14 March 2006
Search of the Melbourne Cricket Ground

Australian soldiers conducted the search and lockdown of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, checking every possible hiding spot to ensure the Commonwealth Games remain safe, secure and successful.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF), as part of the overall Australian Government contribution, is providing support to the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. This support includes security and ceremonial personnel, as well as other general support staff.

This support is being provided under the title of Operation Acolyte. Acolyte is Latin for ‘helper’ or ‘assistant’ and was chosen to represent the ADF’s supporting role in the staging of the Commonwealth Games.

Operation Acolyte involves 2,600 Australian Defence Force personnel from across the three services, performing a range of specialist roles such as security, ceremonial and general support. The troops are being accommodated at, and working from, existing Defence establishments in and around Melbourne including: Simpson Barracks, Watsonia; Maygar Barracks, Broadmeadows; RAAF Williams, Laverton and Point Cook; and Victoria Barracks, Melbourne.

20060311adf8185016_0021 Private Yussef Bazzi (top) and Private Patrick Donohoe check the ceiling cavity of a corporate box at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the security search and lockdown of the venue prior to the commencement of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Private Bazzi and Private Donohoe are both from the Australian Army 5th Combat Service Support Battalion based in Sydney. (Date taken: 11 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060311adf8185016_0023 Army Reserve soldiers Sapper Jessica Thomson (left) and Lieutenant Garth Pratten confirm the progress of the security search and lockdown at the Melbourne Cricket Ground prior to the commencement of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Sapper Thomson, from the 5th Combat Engineer Regiment, normally works as an nanny in her civilian job, while Lieutenant Pratten has taken time off from his full-time job as a historian at the Australian War Memorial to serve with the ADF at the games. (Date taken: 11 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060311adf8185016_0025 Sapper Jessica Thomson sends a report on the progress of the security search and lockdown at the Melbourne Cricket Ground prior to the commencement of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Sapper Thomson, an Army Reserve soldier from the 5th Combat Engineer Regiment, has taken time off from her full-time job as a nanny to serve with the ADF at the games. (Date taken: 11 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060311adf8185016_0041 Army Reserve soldiers Private Alan Whitehouse (left) and Private Michael White check under the centre of the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the security search and lockdown of the venue prior to the commencement of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Private Whitehouse, from the 4th/3rd Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment, normally works as an engraver in his civilian job, while Private White, from the 1st/19th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment, is a farm hand. (Date taken: 11 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060311adf8185016_0043 Army Reserve soldiers Private Alan Whitehouse (left) and Private Michael White prepare to search a drain under the centre of the Melbourne Cricket Ground while Private David Do (rear) confirms their progress to their headquarters. The soldiers are participating in the security search and lockdown of the venue prior to the commencement of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Private Whitehouse, from the 4th/3rd Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment, normally works as an engraver in his civilian job, while Private White, from the 1st/19th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment, is a farm hand. Private Do, also from the 4th/3rd Battalion, is a law student. (Date taken: 11 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060311adf8185016_0064 Private Yussef Bazzi (left) and Private Patrick Donohoe prepare to check a ceiling cavity in a corporate box at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the security search and lockdown of the venue prior to the commencement of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Private Bazzi and Private Donohoe are both from the Australian Army 5th Combat Service Support Battalion in Sydney. (Date taken: 11 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060311adf8185016_0072 Lance Corporal Scott Pentland moves a stack of spectator chairs that have just been cleared during the security search and lockdown of the Melbourne Cricket Ground prior to the commencement of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Lance Corporal Pentland is an Army Reserve soldier from the 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers, who has taken leave from his full-time job as a motor mechanic to serve with the ADF at the games. (Date taken: 11 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060311adf8185016_0095 Sapper Jessica Thomson sends a report on the progress of the security search and lockdown at the Melbourne Cricket Ground prior to the commencement of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Sapper Thomson, an Army Reserve soldier from the 5th Combat Engineer Regiment, has taken time off from her full-time job as a nanny to serve with the ADF at the games. (Date taken: 11 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060311adf8185016_0103 Private Richard McQuade receives a report on the progress of the security search and lockdown at the Melbourne Cricket Ground prior to the commencement of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Private McQuade, an Army Reserve soldier from the 142nd Signals Squadron, has taken time off from his university studies to serve with the ADF at the games. (Date taken: 11 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060311adf8185016_0106 Australian Army dog handler Sapper Peter Kember and his partner Bolt during the extensive search and lockdown of the Melbourne Cricket Ground prior to the commencement of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Sapper Kember and Bolt are from the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment in Townsville. (Date taken: 11 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060311adf8185016_0110 Australian Army dog handler Sapper Peter Kember and his canine partner, Bolt, during the extensive search and lockdown of the Melbourne Cricket Ground prior to the commencement of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Sapper Kember and Bolt are from the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment in Townsville. (Date taken: 11 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res