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By Capt THOMAS KILALA in Lae
MORE than 100 Defence Force engineers from Australia and Papua New
Guinea are currently on a PNG Defence Force Assets Refurbishment
exercise in Igam Barracks, Lae.
The exercise, which started in 2002 in Igam Barracks, is an annual joint
PNG Defence Force and Australian Defence Force engineers project named
Exercise Pukpuk, where the two Defence Force engineers come together to
refurbish existing assets or reconstruct destroyed assets in the PNG
Defence Force establishments.
Currently in Igam Barracks, the engineers are refurbishing the Defence
Force area theatre, the gymnasium and the unit’s water reservoir that
has been causing water shortages in the barracks for some years now.
Commanding officer of the PNG Defence Force Engineering Battalion Lt-Col
Carl Wrakonei, while welcoming the Australian engineers to the country,
said the PNG Defence Force engineers were looking forward to working
with them over the next four weeks.
He said in the last five years of Exercise Pukpuk the PNGDF had greatly
benefited by having some of its old rundown facilities given a facelift
and new facilities constructed like the new battalion headquarters for
the 1st Royal Pacific Islands Regiment in Port Moresby and 2nd Royal
Pacific Islands in Wewak.
“Apart from the physical benefits, the Sappers (PNGDF engineers) have
gained a lot in areas of confidence building, maturity, exposure to
working with members of a foreign force, exposure to new construction
technology and interoperability
“The relationship between ADF and the PNGDF is quite unique and very
special, it is through such meetings or exercises that continue to
strengthen and bind that relationship, and we, as service men and women
of both forces, must use such occasions to ensure that we are part of
that relationship. The relation can be described using three words –
healthy, secure and mature,” Lt-Col Wrakonei said.
 
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