Operation VIC FIRE ASSIST

Winding down in Marysville
More than 90 soldiers from Joint Task Force 662 have been searching through properties in the Marysville area in support of the Victoria Police “reasonable search” phase.

(Date uploaded: 16 March - 13 images)
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Farewell to Marysville
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) withdrew its troops from Marysville on 14 March 2009 after Victorian Police advised that their support for the search task was complete.

(Date uploaded: 14 March - 09 images)
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Operation VIC FIRE ASSIST
The Australian Defence Force’s Chief of Joint Operations Lieutenant General Mark Evans made a visit to Victoria's bush-fire affected areas with Joint Task Force 662.

(Date uploaded: 04 March - 13 images)
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Operation VIC FIRE ASSIST
A warehouse full of emergency stores has been on stand-by at 4 Combat Services Support Battalion (4CSSB), at Maygar Barracks in Broadmeadows, to respond to requests for emergency accommodation as part of the ADF’s support to the Victorian bushfire relief effort.

(Date uploaded: 04 March - 10 images)
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Defence continues cleanup
Soldiers remain on the ground in fire-ravaged areas of Victoria and will stay until local communities and authorities are ready to take over the recovery effort.

(Date uploaded: 28 February - 12 images)
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Helping hands in Lilydale
Defence has acted quickly to set up emergency accommodation for residents who have evacuated from Warburton to Lilydale due to the increased fire threat in their hometown.

(Date uploaded: 24 February - 09 images)
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Chief of Army visits Operation VIC FIRE ASSIST
Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie visited Defence personnel assisting the Victorian government on Operation VIC FIRE ASSIST.

(Date uploaded: 23 February - 06 images)
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Operation VIC FIRE ASSIST at Strathewen
Defence staff at Strathewen Community Service Hub (CSH) continue to support the Victorian government and the local community with 24-hour, seven-day support to Operation VIC FIRES ASSIST.

(Date uploaded: 23 February - 09 images)
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Chief of Army Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie visited Defence personnel during VIC FIRE ASSIST
Chief of Army Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie visited Defence personnel assisting the Victorian government on Operation VIC FIRE ASSIST.

(Date uploaded: 20 February - 05 images)
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Operation VIC FIRE ASSIST
Following Brigadier Arnold's welcome the NSW police were sworn in as special constables by Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Bob Hastings.

(Date uploaded: 20 February - 01 image)
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ADF support to bushfire relief in Whittlesea and Flowerdale
Defence personnel deployed on the Joint Task Force (JTF662) assisting the Victorian Government on Operation VIC FIRE ASSIST are being consolidated as government agencies and fire-affected communities take over the task of their own recovery

(Date uploaded: 20 February - 06 images)
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Major General Craig Williams inspects bushfire assistance operations
The Commander of Army’s 2nd Division, Major General Craig Williams, has praised the quick response and efforts of Joint Task Force (JTF662).

(Date uploaded: 19 February - 05 images)
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AP-3C Orions help to pinpoint fires
A RAAF AP-3C Orion continues to provide aerial imagery of bush fire affected areas in Victoria. The imagery helps to enable the identification of residences affected by the fires.

(Date uploaded: 18 February - 06 images)
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Health teams get down and dirty
Defence elements continue to provide significant assistance to the Victorian government and emergency services as the transition from response to recovery gathers momentum.

(Date uploaded: 18 February - 10 images)
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RAAF members collect donations for bushfire victims
On Friday 13th of February 2009, 5 members from Combat Support Unit Edinburgh conducted a collection in aid of the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal at the main and south gates of RAAF Base Edinburgh.

(Date uploaded: 17 February - 02 images)
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ADF bushfire relief efforts around Kinglake
Australian Defence Force (ADF) Reserve soldiers remain busy, delivering food parcels, improving fire breaks and containment lines, and putting tents and facilities into place to help accommodate, feed and support people left homeless by the Victorian bushfire disaster.

(Date uploaded: 16 February - 10 images)
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Operation VIC FIRE ASSIST
Members of the Australian Defence Force's Joint Task Force continue to work to restore access to communities and assess the extent of the destruction in the wake of the Victorian bushfires.

