Cape York Weekly FREE – #034 | Monday, May 17, 2021
Editor: Matt Nicholls 0477 450 558 | editor@capeyorkweekly.com.au
WEIPA BASE LOCKED IN FOR JOINT EXERCISE
Scherger is ready By MATT NICHOLLS
WEIPA’S air force base will play host to soldiers from Australia and the United States in a couple of months as Defence prepares for a major training exercise. The COVID-19 pandemic will reduce the number of visiting troops from overseas, but exercise Talisman Sabre 21 is still expected to involve more than 10,000 men and women in what is our largest bilateral combined military training event. RAAF Base Scherger has been locked in to play a role and Weipa residents should expect to see some aerial activity around the site in July. The majority of the joint exercise – designed to help improve Australia’s and its allies’ combat readiness and interoperability – will take place in North Queensland, especially around Shoalwater, Townsville and Charters Towers. “I don’t think Scherger will play a massive role but there should still be some involvement,” a Defence source told Cape York Weekly. The Australian Defence Force said it was putting in place plans to ensure that it was a COVID-safe exercise. “In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Defence is adjusting how it does business while still maintaining operational readiness. Talisman Sabre 21 is critical to maintaining that readiness,” the website says. Continued – Page 2
ON THE ROAD AGAIN Tuxworth and Woods driver Ryan Cummings is glad the wet season is over and that trucks are back up and running on the Peninsula Developmental Road. One of the Cape’s longest running transport companies, ‘Tuxies’ is keen to make up for lost time and get the region moving again. We speak with operations manager Simon Tuxworth on Page 7
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