Whose Name We Share

54 labour for the betterment of the engineering elements. Their projects were significantly improved thanks to the effort and construction could get underway. CAPT Winter’s team built up to a total of twenty schools, a fish farm, and headmaster’s offices amongst other things. It was important to CAPT Winters, however, to give agency to the locals, saying it was essential to offer the choice of what could be built next. Schools were a popular choice amongst the burnt out husks of the buildings, destroyed by riots and violence, as it had a direct and immediate effect on the community, getting kids off the street and adults back into teaching. Not only that, but it was important for the locals to be able to choose their own materials, something that they were familiar with and could maintain after the Battalion had left. At some stage after his HA element had gained tremendous momentum in construction work he’d even handed back the ADF’s 110 Land Rovers as local trucks were better suited to moving large amounts of materials. In order for the Timorese to one day independently protect their own borders it was an essential goal of the Battalion’s to foster their training. To achieve this, an element of the Timorese Police named the Timor Border Protection Unit was stationed with the Battalion. They would participate in border patrol training with the intention to one day take over from AUSBATT altogether. The Battalion not only had a key role in training that force but there was also an FO party that acted as a liaison to the police – both UN Police and Timorese Police. They’d perform these duties whilst also maintaining traditional security tasks and it was blatantly obvious that some people would skip the borders at night to avoid detection. Early 2003 however saw the battery deploy to RCB with the BK Captain Wendt. The Battery would continue normally by attending multiple field exercises and community engagement events throughout the years, including an official welcome from the City of Palmerston offering the 8/12 Regiment freedom to the city. The 1 st Brigade has been the battery’s home for over twenty years and the battery has enjoyed a good relationship with the local council ever since. The regiment’s M2A2’s – now salute firing guns – have been highly anticipated by the public for appearing at the annual Bombing of Darwin commemorations, as well as the Queen’s Birthday and Australia Day. The battery periodically makes community engagement a priority, having hosted a number of events.