3CER Australian Army Freedom of Entry parade enters Airlie Beach

North Queensland combat engineers remember cyclone Debbie for the resilience of locals but also for having sent soldiers to a “boat goat rodeo”, as they are bestowed the greatest honour a regiment can get from a local community.

Memories of a combat engineer at Conway Beach during Cyclone Debbie. Picture: Contributed

If you ask any Whitsunday local to tell you one of their most marking memories, there’s a good chance they will tell you about cyclone Debbie.

The category 5 cyclone had hit the region in March 2017, destroying everything on its path, costing local communities 14 lives and an estimated AUD$3.5 billion.

While the memory of the cyclone remains fresh in the memory of locals, a platoon of combat engineers remembers the region in its darkest hour for the resilience of its residents but also for having sent soldiers to a “boat goat rodeo”.

Australian Army’s 3rd Combat Engineers (3CER) regiment had been sent from Townsville for over 10 days, and helped the community in the aftermath of the cyclone.

Soldiers from the Australian Army 3rd Combat Engineers regiment were bestowed the Freedom of Entry homour into Airlie Beach after they helped the recovery operations throughout devastating cyclone Debbie. Picture: Estelle Sanchez

There were bestowed one of the greatest honour a community can give a regiment, with the township of Airlie Beach welcoming them for a Freedom of Entry parade.

The tourism hotspot on Saturday morning, was vibrant with its usual floods of visitors going to the markets, that were mixed up with soldiers in uniform.

Sergeant major Daniel Bell, wife Jodie Bell, Operations officer Brendan Xenos at the Freedom of Entry honour into Airlie Beach bestowed upon soldiers from the Australian Army 3rd Combat Engineers regiment. Picture: Estelle Sanchez

Ltcol Matt Dobney had been in charge of the 25th Support Squadron that was deployed to provide help to Whitsunday residents after the cyclone hit.

“I just remember how many yachts had washed up on the beach, there wasn’t a single leaf left on any tree,” Ltcol Dobney recalled adding being granted a Freedom of Entry was the “greatest honour” a community could give soldiers.

Maj Liam Clarke and Ltcol Matt Dobney at the Freedom of Entry ceremony into Airlie Beach bestowed on soldiers from the Australian Army 3rd Combat Engineers regiment. Picture: Estelle Sanchez.

Maj Liam Clarke remembers Airlie Beach very vividly for the time he had to send his team on a “boat goat rodeo”.

“I was in the headquarters and we received a call about some goats trapped in a quarry full of water,” he said.

“I never thought I would issue orders to a soldier to go to a goat rescue operation.”

Memories of a combat engineer at Conway Beach during Cyclone Debbie. Picture: Contributed

Section commander Tomas Mondzheyovsky was sent to help recovery operations at Conway and Wilsons Beach in 2017, which was completely blocked by fallen trees when they arrived.

“We spent a week there and were staying at the caravan park, and the community organised pizza nights which was great for the morale of the boys,” he recalls.

Memories of a combat engineer at Conway Beach during Cyclone Debbie. Picture: Contributed

“Wilsons Beach coped a really bad tidal surge, and we had to help remove some of the residents’ belongings out of their house.

“Some of the times, you knock on the door, they see us coming to help and as we were removing all their belongings they would start to break down.

“They would very much appreciate the help but they were completely emotional in face of what was happening to them, which was touching and hard for us.

“Seeing the community today, it’s thriving compared to what it was.”