Building beyond the barracks

The sounds of children’s laughter filled the air at Dilkusha Children’s Home in Suva, Fiji, interspersed with the banging of hammers and whirring of power drills. Renovation works were in full swing.

Soldiers from 6ESR deployed on Exercise Coral Sapper 26 as part of a multinational team, including the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF).

Australian Army Cpl Matthew Moynihan was the foreman who led the team as it refreshed the facilities.

“It’s a massive infrastructure upgrade for the home here. It’s a large multi-trade effort with everyone working together to get the job done,” he said.

“Previous Coral Sappers have been military-focused, rebuilding military barracks, so doing something in a civilian context is a nice change of pace.

“It’s certainly fulfilling work knowing that we are making life-altering changes for these kids. Their upbringing is going to be much safer.”

The Dilksuha Children’s Home has provided a safe haven for children in crises for more than 120 years. Head Matron, Deaconess Luse Rarawabogi, felt called to serve.

“I give my time, my effort, my everything to these children, so they can grow up and have a good future,” she said.

“We face many challenges during hurricanes and the wet season because the buildings are very old and the environment has worn them out.

“We are so blessed that the team from the Australian Defence Force have given their time and effort to help us maintain the building so our children can live safely.”

Throughout Exercise Coral Sapper, soldiers from the RFMF and NZDF worked in lockstep with the Australian team.

Cpl Inoke Boila, a tradesperson from the RFMF, said that working together reinforced the importance of this collaborative training.

“This exercise is a good thing. We are working together and learning from each other’s experience. In the long run, we all grow quite a bit because of it,” Cpl Boila said.

“Activities like this help us understand how to best work together. In future exercises and operations, we will be better prepared thanks to the work we have completed together.”

See more Exercise Coral Sapper images here.