DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
MSPA NNN/09
Friday, 30 October 2009
AUSTRALIANS COMPLETE INDONESIAN EARTHQUAKE MISSION
Australian Defence Force personnel assigned to Operation Padang Assist will return home
this weekend one month after an earthquake devastated the Indonesian region of
Padang-
Pariaman,
The last elements of the ADF’s Joint Task Force will depart Indonesia for Australia on the 2nd
November, following the closure of the Australian Army Primary Health Care Facility and its
official handover to the local health authorities, and the completion of all reconstruction tasks.
Among the many tasks achieved by the Australian contingent; 1.3 million litres of water were
produced and distributed, 1300 patients were treated in a purpose built medical facility, in the
village of Seigerringing, 63 buildings were assessed for structural integrity and over 532.4
metric tons of humanitarian aid was flown into the region.
The Commander of the Indonesian Earthquake Relief Effort, Major General Tanjung, praised
the Australians for their dedication to the relief effort in support of the Indonesian Defence
Force (TNI).
“Your performance was outstanding to finish your mission in such a short time, we look
forward to more opportunities to work together in the future,” Major General Tanjung said.
Joint Task Force Commander Colonel Mark Brewer is proud of the performance of his
personnel during the operation.
“To see the Australian and Indonesian soldiers working side by side, forging friendships in
the aftermath of a natural disaster, will be an enduring feature of this mission.”
The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, said through working
closely together in the aftermath of the 30th
September earthquake, the Australians and
Indonesians had strengthened the friendship between the two nations.
“I commend all the ADF men and women who contributed to Operation PADANG
ASSIST. Your efforts contributed towards saving countless lives, establishing medical
clinics, clearing landslides and repairing vital infrastructure,” Air Chief Marshal Houston
said.
Media Note:
Vision will be fed to Parliament House at 1530 and imagery is available at.
Interviews can be arranged by contacting Defence Media.
Media Contact
Defence Media Liaison: 02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
