General News
9 October, 2024
Region’s defence in good hands after improvements to army base
The 51st Battalion base in Mount Isa has received several upgrades.
The Australian Army is nearing completion of more than $2.5 million in upgrades to its Mount Isa military base as part of an increased focus on northern defence capability.
51st Battalion Far North Queensland Regiment Delta Company commanding officer Major Graham Rorie said the upgrades were necessary because the Mount Isa depot served as an important transit hub for soldiers moving between major defence centres in Darwin and Townsville.
The year-long refurbishments include an overhaul of the main administration offices, expanded accommodation and locker facilities for up to 60 soldiers, a new training classroom, quartermaster store and vehicle bays and boat sheds to house more military equipment.
It follows on from a Defence Strategic Review last year that recommended the Australian Army better integrate force manoeuvres across the north as part of a renewed focus on local security response capabilities.
When North West Weekly travelled to the base along Ryan Road, Delta Company reservists were preparing for a two-week patrol across the Gulf, which would include driving vehicles along the coastline to survey for any suspicious activity as well as moving small sea vessels to Mornington Island as part of its community outreach efforts.
Delta Company is responsible for security surveillance across a 270,000km2 land and sea area that extends from Mornington Island to Croydon, down to Julia Creek and Dajarra, and west to the NT border.
Major Rorie said more than 50 per cent of Delta Company were Indigenous Australians, which was a unique advantage given the regional surveillance mission of the group.
“Indigenous Australians know the Country, they are from Country and have a connection to Country that provides a unique perspective that is valued by Defence,” he said.
Training for reservists is divided into a handful of primary roles – mobility on land vehicles and small water vessels and first aid and signals operations to improve patrolling capability.
Major Rorie said there had been a 20 per cent increase in recruitment across the company in the past 12 months, which included a wide cross section of the community, from school graduates to men in their 50s.
“There is a common thread among recruits,” he said.
“They want to do something worthwhile and challenging where they can learn new skills and be part of a group of mates.”
General entry reservist Private Chris Stephens said the Gulf trip would be his first patrol since he joined up straight after completing high school in November 2022.
The former Spinifex State College student is currently completing an electrical apprenticeship at Mount Isa Mines and said he found the additional skills he had learned at the reserves to be helpful in his future career ambitions.
“I went to Kapooka for my five weeks initial training and I was expecting it to be like (movie) Full Metal Jacket,” he laughs.
“I got a bit of that, but the training was great.
“My grandfather and father were in the army and it’s just something I have always wanted to do.”