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James Taylor - Scarborough Digger Begins the Big Pack-Up

In southern Iraq, Scarborough’s Private James Taylor, 28, is now packing cold weather clothing for transport back to Australia. It’s part of the big pack-up as the Australian Battle Group prepares to come home in the middle of the year.

Responsibility for security in Dhi Qar and Al Muthanna provinces has already been handed over to re-trained Iraqi forces. While Australian Diggers continue their supporting patrols, soldiers like James are also busy packing up non-essential equipment. The cold weather kit is definitely no longer needed now that daytime temperatures soar above 40 degrees Celsius.

James and the other 500 Diggers will return to Australia in mid-year, and they will be the last Australian Battle Group to serve in southern Iraq.

But long after these Diggers are back on Australian soil, their legacy will be benefiting Iraqi locals. The Battle Group has also been project-managing many reconstruction projects. More than 20 projects have been completed, with more under way.  These include water and irrigation projects, rural projects to enhance crop and animal production, health clinics, and power supply initiatives. Water purification is particularly important as water-borne diseases are a major killer, especially of young children.