04 January 2006
First snow at ADF camp in Kashmir

The first snow of the Himalayan winter fell on New Years Day in the tented camp of an Australian Defence Force medical team working in earthquake-ravaged Kashmir. The medical team is providing vital health care assistance to people affected by the 8 October 2005 South Asia earthquakes. The team is running a medical centre at the remote town of Dhanni, about 20km north-east of Muzaffarabad, on the Pakistan side of the Kashmir Line Of Control.

The team, of about 140 personnel, includes medical personnel, a command element, an aviation detachment and logistics and communication personnel. Four Black Hawk helicopters are deployed to provide essential transport and support tasks.

The helicopters give the ADF team the mobility to extend medical care from the central hub at Dhanni to assist a large number of people in the mountainous terrain of the surrounding region who need medical attention as a result of the earthquake.

The Black Hawk detachment is primarily from the Australian Army 5th Aviation Regiment based in Townsville. The health and support personnel comprise members of the Army's logistic support force based at Randwick Barracks, Sydney; a Royal Australian Air Force primary health care team from Richmond, New South Wales; and personnel drawn from a range of units across Australia, including Reserves.

20060101adf8195319_001 Lieutenant James Keam (left) and Colonel Andrew Sims enjoy the first snow falls at Camp Bradman near Dhanni, Kashmir. (Date taken: 1 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060101adf8195319_002 The first snow falls at Camp Bradman near Dhanni, Kashmir. (Date taken: 1 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060101adf8195319_004 The first snow falls at Camp Bradman near Dhanni, Kashmir. (Date taken: 1 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060101adf8195319_005 Lieutenant James Keam, Colonel Andrew Sims and Major Tanya Bennett enjoy the first snow falls at Camp Bradman near Dhanni, Kashmir. (Date taken: 1 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res