Members from across the ADF and Australian Public Service came together for a special community engagement event in Gilgandra, NSW, this month.
The initiative, now in its second year, aims to give back to the community while showcasing the diverse roles that contribute to Australia's defence capability.
At Gilgandra Aerodrome, community members were invited to tour a C-130J Hercules aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) 37 Squadron and meet the crew.
RAAF Base Richmond Indigenous Liaison Officer Sergeant Ron Schultz said the initiative was also a way to thank the Gilgandra community for their ongoing support.
"Gilgandra plays a key role in supporting RAAF operations and training, especially for our C-130J Hercules," Sergeant Schultz said.
Supporting the activity were Defence personnel from a wide-range of job roles and Indigenous community members.
"The event enabled Defence personnel to connect with the Gilgandra community, each other, Richmond and beyond," Sergeant Schultz said.
"We also had a number of members from the Indigenous community and National Rugby League (NRL) on board the C-130J Hercules to experience flying in a military aircraft."
'These events not only inspire future generations but also strengthen partnerships across the RAAF Richmond area of operations.'
The event commenced with a yarning circle and networking, followed by a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony by Uncle Ralph Nadden, a local Wiradjuri Elder.
Attendees enjoyed a wide range of interactive displays and activities from ADF personnel across firefighting, security forces, explosive ordnance detection and ADF Careers.
The NRL also hosted football clinics and touch football games, all while enjoying a community barbecue.
"We're already seeing generational impact - one family even recreated their photo from last year, showing how their family and the relationship with Defence has grown," Sergeant Schultz said.
Sergeant Schultz said he was looking forward to these engagements continuing to be aligned with NAIDOC Week and National Reconciliation Week in the future.
"These events not only inspire future generations but also strengthen partnerships across the RAAF Richmond area of operations," he said.
"It truly showcased 'Strength, Vision and Legacy' in action."
