Media Room: Media Releases
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Defence |
| 11/11/2005 | MSPA 283/05 |
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PAKISTAN ASSISTANCE TEAM DEPARTS The first group of Australian Defence Force personnel to provide health care assistance to those affected by the recent earthquake in Pakistan departed today from Sydney Airport. The contingent was farewelled by the Commander Logistic Support Force, Brigadier Mick Kehoe. This move coincided with the departure of C130 aircraft carrying stores and equipment from Richmond airbase also to Pakistan. Colonel Andrew Sims has been announced as the Commander of this latest deployment, named Operation PAKISTAN ASSIST. Colonel Sims is already in Pakistan heading the reconnaissance team and meeting with senior Pakistani officials. Prior to assuming this position he was the Commander, Force Support Group/Chief of Staff Headquarters Logistic Support Force based at Randwick Barracks in Sydney. He is an experienced Logistics Officer with operational service in Timor Leste. Under his command in Pakistan will be approximately 140 personnel, many of whom are drawn from his current unit, Logistic Support Force. The contingent will include a command element, an aviation detachment of four Black Hawk helicopters, logistics and communication personnel. The majority of the health and support personnel are drawn from the Army's Logistic Support Force, while the Black Hawk detachment is primarily from the Army's 5th Aviation Regiment based in Townsville. The medical team has been supplemented by an Air Force Primary Health Care Team from RAAF Richmond, New South Wales, with other personnel drawn from a range of units across Australia. The team includes a number of Reserve personnel. Once the team is on the ground it will establish a central medical facility in Dhanni. It will also provide three separate mobile medical groups that will have the ability to travel into the neighbouring region to provide assistance. The deployment will be for up to 90 days. Still images will be available from: http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/. Vision is being pooled by Channel 7 in Sydney later today. Media contacts: Defence Public Affairs - 02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664 |
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Issued
by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs,
Department of Defence,
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