(Date uploaded: 16 February - 08 images)
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Service held to remember Victorian bushfire victims
A lone Royal Australian Air Force piper played a lament to mark the end of a Memorial and Recognition Service for those who lost their lives in the bushfires throughout Victoria.

(Date uploaded: 15 February - 08 images)
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Prime Minister and Victorian Premier Visit Kinglake
The Prime Minister and the Premier of Victoria, along with Defence leaders, have both made a visit to the bushfire ravaged community of Kinglake.

(Date uploaded: 15 February - 09 images)
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Diggers in East Timor pay their respects
Australian and New Zealand Defence Force members serving in East Timor as part of the International Stabilisation Force hold a memorial service to pay tribute to those affected by the Victorian bushfires.

(Date uploaded: 15 February - 06 images)
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ISF Victorian fires memorial service
Soldiers from Delta Company, 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, held a solemn memorial service for the victims of the devastating Victorian bushfires.

(Date uploaded: 14 February - 09 images)
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Chief of the Defence Force calls by bushfire affected region
Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, AC, AFC, has visited his soldiers in the field, deployed on the Joint Task supporting the Victorian Government bushfire relief effort.

(Date uploaded: 14 February - 19 images)
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RAAF Base Richmond supports the Victorian bushfire appeal
Personnel and employees at the Royal Australian Air Force Base Richmond have responded generously for requests for donated items to support those in need, following the February 09 Victorian bushfires.

(Date uploaded: 13 February - 14 images)
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Australian Defence Force’s contribution to the continuing bushfire crisis in Victoria
More than 140 soldiers have arrived in the bushfire ravaged town of Marysville, as part of the Australian Defence Force’s commitment to assist Victorian Government agencies with the bushfire crisis response.

(Date uploaded: 13 February - 21 images)
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Australian Defence Force's contribution to the continuing bushfire crisis in Victoria
More than 140 soldiers have arrived in the bushfire ravaged town of Marysville, as part of the Australian Defence Force’s commitment to assist Victorian Government agencies with the bushfire crisis response.

(Date uploaded: 13 February - 15 images)
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Defence personnel from Northern Command and Townsville launch bushfire fundraising
In response to the continuing bushfires affecting Victoria, Headquarters Northern Command and Defence personnel from Townsville have come together to raise funds, collecting donations at the gates to Larrakeyah Barracks, Northern Territory and Lavarack Barracks, Townsville.

(Date uploaded: 13 February - 07 images)
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Support for Victorian Bushfires
Airborne Electronics Analysis Sergeant Shane Forrest of 11 Squadron was part of a 92 Wing AP-3C Orion Crew that acted in support of fire fighting and recovery efforts in Victoria by flying over fire damaged land to record the devastation.

(Date uploaded: 13 February - 13 images)
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Flowedale Hotel gives up gardens for backyard cricket
On a small area of grass amidst the ashes in the bushfire affected town on Flowerdale, soldiers from the Search Task Group have participated in a special game of backyard cricket.

(Date uploaded: 12 February - 04 images)
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Troops team up for fire reduction mission
Soldiers from a Victorian-based Joint Task Force (JTF662) have begun the task of clearing roads in bushfire affected areas, as part of the Australia Defence Force’s commitment to assist Victorian Government agencies with the bushfire crisis response.

(Date uploaded: 12 February - 14 images)
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Property searches continue in Kinglake West region
A Search Task Group comprising around 160 Army Reserve soldiers has been established to assist emergency management agencies search through rough terrain on foot.

(Date uploaded: 12 February - 19 images)
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Working hard to clear containment lines
An Engineer Support Group, comprising around 70 personnel and heavy plant equipment, has been working with the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment and Country Fire Authority, to assist with fire containment measures and the re-opening of roads in the Yea and Broadford areas, north of Melbourne.

(Date uploaded: 11 February - 09 images)
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The Minister for Defence thanks troops for their support of the Victorian bushfire crisis
A Victorian-based Joint Task Force has been established to coordinate Defence assets assisting the response to the Victorian bushfire emergency.

(Date uploaded: 10 February - 03 images)
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