27 April 2005

Welcome home ceremony for RAAF personnel returned from Op Sumatra Assist

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Teresa Gambaro, officially welcomed home Air Force personnel who carried out tsunami and earthquake disaster relief missions under Operation Sumatra Assist in a ceremony at Royal Australian Air Force Base Richmond on Wednesday 27 April 2004.

The Ambassador for the Republic of Indonesia, His Excellency Mr Imron Cotan and the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Angus Houston, also attended the ceremony, which acknowledged the efforts and support of the Air Force personnel and their families.

Ms Gambaro thanked the Air Force for their contribution to the Australian relief effort as part of Operation Sumatra Assist.

"The men and women of the Air Force provided a rapid and vital part of the Australian relief effort with the first C-130 Hercules deploying from Richmond on the same day that the Indonesian Government accepted the Australian offer of assistance. On behalf of the Government and the people of Australia, thank you" she said.

The nine Defence personnel who lost their lives in the tragic Sea King accident on the Indonesian island of Nias, including three Air Force members, were remembered during the ceremony with a formal minute’s silence.

000175997_0036 The Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Angus Houston, flanked by the Indonesian Ambassador to Australia, Mr Imron Cotan, speaks at a ceremony at RAAF Base Richmond to recognise the contribution of Air Force personnel to tsunami and earthquake disaster relief in Indonesia. (Date taken: 27 April 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	000175997_0039 Air crew from 36 and 37 Squadrons were part of 14 crews moving nearly 800 tonnes of humanitarian aid and 4000 passengers during Operation Sumatra Assist. (Date taken: 27 April 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
000175997_0060 Opposition Defence spokesman Robert McClelland MP, Flight Lieutenant Shaun Nelson from the School of Air Traffic Control at RAAF Base East Sale, Victoria, and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Teresa Gambaro MP, view photographs of Operation Sumatra Assist humanitarian relief missions. (Date taken: 27 April 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	000175998_0001 (L-R) Flight Lieutenant Sharon Sykes, Flight Lieutenant Robyn Tatnell and Flying Officer Sue Withers from 2 Air Transportable Health Squadron look at a picture of Flight Lieutenant Tatnell during humanitarian relief missions in Sumatra. (Date taken: 27 April 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
000175998_0039 Sergeant Peter Gow, Air Command Band, plays the Last Post at the beginning of a ceremony to welcome home Air Force personnel who participated in Operation Sumatra Assist. (Date taken: 27 April 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	000175998_0051 The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Teresa Gambaro, welcomes home Air Force personnel who supported Operation Sumatra Assist. (Date taken: 27 April 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
000175998_0065 The Indonesian Ambassador to Australia, Mr Imron Cotan, acknowledges the efforts and support of Air Force personnel and their families in disaster relief work under Operation Sumatra Assist. (Date taken: 27 April 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	000175998_0073 The Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Angus Houston, flanked by the Indonesian Ambassador to Australia, Mr Imron Cotan, commends the contribution of Air Force personnel in Operation Sumatra Assist. (Date taken: 27 April 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
000175998_0090 (L-R) Sergeant Debbie Harris-Walker, Flying Officer Tom Dunn and Sergeant Colin Moon march off the Royal Australian Air Force Ensign at a ceremony in RAAF Base Richmond to welcome home Air Force personnel from Operation Sumatra Assist. (Date taken: 27 April 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	000176002_0011 (L-R) Indonesian Embassy Defence Attache, Air Force Brigadier General Syahrul Ansory, and Indonesian Embassy Senior Liaison Officer for Police, Mr Desman Singaga Brown, view the photographic display at the Operation Sumatra Assist welcome home function held at the Airmen's Mess, Royal Australian Air Force Base Richmond. (Date taken: 27 April 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
000176002_0019 (L-R) The Indonesian Embassy Senior Liaison Officer for Police, Mr Desman Singaga Brown, Indonesian Embassy Defence Attache, Air Force Brigadier General Syahrul Ansory, and the Indonesian Ambassador to Australia, Mr Imron Cotan, chat with Sergeant Jeff Trenberth, 382 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron, Corporal Michelle Murphy, 1 Air Terminal Squadron (1 ATS) Darwin, and Leading Aircraftman David Bridgefoot, 1 ATS. (Date taken: 27 April 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	000176002_0025 The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Teresa Gambaro MP (front, facing away from camera) and the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Angus Houston, chat with participants in the Operation Sumatra Assist welcome home ceremony at the Airmen's Mess at Royal Australian Air Force Base Richmond. (Date taken: 27 April 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res