Black Hawk tragedy: Services held to remember fallen Australian soldiers 20 years on

ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) ^ | 12th June 2016

[naturalman1975]

Services have been held in Townsville, Sydney and Perth to mark the 20th anniversary of a Black Hawk crash which claimed the lives of 18 soldiers.

In June 1996, two helicopters collided mid-air near Townsville, while the troops were carrying out a counter-terrorism training exercise.

In Townsville, the Chief of Army Lieutenant Angus Campbell said the lives of the men were lost "for the sake of others".

Crash survivor Gary Proctor also delivered an emotional prayer and the service ended with a Black Hawk flyover and the playing of the Last Post.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who were in Townsville on Sunday, did not attend the services at the request of the families but instead laid wreaths.

"We stand in solidarity with their families and friends they left behind, and we remember, as we always should, the very real risks and dangers the men and women of the Australian Defence force take every day as they keep us safe," Mr Turnbull said.

"It is a very dangerous business defending Australia in war and, indeed, in training [and] peace time as well."

[naturalman1975]

Dealing with the press in the aftermath of this disaster was one of the last jobs I did before retiring from the Australian Defence Force. It was terrible. So much worse for the families, of course.

Hard to believe it's twenty years.

I found this online - it's the image that remains in my head - 18 berets, 15 sand, 3 light blue.

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

RIP