24 March 2006
Boy's day out with ADF team supporting Commonwealth Games

Members of the Australian Army’s Tactical Assault Group (East) and 171 Aviation Squadron have brought a day of action and excitement into the life of a young Melbourne boy suffering from terminal cancer.

The soldiers, from the 4th Battalion Royal Australia Regiment (Commando) based at Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney, and air crew from 171 Aviation Squadron based at Townsville in Queensland, have been in Melbourne for the past month as part of the Defence Force support to the Commonwealth Games.

"The guys read about five-year-old Shannon Lawler’s situation in the Werribee Banner newspaper and how he had recently visited the Point Cook Air Force museum with the Starlight Foundation," TAG (East) spokesman Major Dave Harris said.

"These soldiers have families of their own and they really wanted to do something to give Shannon another day to remember, so they asked if they could arrange for him to go for a ride in one of their fast assault boats and to fly in a Black Hawk helicopter.

"The Task Group’s commanding officer had no hesitation in approving the plan and Shannon, his mum and dad and older brother have now enjoyed an experience few people outside the military get to have."

20060324adf8267338_002 Shannon Lawler enjoys the feel of the breeze through his fingers as the Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat from the 4th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) returns to the boat ramp. Behind him from left to right are his mother Erika, his brother Kevin and his father John. The boat ride had been arranged after Special Forces troops and aircrew assigned to the Commonwealth Games learnt of Shannon’s terminal cancer through a local newspaper. (Date taken: 24 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060324adf8267338_138 Shannon Lawler (left) and his father John enjoy a flight over the Point Cook area in a 171 Aviation Squadron (Army) Black Hawk helicopter. The flight had been arranged after Special Forces troops and aircrew assigned to the Commonwealth Games learnt of Shannon’s terminal cancer through a local newspaper. (Date taken: 24 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060324adf8267338_106 Shannon Lawler sits in the cockpit of a 171 Aviation Squadron (Army) Black Hawk helicopter following his flight over the Point Cook area. The flight had been arranged after Special Forces troops and aircrew assigned to the Commonwealth Games learnt of Shannon’s terminal cancer through a local newspaper. (Date taken: 24 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060324adf8267338_128 Shannon Lawler (left) and his father John enjoy a flight over the Point Cook area in a 171 Aviation Squadron (Army) Black Hawk helicopter. The flight had been arranged after Special Forces troops and aircrew assigned to the Commonwealth Games learnt of Shannon’s terminal cancer through a local newspaper. (Date taken: 24 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060324adf8267338_004 Shannon Lawler takes the helm of a 4th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat while his father John watches on. The boat ride had been arranged after Special Forces troops and aircrew assigned to the Commonwealth Games learnt of Shannon’s terminal cancer through a local newspaper. (Date taken: 24 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res