Operation CATALYST: Image Gallery
21 October 2005
Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG) assist with power installation in
southern Iraq
Al Rywawsha is a small village on the outskirts of As Samawah in Al Muthanna Province, southern Iraq and has suffered a lack of maintenance of the power feeder lines and transformers servicing the village.
An Australian Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) project was designed to repair the feeder lines and upgrade the transformers to provide the village with a more stable power supply.
Projects such as this result from visits by the Australian CIMIC Assessment Team, generally after a works request from the Provincial Government. In this particular case, the CIMIC Team was approached by the village elders seeking assistance.
Captain Tony Smith, Australian CIMIC Project Manager said "The local village residents were able to meet their elected representatives and bid for this project. As a result of that meeting, we were able to undertake the project".
Australian funded CIMIC projects are managed by Australian service personnel and go a long way in helping the people of the province, and consequently the wider population of Iraq, by addressing issues relating to power, water, sewerage, health and education.
They provide physical evidence of cooperation in assisting with the rehabilitation and rebuilding of Iraq.
The relatively low cost, US$24,000, of this Australian funded and managed project will provide a high impact within the community and has engendered much good will and faith between our two nations. "This has been a great result", Captain Smith said.
The Australian CIMIC members are part of the Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG) that deployed to Iraq early this year as an Australian Government initiative to assist the people of Iraq rebuild and rehabilitate their country.
The primary mission of the AMTG, located at Camp Smitty, close to As Samawah in Al Muthanna Province, is to provide security and protection for the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force as they undertake reconstruction projects, and to assist in training the Iraqi Army.
Australian funded CIMIC projects are managed by Australian service personnel and go a long way in helping the people of the province, and consequently the wider population of Iraq, by addressing issues in the sectors of essential services, governance, economy and social affairs.
They provide physical evidence of cooperation in assisting with the rehabilitation and rebuilding of Iraq.
The project was completed on 6 October 2005 with Captain Tony Smith turning on the power.
| 20050922adf8182062_013 A community leader in the Al Muthanna Province of southern Iraq, Sheik Aragel Attshan, farewells Captain Tony Smith of the Australian Army after discussions about improvements to essential village services under the Civil Military Co-operation (CIMIC) program. (Date taken: 22 September 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050922adf8182062_017 Captain Tony Smith of the Australian Army and Sergeant Dave Billings (British Army, Queens Own Yeomanry) in the village of Al Rywawsha with members of the village inspecting a new transformer installed to supply power to the community under the Civil Military Co-operation (CIMIC) program. (Date taken: 22 September 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20051005adf8182062_011 Captain Tony Smith (Deployable Joint Force Headquarters) switches the power on to the village of Al Rywawsha as a village member looks on. (Date taken: 05 October 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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