Download Annual Report 2011-2012 - Governor-General of the ...

Report on performanceThe Governor-General paysher respects during theDawn Service, ANZAC Day 2012,at Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan(Photo courtesy of theDepartment of Defence)The Governor-General is welcomed to Kabul by AfghanPresident Hamid KarzaiOn ANZAC Day 2012, the Governor-General joined several hundred Australiantroops serving in Afghanistan for a movingdawn service at the Multinational Base Tarin Kowt.As the sky lightened to reveal the stark hills ofUruzgan Province, Ms Bryce addressed the troopsas ‘our modern ANZACs’ and shared their poignantremembrance of each of the 32 Australian soldierswho had died in Afghanistan since Australia joinedthe Mentoring Task Force.A memorial was constructed from sandbags, asimple cross and an upturned helmet holding aflame of remembrance. As the names of the fallensoldiers were read, one by one, their colleaguescame forward to place poppies and salutetheir memory.The Governor-General had arrived at Tarin Kowtthe previous evening, after meeting Afghan PresidentHamid Karzai in Kabul.The 24 hour visit, Ms Bryce’s third to Afghanistan,provided opportunities for her to have formalbriefings and personal conversations with thetroops over meals. During her visit, she recordedan interview with ‘The Voice of Uruzgan’, a radioprogram broadcast to the wider province fromthe base. She also went outside the base to meetstudents and teachers at Malilai Girls’ School, whichhas been developed with assistance from theAustralian Government.Returning to Dubai, the Governor-General visitedAustralian service men and women at the AlMinhad Air Base, and thanked them for their work inlogistics, communication, mechanics and other areasin support of ADF colleagues in Afghanistan.Annual Report 2011–201211