ADF completes flood relief tasks in New South Wales and Victoria

More than 260 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel have completed flood relief efforts in areas of New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria and are returning to their home units.

The ADF personnel were committed to flood relief and recovery tasks in the areas of Wagga Wagga in NSW and Northern Victoria.

Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General (LTGEN) Ash Power, said Army, Navy and Air Force personnel as well as Defence civilians made an outstanding contribution since commencing flood relief efforts.

“The ADF provided personnel, rotary wing aircraft, transport and equipment in support of flood relief operations in the Wagga Wagga area of NSW and the Shepparton area of Northern Victoria,” LTGEN Power said.

“Our personnel have performed tirelessly along with many in the affected communities to assist in the flood relief efforts,” he said.

“More than 200 personnel were committed to flood relief efforts in the Wagga Wagga area and up to 60 personnel have been working feverishly in the Shepparton area of Northern Victoria.

“A contingent of Army recruits who went from their passing-out parade at Kapooka straight into flood relief efforts in Wagga have certainly started their Army careers on a busy note and I congratulate them for their hard work.”

“In Northern Victoria up to 60 members of 4 Brigade filled more than 250,000 sandbags to help protect the temporary levee constructed at Nathalia as part of their work with emergency services to react to a potential disaster.”

Army, Navy and Air Force personnel assisting flood relief efforts in the Wagga Wagga area came from RAAF Base Wagga, the Kapooka Military Area and Army’s 5 Brigade.

The contingent assisting in Victoria came from the Puckapunyal Military Area and Army’s 4 Brigade.

Imagery of ADF personnel working in Wagga Wagga is available at:

http://images.defence.gov.au/fotoweb/Grid.fwx?archiveId=5003&search=11122373

Media contact:

Defence Media Operations 02 6127 1999