Tobruk Helps Indigenous Community

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23rd September 2008, 08:18pm - Views: 782





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DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE



Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT

Phone: 02 6265 3343, Fax: 02 62656946



MSPA 311/08

Tuesday, 23 September 2008


TOBRUK HELPS INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY


The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Heavy Landing Ship, HMAS Tobruk sailed

today for the Kimberley coast in support of the Army Aboriginal Community

Assistance Program (AACAP) for 2008.


Tobruk is tasked to collect Australian Army vehicles and construction equipment

from the remote indigenous community of Kalumburu in the far north of Western

Australia.  Kalumburu is one of Australia’s most isolated coastal communities and is

nearly 400 kilometres from the Kimberley town of Kununarra.


AACAP is an initiative of the Federal Government and the Australian Army led

program has been in operation for 12 years.  Commanding Officer of Tobruk,

Commander Peter Thompson said, “this year the Australian Defence Force will be

providing equipment to upgrade the access road to Kalumburu and to construct a

cyclone coded health clinic.”


Two of the RAN’s Heavy Landing Craft, HMA Ships Balikpapan and Brunei, have

already been deployed to the community delivering the initial supplies and equipment

to set up for the AACAP projects in Kalumburu.


The involvement of RAN ships in AACAP is vitally important because of the

isolation and remoteness of the community.


“The amount of equipment and supplies could not be delivered to Kalumburu without

the support of amphibious Navy ships,” Commander Thompson said.


Tobruk and Brunei will be conducting a procedure unique to amphibious ships known

as a Stern Door Marriage, where equipment can be transferred from one ship to

another at sea.  


“We train to complete Stern Door Marriages all the time, and it is good to know that

we can do them in support of a great initiative,” said Commander Thompson.


Tobruk is due to return the equipment to Darwin and Brisbane during the early part of

October, which will complete the RAN’s contribution to AACAP 08.


Media contact: Defence Media Liaison (02) 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664








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