New Zealand soldiers in Timor-Leste perform a haka for Brigadier Bill Sowry, former Commander of the International Stabilisation Force. (Image courtesy of the ADF)
27 October 2009
New Zealand soldiers serving in the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in Timor-Leste have given the outgoing commander from Australia a heartfelt and emotional haka at Dili airport as he heads home.
Soldiers from the Timor-Leste Battle Group VI (B Coy) performed a traditional Maori haka to demonstrate the respect the troops had for the outgoing commander's leadership.
Brigadier Bill Sowry has led the ISF for nine and a half months during which time Timor-Leste has experienced significant positive changes in its level of security.
As part of these improvements, policing responsibilities of three districts and governance of the police academy has been handed back from United Nations (UN) Police to local police. There has been associated social and economic developments with employment rising and an increase in the number of small businesses opening.
The improving security situation has also seen changes in the way ISF soldiers approach their work. The number of patrols by ISF troops has decreased and on the remaining patrols, soldiers carry their weapons slung and unloaded instead of at the load position. However, if there was a resurgence of violent civil unrest, the ISF retains a rapid deployment element that can be deployed anywhere in the country at short notice.
The new ISF Commander is Royal Australian Navy Commodore, Stuart Mayer, who is the first naval officer to command the ISF. CDRE Mayer has held numerous command positions at sea and on operations in the Middle East since joining the Royal Australian Navy as a Seaman Specialist in 1984.
The International Stabilsation Force is comprised of approximately 650 Australians and 140 New Zealand Defence force members.
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This article was supplied by the Australian Defence Force.