An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 19 to the ongoing emergency through family and friends directly impacted by the fires. When Petty Officer Helen Frank was packing her kit to join HMAS Choules at short notice on New Year's Eve, she was also getting updates on the fires near her parent's home in Orbost in Victoria's East Gippsland region. A few days later that personal connection came to the fore when she was interacting with the first group of people to be evacuated from Mallacoota, just down the coast from Orbost. "On December 31 when we got the call-up, I'd been getting photos from my mum showing the fires, which came within 2km of their house in Orbost," Petty Officer Frank said. "So when I was talking to people in Mallacoota and they heard my parents' house was also in danger, we had that instant connection." Able Seaman Liliana Kleber experienced a similar connection when interacting with evacuees. She was due to travel to the family home in Tathra before she was called to rejoin Choules at short notice on New Year's Eve. Not only was the New South Wales south-coast town again under threat, but the fires that devastated Tathra in March 2018 were still fresh in her mind. "Most of my friends lost their houses in the first round of fires and our family home was only saved after a water-bombing plane flew over and spared it," Able Seaman Kleber said. "If I wasn't on Choules I would have most likely been in an evacuation centre." On land, tears flowed for one young Aussie soldier as she was reunited with her parents in Mallacoota when she choppered in to lend a hand as a 'called-out' Army Reservist on Operation Bushfire Assist. Private Brodie Scott, an Army Reserve driver with 4th Com- bat Service Support Battalion in Melbourne, was delighted to take the chance to help out, especially in her home town. "To know that mum and dad were still there during the fires was terrifying," Private Scott said. "I'm really glad that they're okay, that the family home is still intact, and now that I've arrived I'm looking forward to helping out any way I can." Sadly, for one Army officer, the bushfires couldn't have been much more personal as he was called out to assist in the cleanup of a fire that killed two family members. Lieutenant Kynan Lang from 10th/27th Battalion, Royal South Australian Regiment, lost his uncle and cousin in a bushfire on Kangaroo Island on 3 January. The same day, he received news he was also called out as an Army reservist to assist the Kangaroo Island community. Dick Lang, 78, and his youngest son Clayton, 43, were killed at- tempting to return to their property after fighting a nearby bush- fire for two days. Mr Lang senior was a well-known 'outback pilot' in the tourism sector, while his son was a respected plastic surgeon in Adelaide. Lieutenant Lang was supported by colleagues as he erected temporary memorials to his family at the place where they perished. The motto of their unit – 'Pro patria', which, translated from Latin means 'For country' – a poignant reminder why they were called out to assist. Warrant Officer Arthur Mitcherson, Choules' Command Warrant Officer, said the personal connection with the bushfire emergency had impacted many service men and women. "It's a credit to our people that they can support these communities while at the same time knowing that their family or friends could be struggling or in danger," Warrant Officer Mitcherson said. Almost simultaneously with the ship evacuations, aircrews from 5th and 6th Aviation Regiments, Australian Army, were busy helping State emergency services to air-evacuate dozens of people from bushfire-threatened hamlets in Victoria. Black Hawk, Taipan and Chinook helicopters were in action on 4 January, with at least 42 people and a number of dogs air-lifted from Omeo in Victoria's high country at the start of what would eventually become a record-breaking effort. Mount Hotham and surrounds were also covered by the operation, with at least five helicopters – two Black Hawks, two Chinooks and an MRH-90 Taipan seen on one footy oval at the same time. Evacuees were taken to RAAF Base East Sale, which quickly became a major air hub for the wider mission. Chinooks, in partnership with medical teams from 2CHC were also photographed evacuating people from the town of Orbost on Victoria's south coast. By 6 January the first of the three Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopters picked up in Auckland by RAAF C-17, were ready for tasking out of HMAS Albatross, in Nowra, New South Wales, while a contingent of New Zealand Army combat engineers were deployed via a RNZAF C-130 Hercules to support the ADF efforts. By 7 January, a force made up of engineers, logistics capabilities and personnel from Army's 9th Brigade had deployed to help with recovery and clean-up on Kangaroo Island – 7th Brigade deployed approximately 400 members to support operations in NSW and Victoria – even 20th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, deployed a Wasp drone system and personnel to conduct reconnaissance operations in Victoria (and later in the ACT). Army's CH-47F Chinooks (four assigned), MRH-90s and Black Hawks had by now shifted focus to distributing emergency food, water, fuel and medical supplies to communities isolated by road closures and active firefronts. Two Singaporean CH-47 Chinooks were sent from their training base in Oakey, west of Brisbane. Soldiers from 7RAR, already on the ground, borrowed a fleet of Bushmasters from the Army School of Transport at Puckapunyal to help with their taskings. CONTINUED NEXT MONTH….

• Cover