Farewell to heroes
THREE teenagers, including two 14- year- olds, have been charged following alleged armed robberies in Thuringowa and Kirwan this week.
It will be alleged on Tuesday at 8.25pm a 23- year- old man was robbed of personal belongings by three males, all armed with knives, while walking to his car in Golf Links Dve at Kirwan.
About 10.10pm on Wednesday, a 61- year- old man was sitting in his parked van in a carpark on Hervey Range Rd when he was approached by three males. He gave up his van after allegedly being threatened with a knife. The thieves then crashed into a bollard before the trio fled on foot with the man’s phone and keys.
The trio were arrested when detectives from the Townsville Criminal Investigation Branch were patrolling near Willows Shopping Centre and saw some persons of interest about 12.20pm on Thursday.
Four people were caught after a chase on foot, with one released without charge.
Two 14- year- old boys were charged with two counts of armed robbery in company and an 18- year- old Kirwan man was charged with armed robbery in company and possession of a knife. THE next contingent of Australian Defence Force personnel in charge of operational communications will deploy to the Middle East next year.
A parade at Lavarack Barracks yesterday marked the formal farewell of soldiers, sailors, airmen and women of Theatre Communications Group Six in front of their family and friends.
TCG- 6 consists of 122 Australian Defence Force personnel from the three services, with a predominantly communications speciality.
They have been drawn from several units across Australia including Townsville’s 3rd Brigade, Williamtown and various Navy ships.
The role of TCG- 6 is to provide communications and information systems support to coalition operations throughout the Middle East Region.
Commanding Officer of TCG- 6 Sydney- based Lieutenant Colonel Peter Carey said the parade concluded five weeks of training in Townsville ahead of their staggered departure in January.
“I have a very complex task group spread across a number of countries across the Middle East group,” he said.
“The parade was actually very exciting because we worked out it would be the last time we would all be together again until we finish our deployment.”
Lt- Col Carey said while this would be his fourth deployment, about half of his group would be deploying for the first time.
“It’s my first time commanding a tri- service group,” he said.
“Predominantly junior ranks make up our communicators but about half of our group have been deployed in that region.”
Aaron Newfield is a deploying Defence member and attended with his wife Chelsea.
He said the parade was an excellent bookend to the chapter of hard work and preparedness of the group.
“It’s a great way to send off the members who contributed to TCG- 6.”
Mrs Newfield said the families were filled with pride to see the personnel parade.
“Sitting there as a family and watching our serving members prepare to go away, there is so much tradition and custom that you can see in those parades. It’s an honouring experience.”
The TCG- 6 deployment is scheduled for about six months.