C-27J Spartan departs Townsville to deliver Christmas cheer

THE Australian Defence Force will beat Rudolph and Santa to deliver presents to remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities as they look to give Christmas cheer early.

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THE Australian Defence Force will beat Rudolph and Santa to deliver presents to remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities as they look to give Christmas cheer early.

A C-27J Spartan aircraft left the Garbutt RAAF Base yesterday on a special mission to deliver donated Christmas gifts to the remote North Queensland communities as part of Exercise Christmas Hop.

Primarily used to transport cargo, the mighty C-27J Spartan has been loaded with gifts including sports gear and toys as well as much-needed supplies such as school materials, clothing and sanitary products, all donated by Australian Defence Force members and organisations such as Modi Bodi and Support the Girls.

ACW Rosalie Frichot and FLGOFF Thea Maralit of No. 35 Squadron RAAF depart Townsville for EX CHRISTMAS HOP. Picture: Alix Sweeney

PICTURES: ADF land in remote communities to deliver Christmas cheer

Air Force Flight Lieutenant Norman Grogan from No. 13 Squadron packing donations for Exercise Christmas Hop at RAAF Base Townsville before departing to remote communities.

Indigenous Liaison Officer Flight Lieutenant Normie Grogan said the gesture meant children who would otherwise go without would have something to smile about this Christmas.

“That’s the thing that if you live in a remote community, a lot of things we take for granted on the mainland, such as groceries or common everyday household goods, are sometimes 10 times the price of what we pay in the cities or suburbs,” Flt Lt Grogan said.

Pulling off Exercise Christmas Hop will be sure to give Santa a run for his money, with the skill required to land the Spartan arguably more challenging than the sleigh expected on December 25.

“It’ll help teach our crews how to deal with the visual cues and the shorter runways that you see,” leading pilot Adam D’Arcy said.

“In some cases it’s just water both ends, like on Yorke Island where the runway stops and the beach begins.”

Originally published as C-27J Spartan departs Townsville to deliver Christmas cheer