04 January 2006
Australians and Pakistani guests celebrate New Year

New Year was celebrated at the Australian Defence Force medical centre in the mountains of Kashmir with guests from the Pakistan Army's 25th Mountain Regiment and 28th Infantry Brigade.

The ADF team is providing vital health care assistance to people affected by the 8 October 2005 South Asia earthquakes. The team is encamped in tents at the remote town of Dhanni, about 20km north-east of Muzaffarabad, on the Pakistan side of the Kashmir Line Of Control.

The team, of about 140 personnel, includes medical personnel, a command element, an aviation detachment and logistics and communication personnel. Four Black Hawk helicopters are deployed to provide essential transport and support tasks.

The helicopters give the ADF team the mobility to extend medical care from the central hub at Dhanni to assist a large number of people in the mountainous terrain of the surrounding region who need medical attention as a result of the earthquake.

The Black Hawk detachment is primarily from the Australian Army 5th Aviation Regiment based in Townsville. The health and support personnel comprise members of the Army's logistic support force based at Randwick Barracks, Sydney; a Royal Australian Air Force primary health care team from Richmond, New South Wales; and personnel drawn from a range of units across Australia, including Reserves.

20051231adf8195319_037 The commander of the Australian joint task force for Operation Pakistan Assist, Colonel Andrew Sims (left), receives a New Year gift from Brigadier Saleem Mehmood, a senior commander of Pakistan Army earthquake relief operations, during New Year celebrations in Dhanni, Kashmir. (Date taken: 31 December 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051231adf8195319_042 Captain Imran of the Pakistan Army (left) warms his hands as Major Tanya Bennett (centre) and Captain Mathew Carroll (R) sing Auld Lang Syne during New Year celebrations at Dhanni, Kashmir. (Date taken: 31 December 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051231adf8195319_043 Warming themselves before an open fire as temperatures plummet to minus four degrees, Captain Imran (left) of the Pakistan Army, Major Tanya Bennett (centre) and Captain Mathew Carroll (right) welcome the New Year at Dhanni, Kashmir. (Date taken: 31 December 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051231adf8195319_045 Corporal Dan Nia (left) Sergeant Ben Roberts (centre) and Sergeant Tony Greenwood prepare a traditional New Year Aussie barbecue for Australian Defence Force personnel and their guests from the Pakistan Army during New Year celebrations at Camp Bradman, near Dhanni, Kashmir. (Date taken: 31 December 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res