Description For 120 soldiers of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force their part in Exercise Temple Tower came to a close with a familiarisation trip on one of the Navy's Heavy Landing craft. Two LCHs, HMAS Labuan and HMAS Brunei are in Townsville to support the Army exercise which is currently taking place in the dense rain forests at Mt Spec near Ingham, Qld. The LCHs are being used to transport troops and supplies to Forrest beach from where they are taken in trucks to the exercise area. The PNG soldiers, members of D Company, 1 PIR, have spent the last two weeks operating with 2nd/4th RAR from Townsville, Qld. The trip from Townsville Harbour across Cleveland Bay to Magnetic Island was a welcome change and a chance for the PNG soldiers to see some of the attractions of Magnetic Island...like the koala farm (Oasis Sanctuary) run by Mr Geoff d'Argeavel. The soldiers took a keen interest in the koalas and the tame kangaroos in the park. Although Corporal Pilake Rupin of Vunairoto Village was not too sure what to expect when Mr d'Argeavel handed him one of the koalas, "Oonoonba Joe", to hold. The expression on his face brought broad grins from his friends. The PNG soldiers fly out of Townsville on Thursday 1 November 1973 for their home base at Lae. Meanwhile over 500 soldiers from the Sydney-based 5 RAR together with a company of soldiers from The Royal NZ Infantry Regiment are currently flying into Townsville for phase two of Temple Tower which is scheduled to finish on November 15. For most of the soldiers, especially the New Zealanders it will be the first time they have trained in real rain forest. They will be transported to the exercise area in the Navy LCHs and then taken by truck and RAAF helicopters into the exercise area. Also identified: Sergeant Hausengi from Wewak; Major McCallum;Film order form