Today the little city of Gladstone officially welcomes its four soldiers who have returned after deployment in the Solomon Islands.
Gladstone Army Reserve Soldiers Charles Bayntun, Peter Hamilton, Adam Toms and Ashley Brummel will guard the cenotaph at today's main parade for Gladstone RSL.Eight soldiers in total from Central Queensland were deployed to the islands for four months as part of Operation ANODE (Rotation 26) in November last year.
Toms returned home in January due to an ankle injury. The remaining three men returned just after Easter, receiving a warm welcome at a Brisbane ceremony.
For all four Gladstone soldiers, it was their first time on deployment.
"As soldiers under my direct command I am proud of their efforts over there," said Gladstone Army Reserves Captain Ed Dahlheimer.
Rotation 26 assisted the Solomon Islands Government in maintaining security, law and justice, economic governance and improving the machinery of government.
On Sunday, the eight Central Queensland soldiers were welcomed home in Rockhampton at a family day at the Army Reserve Depot.