Rakiraki Work Complete

Children at the Rakiraki Muslim School in Fiji are moving back into their classrooms, after Australian Army and Fijian engineers completed emergency repairs to the buildings.

The Muslim School is one of three in the area which was badly damaged during Tropical Cyclone Winston, the Engineers have also been working at the Rakiraki District and Methodist schools, and the town's hospital.

The soldiers, from the Townsville-based 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, repaired the roof and walls, allowing the pupils to get back into their classrooms on 14 April.

"It has been a real privilege to be here and to see these kids back at school, and looking so happy" said Lieutenant Colonel Scott Hill, Commander of the Australian Joint Task Force 635 which was formed in response to TC Winston.

"They really have been through a lot, and it is great to have been part of bringing a bit of normality back into their lives."

"The Engineers – Australian and Fijian – have done a power of good work here, not just in the actual repairs they have been doing, but in the relationships they have built between each other, and the people living in these damaged areas."

The Australian Task Force is starting to wind down its operations in Fiji, as the State of Emergency there comes to an end on 19 April. The troops should all be home by the 22nd.