Description
For 120 soldiers of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force their part in Exercise Temple Tower came to a close with a familiarisation trip on one of the Navy s Heavy Landing craft. Two LCHs, HMAS Labuan and HMAS Brunei are in Townsville to support the Army exercise which is currently taking place in the dense rain forests at Mt Spec near Ingham, Qld. The LCHs are being used to transport troops and supplies to Forrest beach from where they are taken in trucks to the exercise area. The PNG soldiers, members of D Company, 1 PIR, have spent the last two weeks operating with 2nd/4th RAR from Townsville, Qld. The trip from Townsville Harbour across Cleveland Bay to Magnetic Island was a welcome change and a chance for the PNG soldiers to see some of the attractions of Magnetic Island.like the koala farm (Oasis Sanctuary) run by Mr Geoff d Argeavel. The soldiers took a keen interest in the koalas and the tame kangaroos in the park. Although Corporal Pilake Rupin of Vunairoto Villag