FEDERAL Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce said recognising the contributions of the more than 10,500 NSW personnel who served in the Middle East Area of Operations during Operation Slipper, would be marked with welcome home parades to mark its completion.

The Commemoration events in Sydney on Saturday [21 March 2015], as part of the National Commemoration for the end of Operation SLIPPER, will include a parade along George St, starting at 10am, followed by a Commemorative Ceremony held around the Pool of Reflection at the ANZAC Memorial, Southern section of Hyde Park, commencing approximately 11.30am and concluding by 12.30pm.

The purpose of these events is to provide the Australian public the chance to thank all those who participated in Op SLIPPER, Australia’s whole-of-government commitment to the International Security Assistance Force mission in Afghanistan and the Middle East, which commenced in October 2001.

It is expected that there will be about 9000 participants in the Parade, comprising those current ADF personnel who served in Op SLIPPER, discharged ADF veterans of Op SLIPPER, Other Government Agency personnel who were part of the UN Assistance Mission, allied nations veterans and locally engaged employees. 

“We also recognise the hundreds of Australian Federal Police and other agency representatives who served and supported those on the ground.

“This is a day to remember the contribution of our service men and women, especially the families of the 41 Australian soldiers killed during Operation Slipper.”

Operation Slipper encompassed Australia’s contribution to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan, and the International Coalition against Terrorism mission across Afghanistan and the Middle East which commenced in October 2001 and concluded in December 2014.