Army engineering regiment departs from Banda Aceh
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Lieutenant Colonel Ian Cumming ( right ) presents a plaque to
Brigadier General Heryadi of SATKORLAK TNI ( left ).
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Sapper
Matthew Jenkins lowering the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment Flag.
1st Combat Engineer Regiment (1CER) hold a farewell parade for
the locals in Banda Aceh prior to their return to Australia.
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BRIG David Chalmers, AM, CSC, ADC, and LTCOL Ian Cumming ( right
) presenting Force Commanders Commendation to the Agus Salim,
( left ) at SMK 3 in Banda Aceh.
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By
LT Chantal Llora - filed 07 March 2005
The
Australian Army's 1st Combat Engineer Regiment (1CER) has been in Banda
Aceh for two months and, in a farewell gesture, held a parade of thanks
for the locals and lowered their flag in a parting gesture.
Following the Boxing Day tsunami, the Australian Defence Force (ADF)
has been working in support of disaster relief in Aceh and now that
conditions have been sufficiently stabilised our Defence Force units
have begun returning to Australia.
On March 4, 1CER moved to Butterworth, Malaysia where they will go through
debriefing before returning home to their loved ones.
In a farewell ceremony attended by the Commander of the Combined Joint
Task Force, Brigadier David Chalmers and TNI official Brigadier General
Heryadi, Commanding Officer 1CER Lieutenant Colonel Ian Cumming presented
a number of commendations to locals for their support and assistance
to the engineers during their time in country.
LTCOL Cumming told the assembly: "This parade is to say in our own way,
thank you.
Thank you for your assistance, friendship and co-operation. We have
tried to help the people of Aceh with all that we have and only through
your support could we have achieved what we did.'
In a special commendation, Brig David Chalmers presented a plaque to
Agus Salim, an Indonesian translator working for 1CER, for his superior
service to the engineers of 1CER.
"We commend you for your translation services you have provided to 1CER.
The Regiment will miss your friendly, compassionate attitude and the
ADF will dearly miss you," Commanders Liaison Officer, LT David Gandey,
read from the plaque.
During 1CERs time in Aceh members of the Regiment witnessed the devastation
first-hand and played a vital role in reconstruction of Aceh provinces.
"I am very proud of the soldiers who stand behind me," LTCOL Cumming
said, "Knowing they had best wishes from all of Australia, they worked
hard to repair the damage inflicted by the tsunami."
