Our People in NSW
Malcolm Costello, Alex Hoffenstz and Kirk Matson - Local Diggers Keep Timor Guns On Target
All three are members of the Army’s Royal Australian Electrical Mechanical Engineers (RAEME) – Malcolm, 34, is a Corporal who has specialised as a Fitter Armourer while Alex, 23, and Kirk, 22, both hold the rank of Craftsmen. In the image they are servicing a 7.62mm Mag 58 machine gun in their Dili workshop.
Soldiers like these are not often in the limelight, but are every bit as important to the success of operations as the front line infantry. They keep all weapons in a safe and serviceable condition while specialist colleagues maintain plus a large vehicle fleet — everything from Landover’s to Unimogs and Mack trucks.
Along with this local trio, a thousand other Diggers are currently serving in Timor-Leste. Their mission is to assist the Timor-Leste Government and the United Nations to bring stability, security and confidence to the Timorese people, so they can resolve their differences democratically and peacefully.