DEFENCE MEDIA ALERT
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
MSPA 305/09
Monday, 21 September 2009
THE HUNTER SET TO WELCOME HOME
TROOPS FROM AFGHANISTAN
WHAT:
Over 200 Royal Australian Air Force personnel will be recognised for
their outstanding service in Afghanistan, during a Welcome Home
Parade to be staged in Newcastle.
WHERE:
The parade will take place through Newcastles CBD and will conclude
outside of Customs House.
WHEN:
Sunday 11th October 2009. Media should assemble outside Customs
House Hotel at 10:45am. The event will conclude by 11:45am.
Background:
The Welcome Home Parade will lead-off the Mattara Maritime Grand parade at
11.00am. The Parade will held in Newcastles CBD in conjunction with the Mattara
Festival Parade and Maritime Festival.
The Parade will provide an opportunity for personnel from 41 Wing and their families
to celebrate their return from their deployment to the Control and Reporting Centre
(CRC) in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
The CRC took over tactical command and control of the airspace in Afghanistan from
the United States on 5 August 2007. During this time the CRC provided de-
confliction of the airspace and directed combat aircraft in support of ground forces by
providing air battle management across Afghanistan.
Media opportunity:
For pre-event media interviews with the Officer Commanding 41 Wing, Group
Captain Daryl Hunter at RAAF Base Williamtown, please contact Flight Lieutenant
Jaimie Abbott on (02) 4928 6113.
Media Contact:
Flight Lieutenant Jaimie Abbott, Surveillance and Response Group: (02) 4928 6113
Defence Media Liaison: 02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664