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Australian Defence Force personnel have contributed to a significant school project during a visit to Phuket, Thailand as part of the Thai leg of the 2019 Indo-Pacific Endeavour.
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Personnel from the Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019 (IPE 19) Joint Task Force laid turf and built a playground at the Cornerstone Learning Centre in blistering conditions.
The Asia Centre Foundation is building the facility with the help of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian aid program. Foundation director Roelien Muller said the Cornerstone Learning Centre would help Thai families who travelled to Phuket to find employment but fell on hard times.
"Many mothers end up working in the night clubs and bars, leaving their children at home to fend for themselves," Muller said.
British businessman Nigel Woolgrass, who lost his wife in the 2004 tsunami, donated the land on which the school is being built. Construction started in 2017 and the completed school will be able to accommodate about 250 students.
The Deputy defence attaché to Thailand, Royal Australian Navy Commander Paul Welch, said Australians had an affinity with the Thai people, "we have a great relationship with Thailand and it’s important we lend a hand when we can".
"It’s the right thing to do in supporting the Asia Centre Foundation; we can help make a difference in Thai children’s lives," CMDR Welch said.
The ADF members were treated to a small cultural show and a Muay Thai demonstration by the children to say thanks for a job well done.
Defence Minister Christopher Pyne said building interoperability with key partners and improving co-ordination of humanitarian and security responses is a priority for Defence as part of the IPE 19 exercise.
"IPE 19 is a major regional engagement activity for the ADF, which delivers on the promise of the 2016 Defence White Paper to strengthen Australia’s engagement and partnerships with regional security forces," Minister Pyne said.
About 1,000 embarked ADF personnel will carry out a series of engagement activities and military training exercises during port visits in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
The Joint Task Force will showcase some of the state-of-the-art capabilities to the host nations, including the Canberra Class landing helicopter dock Ship, HMAS Canberra.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
