocks of a stable and prosperous community.
| 20070505adf8161479_043 Warrant Officer Class Two Shane Johnsson shows work from the Trade Training School to Crown Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. (Photo by Netherlands Defence Force) Low Res | High Res |
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