Landlocked sailors get dumped with snow
Heavy snow was a highlight for many of the 120 Royal Australian Navy personnel deployed on Operation COVID-19 Assist in the Alpine region’s town of Jindabyne.
CAPTION: Navy personnel help members of the NSW Police Force on the NSW-Victoria border as part of Operation COVID-19 Assist. Photo by Petty Officer Jake Badior. Story by Captain Tom Maclean.
Training systems specialist Lieutenant Shaun Logan is part of Joint Task Group 629.1.3 tasked to facilitate the involvement of Navy personnel deployed to the NSW-Victoria border control points.
He said the heaviest snow fall in the town in 10 years was an unexpected surprise.
“Police had to get an excavator to clear the roadway and they had a nice fire going for us,” Lieutenant Logan said.
“The community has been fantastic too – they delivered firewood and food to us.”
Lieutenant Logan said land operations were different for a lot of Navy personnel, but they were always keen to help.
“With bushfires this year, we’ve been lending a hand quite a bit,” Lieutenant Logan said.
“While there’s no salt water, there’s plenty of fresh water around – it’s just caked in snow at the moment.”
Commanding Officer of Joint Task Unit 629.1.3 Lieutenant Colonel Andrew White, of 1/15 Royal New South Wales Lancers, said seeing different service units come together to help during the pandemic was great.
“The ADF came out quickly and it’s going well,” Lieutenant Colonel White said.
“We’re proud to be supporting police and the Australian community during this crisis.”
About 500 ADF personnel are supporting the NSW Police Force at about 20 border control points across more than 1000km of the NSW and Victoria border, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
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