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Operations

A graphic evidence of how close the bushfires came to HMAS Albatross on New Year's Day, even as military and civilian aircraft continued bushfire-support operations from the base.
Australian News Operations Royal Australian Navy Videos 

Bushfire threat to Albatross much worse than earlier report

17/01/202024/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4454 Views 1 Comment Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

For those at HMAS Albatross on NYE, the irony of launching helicopters to assist elsewhere while the base came under serious fire threat wasn’t lost.

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Private Brenden Walker, in a Bushmaster ambulance, gives Jay Twemlow a check-up during a health visit to Batlow, NSW. Photo by Major Cameron Jamieson.
Australian Australian Army News Operations 

Bushmaster medicos deliver behind the firefront

17/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2215 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

In the NSW Snowies, medical personnel from the 1st Close Health Battalion are offering primary medical services while public services are reestablished.

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Private Richard Crisp from the Australian Army's 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment conducts morning checks and prepares to refuel a NSW Bush Fire Service vehicle near Tumut, NSW. Photo by Lance Corporal Brodie Cross.
ADF Australian News Operations Videos 

Op Bushfire Assist – 16 January UPDATE

17/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3067 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

More than 6500 full-time and reserve ADF are now providing direct support across fire-affected regions of Australia in support of Operation Bushfire Assist.

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Gunner Kyle Moore, an artilleryman from 7 Field Regiment, crosscuts a fallen tree resting on a road at Lower Bago, south of Tumut, NSW. He is trained in chainsaw operations to make gun pits for the artillery, and is putting his skills to work helping the combat engineers from the Brisbane-based 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment during Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20. Photo by Major Cameron Jamieson.
Australian Australian Army News Operations Videos 

Gunners join the Alpine’s cutting edge

16/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1721 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Artillerymen have joined the Army’s frontline response teams, helping to clear away fallen trees and trees at risk of collapsing in the NSW Snowy region.

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An Australian Army CH-47F Chinook Helicopter prepares to land on HMAS Adelaide during Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20. Photo by Petty Officer Tom Gibson.
Australian News Operations Royal Australian Navy Videos 

Amphibious Task Group embeds working well

16/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2843 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

THe Amphibious Task Group in HMAS Adelaide have forged close ties and collaborative relationships with regional authorities supporting efforts ashore.

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A 4 Squadron combat controller assists with the evacuation of civilians and the departure of Defence assets from Mallacoota airfield. Photo by Squadron Leader Chris Sharp.
Australian News Operations Royal Australian Air Force 

Special ground assistance for air-evac of Mallacoota

16/01/202016/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3235 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

A Combat Control Team from No. 4 Squadron was instrumental in supporting bushfire relief flights to the stranded community of Mallacoota in Victoria.

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Petty Officer Helen Frank, centre, shows Leading Seaman Afton Mitchell, left, and Able Seaman Liliana Kleber a photo of how close the fire-front was to her parent's property in Orbost, Victoria. Photo: Leading Seaman Shane Cameron.
Australian News Operations Royal Australian Navy 

Bushfire response was personal for many

16/01/202024/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2333 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

For many of the Australian Defence Force personnel involved in Operation Bushfire Assist, there is an added personal connection to

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Private Shaun Whitehurst and Cooma farmer George Walters load fodder onto Private Whitehurst's truck for distrution to farmers on the New South Wales south coast. Photo by Sergeant Dave Morley.
Australian Australian Army News Operations Videos 

Army assists with fodder distribution

16/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3125 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

While people and native wildlife left devastated by the bushfires are increasingly being cared for, livestock on farms haven’t received the same attention.

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An Australian Army Combat Engineer from the 5th Engineer Regiment uses a JD-450 Bulldozer to spread burnt woodchips at the Eden Woodchip Mill in southern NSW in support of Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20. Photo by Sergeant Max Bree.
Australian Australian Army News Operations Videos 

Dozers help douse woodchip mountain

16/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3600 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Burning, smouldering piles of waste at Eden’s woodchip mill proved a danger, as Army engineers turned and drenched the pile to quell the flames.

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Royal Australian Air Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force air-movements personnel work together to palletise equipment at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland, in support of Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20. Photo by Corporal Jessica de Rouw.
Australian New Zealand News Operations Royal Australian Air Force 

Kiwis happy to share the loads

16/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1714 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Similar equipment and procedures made integrating into Australian air-load teams easy for a Royal New Zealand Air Force team to support Bushfire Assist.

