A week of VIP visits

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 498, 10 August 1993, Page 5

A week of VIP visits

by

Jenelle

Frewen

Last week was one for VIP visits with two international visitors stopping at the Army Training Group, Waiouru. The Australian Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Major-General Geoff Carter took time out of his busy schedule to visit the School of Artillery in Waiouru, the unit at which he was Chief Instructor in 1978/79. Maj-Gen Carter also met the Officer Cadet School. Maj-Gen Carter, who

is responsible for the Army budget in Australia, was in New Zealand to hold discussions with New Zealand Army personnel regarding their current practice of budget and accounting responsibility at unit level. Meanwhile, last Thursday saw the Permanent Secretary of the Thai Ministry of Defence, Air Chief Marshal Suwit Chandhapradit and his wife Mrs Penpan

Chandhapradit, visit the Army Training Group and take a tour of the Army Museum. It is the first time that a Thai Secretary of Defence has visited New Zealand. While in New Zealand Air Chief Marshal Chandhapradit met with senior Government and Defence officials to fur-

ther the relationship between Thailand and New Zealand. New Zealand currently trains some Thai soldiers and Air Traffic Controllers while the New Zealand Air Force is able to make use of Air Bases in Thailand. During their visit Air Chief Marshal and his party also made stops in Rotorua and Waitomo.