Community engagement the highlight of Pilbara Regiment’s On Country Patrol as locals welcome squadron

Community lessons and engagement have been the highlight of the Pilbara Regiment 3rd Squadron’s patrol around the Goldfields. The 10-member squadron started their patrol on June 13 in Perth and has since travelled to Kalgoorlie, Laverton, Warburton, Warakurna, Blackstone and Leonora, among other stops along the way. The patrol is intended to enhance the squadron’s understanding and engagement with the region. Major Campbell Thelander said the communities had welcomed the squadron with open arms. “We’ve visited a great number of communities that haven’t been visited by us or the ADF in sometimes more than a decade,” he said. “There have been some phenomenal opportunities for community engagement and also practicing our skills and an exchange of ideas. “They can teach us far more than we can teach them and we’ve been very lucky to be so well received.” The four-vehicle expedition took five weeks of planning and contains a six-person squadron, two signal operators, an extra medic and Major Thelander. Apart from some cold nights, Major Thelander said there had been no significant setbacks as the group looked to immerse itself in the community. “We’re not going out there with an agenda; we’re going out to see, meet and talk to the people,” he said. The patrol is scheduled to return to Perth on June 24.