Personnel recognised for peacekeeping efforts

ADF personnel have been recognised with a 25th Anniversary Commemorative Coin for Australia's participation in the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET).

ADF personnel have been recognised with a 25th Anniversary Commemorative Coin for their participation in Australia’s participation in the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET).

On, October 30, Susan Templeman, Federal Member for Macquarie, presented members of the Windsor and District Returned Services League Sub-Branch with a commemorative coin.

In support of East Timorese independence, ADF personnel arrived in Dili on September 20 1999, the first of 5000 personnel that would serve in the peacekeeping task force.

Before the presentation, Ms Templeman recognised the importance of Australia’s contribution to INTERFET and the significance of its 25th anniversary.

“When the Timorese people took that courageous step of voting for independence, they asked the international community for help to secure their nation. That was the call Australia answered,” Ms Templeman said.

“This anniversary gives the Australian Government and the Australian public an opportunity to pay our respects to the service and sacrifices of INTERFET veterans and their families.”

Warrant Officer Michael O’Brien was one of the members who received a coin. He served as a loadmaster at 36 Squadron as a part of INTERFET in 1999.

The squadron was responsible for transporting ADF members to the country as well as load drops into remote areas to provide aid to the local population.

Warrant Officer O’Brien described INTERFET as a fulfilling experience that prepared the ADF for the operations that would follow.

“As the situation in Timor deteriorated, 36 Squadron was involved in the safe evacuation of Australian officials, Australian citizens, Timorese civilians and the airdrop of emergency supplies to remote communities,” Warrant Officer O’Brien said.

“After we arrived and the situation quickly stabilised, we also provided a continuous air bridge between Australia and Timor for the duration of the task force.

“The experience, leading up to and during INTERFET, provided valuable lessons that resulted in the ADF’s quick transition from peacetime exercises and deployments to a deployable unified force that became a major participant and leader in sophisticated regional and global operations.”

Australia’s participation in INTERFET highlighted Australia’s commitment to stability in the region. As the ADF presence in the Indo-Pacific increases, it becomes even more vital to look back at the lesson learned from those previous experiences in the region.