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Afghanistan: ADF troops arrive back, to be greeted by a tearful welcome Afghanistan: ADF troops arrive back, to be greeted by a tearful welcome
(35 minutes later)
The last combat-engaged Australian Defence Force (ADF) troops returned home from Afghanistan on Thursday, touching down in locations around the country, after leaving Uruzgan province for the last time on Sunday.The last combat-engaged Australian Defence Force (ADF) troops returned home from Afghanistan on Thursday, touching down in locations around the country, after leaving Uruzgan province for the last time on Sunday.
For almost an hour, friends and families waited in the arrivals lounge of Sydney airport, watching the board with a mixture of nerves and excitement. The charter plane carrying the Australian troops was scheduled to arrive at 2.15pm, and time was dragging on, until a small cheer rippled through the crowd as the flight status changed to “arrived”.For almost an hour, friends and families waited in the arrivals lounge of Sydney airport, watching the board with a mixture of nerves and excitement. The charter plane carrying the Australian troops was scheduled to arrive at 2.15pm, and time was dragging on, until a small cheer rippled through the crowd as the flight status changed to “arrived”.
Renee Sunderland had travelled from her central western New South Wales home in Canowindra to greet her husband, Adam, who had been in Afghanistan for five and a half months.Renee Sunderland had travelled from her central western New South Wales home in Canowindra to greet her husband, Adam, who had been in Afghanistan for five and a half months.
“I can’t wait to see him,” she told Guardian Australia. “We’ve got two little boys who are with their aunty at the moment because I had to travel. It was a long day.”“I can’t wait to see him,” she told Guardian Australia. “We’ve got two little boys who are with their aunty at the moment because I had to travel. It was a long day.”
Natalie Harrison and Julie Davis were waiting for Julie’s sister Katie. The 22-year-old had been in Afghanistan for eight and a half months months on her first appointment with the ADF. Natalie Harrison and Julie Davis were waiting for Julie’s sister Katie. The 22-year-old had been in Afghanistan for eight and a half months on her first appointment with the ADF.
“Not the exact date, but we knew she’d be home for Christmas,” said Julie, adding they had a big family Christmas planned. “[We didn't know] the exact date, but we knew she’d be home for Christmas,” said Julie, adding they had a big family Christmas planned.
Soon a trickle of soldiers pushed their trolleys through the gate, swamped by a press pack, before finally reaching their families.Soon a trickle of soldiers pushed their trolleys through the gate, swamped by a press pack, before finally reaching their families.
Katie Davis embraced her sister, her father and her friend, illuminated by a dozen cameras. She said they would celebrate at Pancakes on the Rocks in Sydney, and then she would enjoy Christmas and New Year with her family and friends. “We’re very proud of her,” said her father.Katie Davis embraced her sister, her father and her friend, illuminated by a dozen cameras. She said they would celebrate at Pancakes on the Rocks in Sydney, and then she would enjoy Christmas and New Year with her family and friends. “We’re very proud of her,” said her father.
Major Beaumont, met by his wife, Sally, who had left their teenage daughters in Hobart to greet him in Sydney, told media their tears were “happy tears”.Major Beaumont, met by his wife, Sally, who had left their teenage daughters in Hobart to greet him in Sydney, told media their tears were “happy tears”.
“I’ve been in Afghanistan for eight months, and away from home for ten months. I was in Kandahar at the hospital there, as a mental health psychiatrist,” he said. “Green, water, and somewhere that doesn’t have dirt and dust and rocks,” he replied when asked what he’d missed about Australia. “I’ve been in Afghanistan for eight months, and away from home for 10 months. I was in Kandahar at the hospital there, as a mental health psychiatrist,” he said. “Green, water, and somewhere that doesn’t have dirt and dust and rocks,” he replied when asked what he’d missed about Australia.
“I’m just so happy that he’s home safe,” said Sally.“I’m just so happy that he’s home safe,” said Sally.
Australia has had a permanent presence in Uruzgan since 2005, stationed at the Tarin Kowt multi-national base, which housed 10,000 personnel at the height of the conflict.Australia has had a permanent presence in Uruzgan since 2005, stationed at the Tarin Kowt multi-national base, which housed 10,000 personnel at the height of the conflict.
Major Ben Mackay said Australia’s mission in Uruzgan had “absolutely” been worthwhile. “It’s been a long ride but being there at the end was a real bonus,” he said.Major Ben Mackay said Australia’s mission in Uruzgan had “absolutely” been worthwhile. “It’s been a long ride but being there at the end was a real bonus,” he said.
“I think everyone was proud to be there at the end, and to finish it off and hand it over to the Afghans and leave the place a lot better than when we got there, that’s for sure.”“I think everyone was proud to be there at the end, and to finish it off and hand it over to the Afghans and leave the place a lot better than when we got there, that’s for sure.”
Australia’s involvement in Afghanistan is not over. While they are not expected to see any combat, 400 ADF personnel will remain in Kabul and Kandahar in support and training roles with the Afghan National Security Forces for at least another year, the Australian prime minister, Tony Abbott, announced on Monday.Australia’s involvement in Afghanistan is not over. While they are not expected to see any combat, 400 ADF personnel will remain in Kabul and Kandahar in support and training roles with the Afghan National Security Forces for at least another year, the Australian prime minister, Tony Abbott, announced on Monday.
LAC Mitchell Evans also arrived home on Thursday, seeing his mum, and his wife, Ally, for the first time in four months. He’ll return to Afghanistan for another three months however, in one of the support roles.LAC Mitchell Evans also arrived home on Thursday, seeing his mum, and his wife, Ally, for the first time in four months. He’ll return to Afghanistan for another three months however, in one of the support roles.
“It’s only a little bit of a break, but it’s good to be home anyway,” Evans told Guardian Australia. “I’m proud to serve my country no matter what I do. I’m happy with how it’s all running. With what I’m doing now it feels fantastic.”“It’s only a little bit of a break, but it’s good to be home anyway,” Evans told Guardian Australia. “I’m proud to serve my country no matter what I do. I’m happy with how it’s all running. With what I’m doing now it feels fantastic.”
As well as the 400 support roles, Australia will also be providing about $100m a year towards the Afghan national forces.As well as the 400 support roles, Australia will also be providing about $100m a year towards the Afghan national forces.
Over the course of Australia’s involvement in the Afghanistan war, 40 soldiers have been killed and 261 seriously wounded out of the more than 26,000 personnel deployed. “That sacrifice has not been in vain,” said Abbott on Monday.Over the course of Australia’s involvement in the Afghanistan war, 40 soldiers have been killed and 261 seriously wounded out of the more than 26,000 personnel deployed. “That sacrifice has not been in vain,” said Abbott on Monday.
“I want to say thank you, a very deep thank you, to all of our service men and women who have been in Afghanistan. I want to say a very deep thank you to their families who have suffered grievous absences as well as in some cases grievous shattering loss.”“I want to say thank you, a very deep thank you, to all of our service men and women who have been in Afghanistan. I want to say a very deep thank you to their families who have suffered grievous absences as well as in some cases grievous shattering loss.”
The final contingent of ADF troops arrive in Queensland on Thursday evening.The final contingent of ADF troops arrive in Queensland on Thursday evening.
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