OPERATION PLES DRAI PAPUA NEW GUINEA DROUGHT

THE PNG AND AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCES WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE PEOPLE OF PNG DURING THE 1997 – 1998 DROUGHT

PROMOTION IN PNG

An Australian Army officer recently received a promotion while serving in Papua New Guinea.

Major Peter "Doc" Holliday arrived in PNG with Joint Task Force 105. Known as Operation Sierra, JTF 105 is the the Australian Defence Force's commitment to providing Drought Relief to areas of PNG.

The Drought Relief operation is a combination of efforts of a large group of people from PNG and abroad.

The drought has caused suffering and hunger throughout the country. Food and other supplies are now being moved into the affected areas by road and, where no road access exists, by air.

PNG and Australian Defence Forces have been working together to move food into the most remote regions by Air Force and Army aircraft.

MAJ Holliday is the senior communications officer with the contingent. He was presented with his "crowns" by Lieutenant Colonel John Navi of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force. LTCOL Navi is the commander of the combined PNGDF/ADF drought relief operation.

By: Captain Grant King - December 06 ,1997

Promotion in PNG Picture Gallery.