Indonesian general visits Waiouru

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 412, 12 November 1991, Page 6

Indonesian general visits Waiouru

BY

JO

HOWIE

General Try Sutrisno, the Commander-in-Chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces spent two days in Waiouru last week as part of his five day New Zealand tour. His visit is significant in that it is the first by the Commander-in-Chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces and demonstrates the continuing closer relationship between the two countries. General Sutrisno and his wife, Mrs Tuti Sutiwati Sutrisno were accompanied by 13 others to form the visiting party for the New Zealand tour. He was accompanied by his own Indonesian Defence Officials, and was escorted by the New Zealand Deputy Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier A L Birks, and other New Zealand officials. Colonel Clive Sinclair, Waiouru's Commander met the General and his wife and the visiting party at the Waiouru airfield. At the entrance to the camp General Sutrisno, received a Maori challenge. The General then inspected a 50-man Guard of Honour provided by Waiouru Units. The party then visited Waiouru Primary School, where they were entertained with items put on by classes, they also spent time in the New Entrants class, and observed and got involved with the children

in some typicai daily classroom activities. The General expressed an interest to see how ordinary New Zealanders live, so he and his wife viewed an army transit house, and another family house in the Waiouru residential area. Before their evening dinner at the Officer's Mess, they toured the Q E n Army Memorial Museum which included an audio-visual presentation. On Saturday the visitors went to Moawhango Basin to watch military and rural firefighting techniques. Waiouru's Firemaster, WOl Sparks, demonstrated combatting a scrub fire using a helicopter and monsoon buckets. The group then observed the Artillery Young Officers course live firing. They also viewed the Light Gun Battery firing. The General, and his assistant, Air Vice Marshal Teddy Rusdy took the opportunity to fire the Light Gun. They later observed the fire from an Artillery Observation Post. The Group had lunch at Westlawn Hutt in the training area, and also were able to view local flora and fauna, including the wild horses. Before departing to Rotorua that afternoon, they visited the Invertron Building (Indoor Artillery Communications Simulated Training Device) and the Indoor Miniature Range at the School of Armour.