Piper's lament sends heroes on to families
By Jano Gibson and AAP
April 5, 2005 - 4:05PM
A lone piper played a lament as the coffins of nine Australians killed in a navy helicopter crash in Indonesia were placed in hearses and driven from Sydney airport.
The bodies of Lieutenant Mathew Davey, Lieutenant Matthew Goodall, Lieutenant Paul Kimlin, Lieutenant Jonathan King, Petty Officer Stephen Slattery, Leading Seaman Scott Bennet, Squadron Leader Paul McCarthy, Flight Lieutenant Lyn Rowbottom, Sergeant Wendy Jones have been taken to Glebe morgue for coronial examination before being released to their families.
The ceremony at Sydney Airport started soon after 1500 AEST when an RAAF Hercules touched down after carrying the nine flag-draped caskets from Indonesia,.
The dead - six navy and three RAAF personnel - were killed when a Sea King helicopter from HMAS Kanimbla crashed while delivering aid to earthquake-hit Nias on Saturday.
Before the caskets were unloaded from the Hercules, an honour guard marched onto the tarmac.
It comprised 50 Navy and 50 RAAF personnel, 54 pall bearers from the Australian Federation Guard and 50 band members
They were joined by more than 200 family members, politicians and military dignitaries, including Prime Minister John Howard, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Opposition Leader Kim Beazley, Attorney-General Philip Ruddock, and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer were also in place for the ceremonial guard.
Also present were Australia's military heads, Defence Force Chief General Peter Cosgrove, Navy Chief Rear Admiral Chris Ritchie, Air Force Chief Marshall Angus Houston and Army Chief Lieutenant General Peter Leahy are also present.
The Song of Australia was played as each of the coffins was unloaded from the plane.
Each group of pallbearers then marched slowly across a red carpet in front of parents, partners, children, friends and officials towards waiting hearses.
Governor-General Michael Jeffery put a sprig of wattle on each casket while President Yudhoyono solemnly placed medals of honour on cushions on each one.
Family members touched the coffins after Navy Chaplain Eric Burton offered the prayer: ``As we receive their remains in the country we commend their souls.''
Weeping mourners slowly filed passed the coffins, some hugging one another, others covering their mouths, and one carrying a teddy bear as they touched the flags covering the caskets and paid tribute to the young victims of the accident.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/04/05/1112489456524.html
Bodies brought home
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http://www.smh.com.au/ftimages/2005/04/05/1112489457370.html
By Jano Gibson and AAP
April 5, 2005 - 4:05PM
A lone piper played a lament as the coffins of nine Australians killed in a navy helicopter crash in Indonesia were placed in hearses and driven from Sydney airport.
The bodies of Lieutenant Mathew Davey, Lieutenant Matthew Goodall, Lieutenant Paul Kimlin, Lieutenant Jonathan King, Petty Officer Stephen Slattery, Leading Seaman Scott Bennet, Squadron Leader Paul McCarthy, Flight Lieutenant Lyn Rowbottom, Sergeant Wendy Jones have been taken to Glebe morgue for coronial examination before being released to their families.
The ceremony at Sydney Airport started soon after 1500 AEST when an RAAF Hercules touched down after carrying the nine flag-draped caskets from Indonesia,.
The dead - six navy and three RAAF personnel - were killed when a Sea King helicopter from HMAS Kanimbla crashed while delivering aid to earthquake-hit Nias on Saturday.
Before the caskets were unloaded from the Hercules, an honour guard marched onto the tarmac.
It comprised 50 Navy and 50 RAAF personnel, 54 pall bearers from the Australian Federation Guard and 50 band members
They were joined by more than 200 family members, politicians and military dignitaries, including Prime Minister John Howard, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Opposition Leader Kim Beazley, Attorney-General Philip Ruddock, and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer were also in place for the ceremonial guard.
Also present were Australia's military heads, Defence Force Chief General Peter Cosgrove, Navy Chief Rear Admiral Chris Ritchie, Air Force Chief Marshall Angus Houston and Army Chief Lieutenant General Peter Leahy are also present.
The Song of Australia was played as each of the coffins was unloaded from the plane.
Each group of pallbearers then marched slowly across a red carpet in front of parents, partners, children, friends and officials towards waiting hearses.
Governor-General Michael Jeffery put a sprig of wattle on each casket while President Yudhoyono solemnly placed medals of honour on cushions on each one.
Family members touched the coffins after Navy Chaplain Eric Burton offered the prayer: ``As we receive their remains in the country we commend their souls.''
Weeping mourners slowly filed passed the coffins, some hugging one another, others covering their mouths, and one carrying a teddy bear as they touched the flags covering the caskets and paid tribute to the young victims of the accident.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/04/05/1112489456524.html
Bodies brought home
« Previous Back to Gallery Next »
http://www.smh.com.au/ftimages/2005/04/05/1112489457370.html
posted by Kangaroo Brisbane Australia at 3:27 AM
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