The NSS team in Central Queensland is busy demobilising the Singaporean Armed Forces cohort which has been training at Shoalwater Bay.
More than 6200 troops have been supported by armour, tanks and helicopters in Exercise Wallaby, which ran from September 8 until November 3.
Main image: CPL Weslie Lim Jin Hui, an NSF participating in Exercise Wallaby 2023. (Photo: CNA/Marcus Mark Ramos)
This represented the largest SAF force yet to train in Central Queensland. The manoeuvres also ran over the longest period conducted for the annual exercise.
NSS was currently loading 200 wheeled and track vehicles as well as ordinance through both Gladstone Port and Port Alma in Rockhampton, Commercial Manager Mitchell Smith said.
“NSS plays a vital part in Exercise Wallaby from receiving their cargo at the port through to the loading and securing of those cargo to multiple vessels,” Mitchell said.
“These vessels include lift-in, lift-out vessels as well as roll-on, roll-off vessels for their vehicles. We also handle some of the vessels for their ammunition and ordinance in the Port Alma region at the commencement of the exercise.
“It’s certainly a busy time, as you can appreciate, the military are very regimented and they’re working to very tight timeframes. As does our team in supporting them to make their missions and carry out those exercises.
“Timeliness is a very important part of the task for the movement of their cargo.”
The Australia Singapore Military Training Initiative was announced in 2015 and designed to build defence capability, enhance Australia’s bilateral relationship with Singapore and provide economic benefits to Central and Northern Queensland.
The exercise has been growing year on year following COVID, which also spells good fortune for North Queensland, where the SAF utilise facilities at the Townsville Field Training Area, Mitchell said.
“… And it’s only a matter of time until we see more of that development in the Townsville Field Training Area whereby there’s a forecast of up to 14,000 troops coming into Queensland annually with an extended training period for up to six months or more,” he said.
“We’re excited about that opportunity.”