Sergeant Glenda Peri chats to Timorese children in Tatum, their local language.
4 October 2007
Palmerston North’s Glenda Peri is one of the most popular defence personnel serving in Timor-Leste. Whenever her Royal New Zealand Air Force colleagues need something, they go through her to order it and ensure it’s delivered.
The Ohakea-based Sergeant is working as a logistic supply specialist with the Iroquois helicopter detachment based near Dili. The detachment comprises two Iroquois helicopters and 32 RNZAF personnel who work with 150 other New Zealand Defence Force personnel to promote security in the troubled nation.
“The crux of my job is to ensure the technicians have whatever they need to keep the Iroquois running. I also do local purchase runs, count and control stock and send items to and from New Zealand as required,” Sergeant Peri said.
One of the highlights of her deployment so far has been delivering books and soccer balls donated from New Zealand to a school in Fatumusi village in the Bazartete area of Timor.
“We flew up to a school in the hills where we gave out books and balls from New Zealand to the local kids. I enjoyed meeting the kids and talking to them in Tatum. I feel it’s important when you travel to someone else's country that you try to communicate with them in their local language, even if it is just to say hello, good-bye and thank you.”
The three month tour of duty with the Iroquois detachment is her second operational deployment to Timor-Leste. The current rotation of Air Force personnel serving in the South-East Asian country will return to New Zealand later this month.
ENDS
For further information please contact James Heffield, Defence Public Relations, on 04 496 0286 or 021 676 338.