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Australian Army soldiers Private Daniel Muntz (left) and Private Brendan Harvey deliver 9000 litres of water to remote-property owner Donna Thomson, who's water pump was destroyed by bushfires, leaving her, her family and her livestock dangerously short of water. The soldiers are from the Brisbane-based 7th Combat Service Support Battalion. Phot and story by Sergeant Dave Morley.
Australian Australian Army News Operations 

Diggers deliver drink to desperate Donna

16/01/202016/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1829 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Two Aussie Digger delivered 9000 litres of much-needed water to a remote farming property in an eight-hour adventure through burnt-out countryside.

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Soldiers from 15 Force Support Squadron load pallets of water at the Foodbank Victoria warehouse in Melbourne. Photo by Corporal Sebastian Beurich.
Australian Australian Army News Operations 

Enough to feed an army – of firefighters

16/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1983 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

The saying ‘an army marches on its stomach’ also applies to emergency services workers on the frontline of Victoria’s bushfire

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Sapper James Denton and Lance Corporal Stephen Baylis, of 5th Engineer Regiment, prepare to fell a burnt-out tree threatening a road near Wonboyn Lake. Photo by Sergeant Max Bree.
Australian Australian Army News Operations 

Answering trunk call with inside knowledge

16/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1700 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Sections of chainsaw-armed sappers work to clear residential roads, create bush tracks for firefighters and fell fire-damaged trees in remote NSW towns.

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Australian Army CH-47 Chinook from Townsville-based 5th Aviation Regiment prepares to uplift hay bales to deliver to remote bushfire-affected farms on Kangaroo Island. Photo by Corporal Tristan Kennedy.
ADF Australian News Operations Videos 

Op Bushfire Assist – 15 January UPDATE

16/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2364 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Updated at 8am, 16 January 2020 More than 6000 full-time and reserve personnel are now providing direct support in the

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Japan Self-Defense Force personnel walk from their C-130H Hercules after arriving at RAAF Base Richmond to assist in Operation Bushfire Assist. Photo by David Said.
Asia Australian News Operations Videos 

Japan sending two Hercs for Bushfire Assist

16/01/202017/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3592 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Japan Self Defence Force is sending two C-130 Hercules and associated personnel to assist in Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20.

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A soldier from New Zealand Army’s 2ER gives water to a Koala while the unit assisted ADF members at Kangaroo Island’s Hanson Bay Wildlife Reserve.
Australian New Zealand News Operations Videos 

NZDF witness devastation and survival on Kangaroo Island

15/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3618 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

NZDF personnel working on Kangaroo Island have seen first-hand the devastating impact Australia’s bushfires have had on communities and wildlife.

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A bulldozer is landed at HMAS Creswell, Jervis Bay, from HMAS Adelaide.
ADF Australian News Operations Videos 

Op Bushfire Assist – 14 January UPDATE

15/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2958 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Updated at 8am 15 January 2020 Watch Major General Jake Ellwood’s brief to media, 14 January 2020… MAIN PHOTO: A

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4th Combat Service Support Battalion Paramedic Private Rod Scanlon and Nursing Officer Captain Phil Barber at the Alpine Health Centre in Bright, where they took charge of community care in the absence of evacuated nurses. Photo by Corporal Sebastian Beurich.
Australian Australian Army News Operations 

Two soldiers thrust into town medical role when locals evacuate

14/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2690 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Two soldiers found themselves in a unique position to use their skills to assist a Victorian community during the bushfires.

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Sappers Kane Sorrell (on chainsaw) and David Mercuri from Brisbane-based 2 Squadron, 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment, help make the Monaro Highway safe. Photo by Sergeant Dave Morley
Australian Australian Army News Operations 

Chainsaw crews clearing vital links

14/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2278 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Queensland-based Army engineers have cleared a bushfire-affected section of the Monaro Highway between Bombala, NSW, and Cann River in Victoria.

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Lieutenant Kynan Lang from the 10th/27th Battalion, RSAR, is supported by colleagues at the place where his uncle and cousin died in a bushfire on Kangaroo, before placing a memorial in their honour. Photo by Corporal Tristan Kennedy.
Australian Australian Army News Operations Videos 

Army officer called-out to bushfire that killed family

14/01/202027/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 8250 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

A South Australian infantry officer heard of two family members killed by bushfires on the same day he was called out as an Army Reservist to the same fire.

Read more
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