Media release
15 September 2009
For immediate release
Exercise Puk Puk builds buildings and relationships
Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) and Australian Defence Force (ADF) troops have been working together for the past six weeks to complete much needed renovations at Goldie River Training Depot. This work has been done as part of Exercise Puk Puk 2009, which this year forms part of the much larger joint PNGDF-ADF Exercise Olgeta Warrior.
The 24 PNGDF and 84 ADF engineers and assault pioneers have refurbished the Area Theatre foyer, renovated the Soldiers’ Club, converted a sports change-shed into two training classrooms, rebuilt ablutions and a storage shed at the rifle range, renovated the Goldie River Community Centre and the Goldie River Chapel. The engineers have also completed minor tasks at the PNGDF Museum, the Goldie River Headquarter Building and the Goldie River School.
The Australian High Commissioner to PNG, His Excellency Mr Chris Moraitis, officially handed over the completed projects in a ceremony at Goldie River Training Depot on Monday.
“On behalf of the Australian Government, I am pleased to hand these completed projects to Commodore Ilau, Commander of the PNGDF”, he said.
“Exercise Puk Puk 2009 has resulted in improvements in the living and working conditions for PNG soldiers and their families. It also demonstrates the close relationship between our two countries by building friendships, cultural understanding and mutual respect between PNG and Australian soldiers.”
Commodore Peter Ilau, Commander of the PNGDF, formally accepted the completed projects on behalf of his soldiers and their families.
“The quality of work here has been exceptional. I am impressed with the working relationship between the PNGDF and ADF, and I thank everyone who took part in this exercise,” Commodore Ilau said.
He thanked the government and people of Australia for their assistance to the exercise, and asked the PNGDF soldiers and their families to take care of the refurbished facilities.
Exercise Puk Puk is a joint exercise held annually between the PNGDF Engineer Battalion, and the Royal Australian Engineers.
The total cost of Exercise Puk Puk 2009 is approximately K1.2 million. The projects took more than 34,000 working hours, 4,000 litres of paint, 1,200 square metres of fibre cement sheeting, 900 square metres of corrugated iron and 1000 concrete blocks as well as numerous other stores.
The exercise first started in 2003 and has conducted projects at Igam Barracks Lae, Moem Barracks Wewak, the Kiunga Forward Operating Base, and Taurama and Murray Barracks in Port Moresby. This is the second time Exercise Puk Puk has visited Goldie River Training Depot.
Co-operation and relationship building are important to the success of Exercise Puk Puk, which builds friendships, cultural understanding and mutual respect between PNGDF and ADF soldiers. This co-operation leads to success whenever PNGDF and ADF soldiers work together, particularly in the Regional Assistance Mission in the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), and maintains both our strong military history and our future as security partners in the South Pacific region.
The ADF engineer contingent is formed from 25 Support Squadron (3rd Combat Engineer Regiment), 21 Construction Squadron (6th Engineer Support Regiment) and Assault Pioneers from 2nd Battalion the Royal Australian Regiment. It also includes personnel from 5th Combat Engineer Regiment, the School of Military Engineering, 3rd Combat Services Support Brigade, 1st Royal Australian Regiment, 10 Force Support Battalion and 1st Health Support Battalion. The 24-strong PNGDF element is drawn from various parts of the PNGDF Engineer Battalion.