MEDIA RELEASE
24 August 2007
For immediate release
Australian army chief meets PNG and Australian soldiers
The Australian Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy, AC, visited Lae today to meet soldiers from PNG and Australia who will be working together to renovate Igam Barracks.
Lieutenant General Leahy met military engineers from the PNG Defence Force (PNGDF) Engineer Battalion and the Australian Army’s 16th Combat Engineer Squadron. The sappers will be working side by side for the next four weeks delivering major repairs to the water system, gymnasium and theatre at the barracks.
The renovation project is part of Exercise Puk Puk, an ongoing project which comes under the Defence Cooperation Program (DCP) between PNG and Australia.
Addressing the soldiers Lieutenant General Leahy said: “You have a great opportunity to learn from each other and to strengthen the bonds between our two Defence Forces.
“Most importantly, you have an opportunity to deliver some real benefits for the soldiers and their families living on this base.”
Lieutenant General Leahy was joined by the Commander, PNGDF Commodore Peter Ilau, DMS CBE, and the Australian High Commissioner, His Excellency Mr Chris Moraitis.
Commodore Ilau thanked Lieutenant General Leahy for his support and welcomed the Australian Government’s ongoing support to the PNGDF through the DCP.
Commodore Ilau said: “Combined activities such as Exercise Puk Puk continue to improve the ability of our forces to work together.”
Igam Barracks was the site of the first Exercise Puk Puk in 2002. Other Puk Puk exercises have refurbished PNGDF facilities at Goldie River Training Depot, Moem Barracks, Taurama Barracks and the Kiunga Forward Operating Base.
Exercise Puk Puk helps to develop engineering skills within the PNGDF, build links between the two Defence Forces and improve PNGDF infrastructure.
This is Lieutenant General Leahy’s fifth visit to PNG since his appointment as Chief of Army in 2002.
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