Image Gallery 2008
18 December 2008
Prime Minister and Chief of Defence Force Visit Afghanistan
The Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP, and the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, AC, AFC, visited Australian troops deployed to Uruzgan Province Afghanistan on 17 December 2008.
Mr Rudd paid tribute to the approximately 480men and women of Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force One (MRTF1), plus personnel from the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG), over a barbecue lunch at the Australian and Dutch Military base at Tarin Kowt.
“The country looks to what you do with pride and admiration,” Mr Rudd told the Australian personnel.
He acknowledged the success of Australian troops in the ongoing stabilisation and rehabilitation of Afghanistan, continuing the success of Australia’s previous reconstruction efforts but in addition providing mentoring and liaison support to the Afghan National Army (ANA).
“The fact that you, the brave men and women of the ADF are out there building bridges, building infrastructure, connecting one part of the country to another, that’s progress. The fact that you’re out there pushing the enemy back, step by step, mountain ridge by mountain ridge that’s progress. The fact that you’re here also training the new men of the ANA that’s progress,” Mr Rudd said.
The Prime Minister visited the Trade Training School that has so far provided vocational trade skills to around 500 local Afghans, and assisted in the launch of an unmanned aerial vehicle. His visit culminated with a spectacular firepower display by the SOTG.
| 20081217adf8208022_030 A soldier keeps watch as the Prime Minister of Australia, The Honourable Kevin Rudd MP, gets off a Dutch Cougar helicopter in order to visit to the Australian troops serving at Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 17 December 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20081217adf8208022_043 Deputy Commander of the Australian Forces in Afghanistan, Brigadier Wayne Bowen, talks to the Chief of Defence force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston AC AFC, and the Prime Minister of Australia, The Honourable Kevin Rudd MP, during a visit to Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 17 December 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20081217adf8208022_086 The Prime Minister of Australia, The Honourable Kevin Rudd MP, presents the troops of Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force One with a cricket set while the Chief of Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, watches on during a visit to Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 17 December 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20081217adf8208022_151 Prime Minister of Australia, The Honourable Kevin Rudd MP, talks with Captain Tom Whale (left) and Craftsman Duncan Stamp as they pass the iconic outback windmill built by students of the Tarin Kowt Trade Training School in Afghanistan. (Date taken: 17 December 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20081217adf8208022_184 The Australian Ambassador to Afghanistan, Mr Martin Quinn, and the Prime Minister of Australia, The Hon. Kevin Rudd MP, receive an orientation brief during a visit to the Australian base at Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 17 December 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20081217adf8208022_188 The Prime Minister of Australia, The Hon. Kevin Rudd MP and the Australian Ambassador to Afghanistan Mr Martin Quinn, receive an orientation brief from a member of the Australian Special Operations Task Group during a visit to the Australian base at Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 17 December 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20081217adf8208022_273 Prime Minister of Australia, The Honourable Kevin Rudd MP, thanks members of the Australian Special Operations Task Group during his visit to Australian personnel at Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 17 December 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20081217adf8208022_293 The Chief of Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston AC AFC, watches on as the Prime Minister of Australia, The Hon. Kevin Rudd MP, thanks members of the Australian Special Forces during his visit to Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 17 December 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20081217adf8208022_303 The Prime Minister of Australia, The Hon. Kevin Rudd MP listens as the Chief of Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston AC AFC, thanks members of the Special Forces during their visit to Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 17 December 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20081217adf8208022_365 Members of Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force One talk with the Prime Minister of Australia, The Honourable Kevin Rudd MP, during his visit to Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 17 December 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 220081217adf8208022_380 Chief of Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston AC AFC, talks with troops during a visit to Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 17 December 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20081217adf8208022_417 Captain Tom Whale watches on as the Prime Minister of Australia, The Hon. Kevin Rudd MP, helps local Afghan students at the Australian run Tarin Kowt Trade Training School in Afghanistan. (Date taken: 17 December 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20081217adf8208022_438 Prime Minister of Australia, The Hon. Kevin Rudd MP, talks with Captain Tom Whale and a local Afghan student at the Tarin Kowt Trade Training School in Afghanistan. (Date taken: 17 December 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20081217adf8208022_449 Prime Minister of Australia, The Honourable Kevin Rudd MP, talks with the Australian Ambassador to Afghanistan Mr Martin Quinn during a visit to the Tarin Kowt Trade Training School in Afghanistan. (Date taken: 17 December 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20081217adf8208022_462 Prime Minister of Australia, The Honourable Kevin Rudd MP, greets some Afghan soldiers during his visit to Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 17 December 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20081217adf8208022_465 Chief of Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston AC AFC, greets some Afghan soldiers during his visit to Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 17 December 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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