DEFENCE MEDIA ALERT
Issued by Coordination and Public Affairs – North Queensland
Phone: 07 4771 1602 or 0407 467 235
CPA-NQ 31/08
Thursday, 22 May 2008
WELCOME HOME FOR TIMOR, AFGHANISTAN TROOPS THIS WEEKEND
WHO:
The Minister for Defence, The Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP, and the Chief of
Army, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy will officially welcome home 1200
soldiers who have returned from Afghanistan and Timor Leste during a
unique event in Townsville this Saturday, 24 May.
WHAT:
The event will be a Welcome Home Parade and Concert on Townsville’s
Strand. Acclaimed performers Shannon Noll, Beccy Cole, Clair Clarke,
comedian Gary Bradbury and the Band of the 1st Battalion, The Royal
Australian Regiment, will be on stage during the free concert, which is
open to the public.
WHEN: 2 pm Saturday 24 May (parade and march); 3 pm – 5 pm (concert)
WHERE:
The Strand, Townsville.
BACKGROUND
The Welcome Home Parade and Concert is a joint Townsville City Council/Defence
event. It will welcome home members of the Reconstruction Task Force Three (RTF-3),
who recently served in Afghanistan and members of the Timor Leste Battle Group Three
(TLBG-3), who recently returned to Townsville after service in Timor Leste. These
personnel will wear desert and normal camouflage uniforms during the march down The
Strand to the concert venue.
Saturday, 24 May, will bring together Defence personnel, their families and the wider
Townsville community in a high-level event that pays tribute to their service to the nation.
Defence members who have served on operations overseas since January 2007 are
also invited to wear their uniforms and attend the concert.
Media Contact: Mark Tanzer (Defence Public Affairs NQ) tel: 0407 467 235
NEWS 
