Visiting Australians Have Full Programme

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30220, 27 August 1963, Page 9

Visiting Australians Have Full Programme

Today the 134 Australian troops temporarily stationed at Burnham Military Camp as part of an exercise involving the exchange of troops between New Zealand and Australia will leave for the army’s training area “Lilttie Malaya” at Oxford. Tomorrow they will train in field firing of small arms at Oxford. On Thursday the troops, who are training with the 2nd Battalion, New Zealand Regiment, will carry out company training and prepare for a toree-day exercise at Lake Sumner which starts on Saturday. On Friday they will go on sight-seeing tours. On Saturday, Sunday and Monday the Australians and the 2nd Battalion will carry out adventure training in the Lake Sumner area. This will include survival training, map and compass reading, and rope and hill climbing. The troops will return to Burnham on September 3, and on September 4 they will prepare for a ceremonial parade and take part in a sports meeting at the Royal New Zealand Air Force station, Wigram. The next day, Thursday, September 5, there will be a ceremonial parade and march through Christchurch, followed by a hangi and con-

cert. Friday, September 6. will be taken up by sightseeing tours in the Arthur’s Pass area, to Lincoln College and along the Summit road, and on September 7 and 8 the Australians will return by air to Australia. On September 5 the Minister of Defence (Mr Eyre) will inspect the troops at Burnham and he will also review the march through Christchurch. Meanwhile a party of six Australian artillerymen are exercising in the North Island. On Sunday they arrived ait Whenuapai and moved to Waiouru military camp, where they joined the 16th Field Regiment. Yesterday and today they are visiting the school of artillery at Waiouru Camp, and they will go to Paipakura Camp tomorrow. On Thursday ?nd Friday the six will attend the 16th Field Regiment’s birthday celebrations and on Saturday will visit . the 4th Medium Battery at Hamilton. Sunday will be taken up with sight-seeing in Auckland and from September 2 to September 4 they will exercise with 161 Battery at Helensville. On September 5 and 6 there will be a mobilisation exercise at Papakura Camp, in which the Australians will take part, and on September 7 the six will leave by air from Whenuaipai for Australia.