Far away in the North Pole, Alfie the Elf was busy working in Santa's workshop when he received some very exciting news. Santa had given him a special job.
Christmas was fast approaching, and he had been asked to deliver some festive cheer to a family all the way in Australia. He had never been Down Under before!
Alfie packed his suitcase, swimsuit and all, and was ready to go. But when he hopped onto the loading belt for Santa's sleigh mail, an icy wind knocked him sideways and Alfie tumbled out of the sleigh, falling through the sky…
When he finally landed, Alfie blinked up at a huge sign:
RAAF BASE RICHMOND - AUTHORISED PERSONNEL ONLY
Alfie couldn't believe his eyes. Somehow, instead of landing at the family's home, he had ended up at a Royal Australian Air Force base.
Alfie needed to find someone to help him get home as soon as possible. With Christmas coming, Alfie could not waste any time if the elves and Santa were going to deliver their presents by Christmas Day.
Before Alfie could find someone to help him, a big, wet nose nudged him. RAAF Base Richmond's military working dogs - Wilka, Xenon and Krusher - had found him.
Alfie blurted out that he wasn't a security threat and that he did not mean to end up on the base.
"I have to get back to the North Pole! If I can't find the Australian family I was meant to help, then I have to help Santa make and pack presents!"
"I know what you can do!" said Wilka.
"You can catch a Herc back to the North Pole!"
"What is a Herc?" asked Alfie.
"A Herc? Oh, a C-130J Hercules is a huge plane that can go anywhere in the world! It will definitely be able to get you home," Wilka answered.
'You can catch a Herc back to the North Pole!'
"Well, let's go!" Alfie said.
"Slow down, little elf. The next plane isn't leaving until this afternoon," Xenon said.
"This afternoon? What am I supposed to do until then?" wailed Alfie miserably.
"Well, if you can't spread Christmas cheer to your Australian family, why don't you spread some here?" Krusher said.
"We'll escort you!"
"That's a great idea!" Alfie said.
"I have heard that the people who work here are extra special and really deserve some Christmas cheer."
To do this job properly, Alfie needed to look the part. He traded in his elf attire for a RAAF uniform and a special high-vis vest so that he was safe during his endeavours.
First, Alfie visited the gym and the RAAF physical training instructors, even helping Sergeant Chrystal Singh with her bench press.
After breaking a sweat in the gym, Alfie decided he should hit the pool and catch some rays. After all, why shouldn't he soak up the Australian sun before going back to the snowy North Pole?
After he'd slipped, slopped and slapped, of course.
Alfie continued his tour of RAAF Base Richmond with a visit to the firefighting section and the air traffic control tower, where he looked eagerly at the large grey planes, wondering which one would take him back to the North Pole.
'If Santa ever needs help patrolling the sky, I'll recommend you all.'
Finally, after spreading as much Christmas cheer as he could, it was time for Alfie the Elf to go home.
Alfie ran to 37 Squadron, the home of the C-130J Hercules, and boarded one of the planes.
"We'll make sure you get back where you belong, mate," said the friendly aircrew.
Alfie waved goodbye to his new friends at RAAF Base Richmond.
"Thank you! If Santa ever needs help patrolling the sky, I'll recommend you all."
The dogs barked a happy farewell as the aircraft's door closed.
Alfie helped the aircrew with their pre-flight checks, and soon they were off, flying over the mountains that surrounded the base.
While he had taken plenty of trips on Santa's sleigh, Alfie did not expect the wooziness he felt on board the Herc. Instead of spending the trip on the flight deck, Alfie became very good friends with the motion sickness bags.
But soon enough, the engines slowed and Alfie looked out the window, seeing white, glittering snow. He was back at the North Pole.
But he wasn't just an elf anymore.
He was an elf who had briefly joined the Royal Australian Air Force, and he could not wait for his next Christmas adventure.
