ADF families welcomed at Darwin Convention Centre

With a view to helping newly arrived defence members, a special welcome event aimed at helping military families settle in took place on Saturday.

Sarah Cullen and Lucy Cullen at the Darwin Convention Centre on Saturday. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

To help newly arrived defence members and their families into the Territory, the ADF has thrown a welcome event.

At the Darwin Convention Centre on Saturday, hundreds of service members and their loved ones were greeted by local sports clubs, non-for-profit organisations and NT institutions who were keen to offer their services and embrace the Territory’s newest arrivals.

Defence Family and Member Support area manager Dianne Elson said the event’s mission was to provide a “soft landing” for those starting fresh in Top End.

“(They) get to see what’s on offer, to choose an adventure with respect to the sporting groups or the community groups that they wish to join, see what other types of connections there are, and really take the opportunity to understand what is what is on offer for them,” she said.

“Some families will be already connected because their kids have just met each other at school (and) there’ll be people who’ve been posted together before and they’ll be seeing a familiar face.”

Ms Elson says the event seeks to “meet every demographic”. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Ms Elson said the welcome event was getting “bigger and better” each year.

“We try to give a variety so a single member can come in, or somebody whose partner has remained interstate because of work, or other family reasons, so we try to meet every demographic,” she said.

First Brigade commander Doug Pashley hailed the event as a “wonderful illustration” of Darwin’s welcoming community.

“In my team, 1st Brigade, we’ve got about 40 per cent turnover (per year), that’s part of our life,” he said.

“We try to make it as easy as possible for people and one of the ways we do that is we try to snap people into local community - we could not do that without days like today.”

Nathan Lee, Ana Neser, Archer Lee, Ryder Lee and LCPL Annabel Counsel. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Emilia Day enjoying the event’s activities. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Children enjoying VR experiences. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Sam Pallet and Billie Pallet. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Icarus Knight putting his footy skills to the test. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Harwinder Singh and Gurpreet Kaur. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Sansha Khatiwada, Ferya Sharma and Sumanta Khatiwada. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Soldiers managing one of the more explosive stands. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Oliver Wills and Cooper Wills. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Brigadier Doug Pashley says the event helps families see what the Territory has to offer. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Local clubs, associations and businesses were on-site to greet the Territory’s latest ADF wave. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Jimmy Malhan, Raunak Malhan and Hinder Malhan enjoying themselves. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Senior commanders were also seen at the event. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

For the young ones, the event was a bit hit. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Sallie Gregory and Fox Ross enjoying a close up experience with the local wildlife. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

CLP candidate for Solomon Lisa Bayliss and Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro arrive. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Pete Gibson, Catrina Meldrum and Lachlan Kelly. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Waratah Hockey Club on the lookout for new recruits. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mitchell Leach, Sarah Leach and Eleanor Leach. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

O’loughlin family and Grant. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Bainbridge and Callum hanging out around the cupola. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro socialising with the Rotary Club. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Will Fry. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Brenton Marschke, Adrian Walker, Claire Kiely and Brady Kiely. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

There was a strong blend of civilian and military attire. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Cammed up, Ellodie Wilson handling a rather large snake. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Naomi, Hannah, Jack and John hanging out. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Harper Harrison enjoying her Saturday morning. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Charli Mcstravick and Roly Solomon. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Natalie Pendergast and Abi Arulkumar. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Artneo De Castro, Kendrick General and Georgia Critchley. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Originally published as ADF families welcomed at Darwin Convention Centre