Philip Smart | Adelaide
Australia’s last remaining defence force personnel and equipment are on their way home from Vanuatu, after completing relief efforts in the wake of Cyclone Pam.
More than 500 soldiers, sailors and aircrew deployed during Operation Pacific Assist 2015.
They repaired key infrastructure, restored basic services and delivered more than 115 tonnes of vital humanitarian assistance and disaster relief support throughout Vanuatu.
Through their efforts, access to clean water has been restored, schools, community buildings and medical facilities have been repaired, and they ensured remote communities had access to food and shelter.
The initial ADF response included the rapid delivery of Australian aid and emergency personnel using Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster strategic transport aircraft and C-130J Hercules aircraft.
AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft also provided reconnaissance support over Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands to provide emergency officials with a clearer picture of the damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Pam.
HMAS Tobruk, an amphibious operations ship, was later deployed with Army engineers, vehicles and additional aid.
On arrival, Tobruk provided the maritime base for much of the ADF’s high-tempo post-disaster recovery operations in the outer islands.
Tobruk offloaded tonnes of stores using two LARC-Vs amphibious cargo vehicles, two LCM-8 landing craft and an embarked Navy MRH-90 multi-role helicopter.
Army engineers from the Townsville-based 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment also made a significant contribution to the citizens of the worst affected southern islands of Tanna and Erromango.
On Tanna, engineers restored the water supply to the eight major population centres and repaired four medical centres, four churches and 11 schools.
On nearby Erromango, a small group of engineers joined sailors from Tobruk in clearing storm damage from the communities of Dillon’s Bay and Happy Land.
They also conducted route clearance tasks, infrastructure repairs and aid delivery.
Army also contributed three Black Hawk helicopters from the 6th Aviation Regiment.
The RAAF has flown more than 260 sorties in support of the mission; C17-A and C130-J aircraft flew aid, stores and personnel for the ADF, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and other responding agencies, while RAAF KA-350 King Air tactical aircraft worked tirelessly to provide inter-island transport.
Military support was also provided by French, British and New Zealand Defence Forces.