Image Gallery 2009
31 March 2009
Forces Entertainment Tour in Afghanistan
After a particularly hard fought week in southern Afghanistan, the troops of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force had a chance to unwind and relax with the arrival of a Forces Entertainment Tour at their base in Tarin Kowt, southern Afghanistan.
On an improvised stage in the soldiers’ barbeque area, a camouflage net and Australian flag became the back drop for the two and a half hour performance.
The soldiers were entertained by Tony “Lehmo” Lehman and his stand up routine which highlighted some of the hilarity found in the daily lives of Australian Defence Force soldiers, some of the habits of our coalition partners and life in a place as remote as Tarin Kowt. His well aimed shots at some of the officers and international politics had the crowd in stitches.
Dynamic rock tunes then came from the female two piece band of Kylie Cowling and Sherree Newton, before upcoming musician Blake Ralph who was accompanied by Victor Rounds, rocked the still Afghan night.
Completing the entertainment was former Army musician, Gary Bradbury, whose unique blend of stand up comedy and sax playing had the soldiers in stitches, particularly his song the “Track to Kandahar”, to the tune of “The Road to Gundagai”.
After six months in Afghanistan, the entertainment was a welcome, if short relief from the stress and hard work of operations. Even as the concert finished, the soldiers gathered in preparation for the next day’s missions.| 20090325adf8185016_0021 The night’s master of ceremonies Tony "Lehmo" Lehmann warms up the troops with a few jokes prior to the first act, during the Forces Entertainment Tour concert in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 25 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090325adf8185016_0042 Soldiers from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force enjoy a laugh as master of ceremonies Tony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann warms up the troops with a few jokes prior to the first act, during the Forces Entertainment Tour concert in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 25 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090325adf8185016_0055 Soldiers from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force enjoy a night’s entertainment provided by the Forces Entertainment Tour. (Date taken: 25 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090325adf8185016_0101 Kylie Cowling performs a number for the troops of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force during the Forces Entertainment Tour concert in Afghanistan. (Date taken: 25 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090325adf8185016_0108 Entertainer Kylie Cowling performs for the troops of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force during the Forces Entertainment Tour concert in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 25 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090325adf8185016_0124 Sherree Newton rocks the house as she performs for the troops of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force during the Forces Entertainment Tour concert. (Date taken: 25 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090325adf8185016_0137 Soldiers from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force watch on as Kylie Cowling rocks the house during the Forces Entertainment Tour concert in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 25 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090325adf8185016_0172 Private Daniel Sudweeks enjoys a laugh during the Forces Entertainment Tour concert in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 25 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090325adf8185016_0175 Entertainer Blake Ralph performs a number for the troops of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force during the Forces Entertainment Tour concert in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 25 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090325adf8185016_0185 Entertainer Blake Ralph performs a soulful tune for the troops of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force during the Forces Entertainment Tour concert in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 25 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090325adf8185016_0192 Entertainer Blake Ralph performs a soulful tune for the troops of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force during the Forces Entertainment Tour concert in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 25 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090325adf8185016_0210 Soldiers from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force watch as Blake Ralph performs a number from his self titled album during the Forces Entertainment Tour concert in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 25 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090325adf8185016_0214 Entertainer Victor Rounds rocks the house with a thumping base solo during the Forces Entertainment Tour concert for the troops of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 25 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090325adf8185016_0235 Entertainer Blake Ralph rocks the crowd as he performs a single from his self titled album during the Forces Entertainment Tour concert in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 25 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090325adf8185016_0259 Entertainer Blake Ralph rocks the crowd as he performs a single from his self titled album during the Forces Entertainment Tour concert in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 25 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090325adf8185016_0276 Musician and comedian Gary Bradbury mixes his unique blend of stand up comedy and saxophone playing to the troops based in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 25 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090325adf8185016_0282 Soldiers from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force watch as Gary Bradbury provides a few laughs with his uniquely Australian comedy act during the Forces Entertainment Tour concert for the troops in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 25 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090325adf8185016_0296 Comedian Gary Bradbury entertains the troops as he performs his uniquely Australian act during the Forces Entertainment Tour concert, in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 25 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090325adf8185016_0330 Soldiers from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force watch as Gary Bradbury provides a few laughs with his uniquely Australian comedy act during the Forces Entertainment Tour concert for the troops in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 25 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090325adf8185016_0358 (Left to right) Entertainers Blake Ralph, Kylie Cowling, Tony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann and Gary Bradbury rock the crowd during the Forces Entertainment Tour concert for the troops of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 25 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090325adf8185016_0480 Under the cover of an Australian Flag comedian Tony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann brings the troops to tears as he delivers his take on Afghanistan, during a concert for the troops of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force. (Date taken: 25 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090325adf8185016_0498 Comedian Gary Bradbury entertains the Australian soldiers in southern Afghanistan with his unique blend of comedy and saxophone. The entertainment was a welcome relief for the soldiers who have now spent six months mentoring Afghan soldiers and working to rebuild the country. (Date taken: 25 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090325adf8185016_0507 For the finale for the Forces Entertainment Tour in Tarin Kowt, the performers gathered together to perform a number of Australian classics for the troops. (Date taken: 25 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090326adf8185016_0005 Afghan students from the Trade Training School circle around with excitement as comedian Tony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann (left) presents some Melbourne Demons Australian Football League (AFL) merchandise to the students and their instructor Lance Corporal Joshua McLaren (right) from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force. (Date taken: 26 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090326adf8185016_0024 Musician comedian Gary Bradbury (centre) joins in on the fun as he handballs the football off, during a visit by the Forces Entertainment Tour to the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force Trade Training School in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 26 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090326adf8185016_0060 The Forces Entertainment Tour group, take some time out to check out the Australian-run Trade Training School in Tarin Kowt, southern Afghanistan. (Left to right) Lieutenant Colonel Bernadette Boss, Victor Rounds, Blake Ralph, Gary Bradbury, Tony Lehmanns, Kylie Cowling, Warrant Officer Class 1 Mark Langley and Sherree Newton. |
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| 20090326adf8185016_0089 Tony “Lehmo” Lehmann enjoys an Australian Football League (AFL) kick around with local Afghans during his visit to Tarin Kowt, southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 26 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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