Posted on 06/18/2003 12:51:01 AM PDT by Byron_the_Aussie
Thousands of Australians lined George Street in Sydney today to cheer home troops who served in Iraq and in Afghanistan.
About 1,500 servicemen and women marched from the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay, up George Street to the Sydney Town Hall, where they were welcomed by Prime Minister John Howard.
At some points the crowd was standing three deep to catch a glimpse of the troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Potts Point resident Peter Cullen, 58, and his four-year-old grandson were among the first waiting behind barriers on George Street just before 11am (AEST) today.
"We are here because we are proud Aussies and we are pleased with what they did overseas," Mr Cullen said.
Australian Army Major James Murray commanded the communication element at the Australian National Headquarters in Qatar.
"I've had a number of operational deployments in the past and this is the first one that has had such a welcome home," he said. "I think it's great."
Junior Sailor Mira Muhla, 21, of the HMAS Kanimbla grinned from ear to ear as she spoke of how excited she was to be home again.
``I've been away for three months and I can't tell you how great it was to see Sydney Harbour again after all that time,'' she said.
``It's really exciting to be part of this march - I think that it is great that people will recognise the job that we did while we were away.
``It's also going to be great to see my mum and dad again.''
The Nowra-born Navy writer/clerk spent the majority of her time logging correspondence and scrubbing decks but did see some time in Bahrain, which she described as ``unlike anything I have seen here in Australia''.
``This was the first time that I have been at sea and I really did enjoy it, but it is a relief to be back home again.''
Mira was one of 350 sailors on the HMAS Kanimbla which was part of the command platform in the Persian Gulf controlling Australian and other warships.
Defence Minister Robert Hill, Administrator of the Commonwealth Sir Guy Green, and Defence Force Chief General Peter Cosgrove were among the dignitaries at the march and the Darling Harbour reception afterwards.
The parade - featuring fly-pasts of Air Force F/A-18 Hornets, P-3C Orions and Navy Helicopters - was led by Brigadier Maurie McNarn, the man who headed up Australian troops in the Gulf.
Brigadier McNarn said troops had been concerned from early on that Australians might not recognise their efforts given the political controversy surrounding the war against Iraq.
"I think it's a sign of the educational maturity of our society, that the majority of people can make that distinction and support the (troops) ... and we're very appreciative of that support," he told Channel Seven.
"It meant a great deal to us and it meant a great deal to our families."
Aussies are Aussome!
BTTT
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