18th June 2009
Australia
Tony ‘Bomber’ Bower-Miles is heading to Cambodia as part of a mine-clearing team, which has received financial assistance from the Mooloolaba Surf Life Saving Club. Photo:Warren Lynam/183259
The trouble with land mines is that they do not know when the war is over, says clearance expert Tony “Bomber” Bower Miles.
Requiring at little as 5kg of pressure to set them off, the millions of mines left scattered across Cambodia by combatants of at least seven nationalities are still killing and maiming children 30 years after hostilities ceased.
Yesterday, the Mooloolaba Surf Life Saving Club supporters’ club chipped in $6000 to support the work of the Vietnam Veterans’ Mine Clearing Team Cambodia Inc, which has dedicated itself to removing as many of the mines as it can and supporting the work of Cambodian mine clearer Akira, who has put his life on the line for the past 30 years to help reduce the ongoing toll.
The work has become a passion for Bomber, the subject of an Australian Story segment that prompted former national serviceman and lifesaving great Hayden Kenny to approach the club for help.
Yesterday Bomber was on hand to accept the cheque from the club which will be used to buy landmine detection equipment.
He flies to Cambodia on July 1 for a two month stint clearing mines, one of two trips to the country he makes each year.
Hayden said the cause was more than deserving of the club’s goodwill and dollars.
“If we didn’t step in and help Bomber and his cause we would be lesser people,’’ he said.
Bomber, a 15 year regular army engineering veteran who served in Vietnam and across South east Asia, is still grieving the death of Akira’s wife, Hourt, who died two months ago in childbirth. Hourt ran an orphanage for dispossessed and maimed child victims.
Mooloolaba SLSC president Todd McKee said the club was delighted to assist.
“We spend money sending our kids overseas for competitions,’’ he said. “We just couldn’t say no to this.’’
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