ANZAC Day in Malaysia

Regional Security Partners mark ANZAC Day in Malaysia

An Anzac Day Dawn Service was conducted by the member countries of the Five Power Defence Arrangements in Malaysia, where the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has joined the armed forces of Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom in a major military exercise focussed on regional capacity building and interoperability.

The Anzac Day Dawn Service was held in Penang, on the eve of the commencement of Exercise BERSAMA SHIELD, which will be conducted in various locations on the Malaysian Peninsula, Singapore and in the South China Sea during 26 April to 7 May 2010.

More than 350 people and Defence personnel from Headquarters Integrated Area Defence System (HQIADS), 324 Combat Support Squadron, 92WG Detachment Butterworth, 75 Squadron, Rifle Company Butterworth, as well as UK and New Zealand military units attended the Dawn Service at Penang’s WWI Memorial Cenotaph.

Memorial wreaths were laid by Commander HQIADS, Air Vice-Marshal Kevin Paule; the Commanding Officer of 324 CSS, Wing Commander Ken Robinson; the Commanding Officer of 75 Sqn, Wing Commander Philip Arms; along with UK Forces representative Wing Commander David Middleton and New Zealand Defence Force representative, Commander Peter Kempster.

Air Vice-Marshal Paule delivered the Australian Dawn Service speech, saying the bravery and tenacity of the ANZACs bequeathed a powerful legacy and created an enduring spirit of courage, determination and mateship. The now well recognised Anzac spirit.

“To this day, the values our ANZACs displayed are values that we now pride ourselves on. Those of us in uniform serve because we believe in the Anzac spirit and the importance of maintaining our military forces,” Air Vice-Marshal Paule said.

“Today, Australia has men and women deployed and involved in 13 operations to bring peace, disaster relief, humanitarian assistance and security to many areas around the world.”

BERSAMA SHIELD provides the ADF with the opportunity to develop relationships with important security partners while reinforcing Australia’s long-term commitment to regional stability.

The ADF assets involved in this exercise include HMA Ships Anzac and Success, eight F/A-18 combat aircraft from 75 Squadron and one AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft from 92 Wing.

ENDS

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