DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 62656946
MSPA 399/09
Thursday, 19 November 2009
KANIMBLA RETURNS FROM HUMANITARIAN MISSION
Six weeks after sailing for the earthquake affected region of Padang, Indonesia, Royal
Australian Navy ship HMAS Kanimbla has returned to her home port of Garden
Island, Sydney.
From Padang, Kanimbla transported 446 ADF personnel back to Australia and arrived
in Sydney with 256 aboard, having disembarked some personnel in Darwin and
Townsville. Many of the families of those still aboard were dockside for reunions
with their loved ones.
Kanimbla
deployed as part of the Australian Government’s response to the
earthquake, transporting two Sea King helicopters, nearly 145 Army Engineers and
construction personnel, equipment and 15 pallets of reconstruction stores.
While in Padang, the combined ship’s company and embarked force of around 350
ADF personnel completed a number of remediation tasks.
“The engineers embarked in Kanimbla
undertook a range of tasks which enhanced
safety and helped the community re-establish itself,”
said Commanding Officer
HMAS Kanimbla, Commander Timothy Byles.
“Tasks included clearing debris and making safe two local schools, repairing a bridge
to allow safe passage through town and access to the local market, diverting water
back into the rice field irrigation system and building a temporary road to facilitate
safe access through landslide affected areas.
“The ship’s company were proud to work alongside our Indonesian counterparts and
to make a difference to the Padang community in their time of need,” Commander
Byles said.
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: 02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
