And over the next six months it hopes to breathe new life and hope into the small community.

The Exercise Saunders Contingent Commander, Major John Venz, said school children from Toomelah Public School and Boggabilla Central School were welcoming.

“The warmth and energy from the children and the broader community is encouraging. 

“This momentum at the inception of the program demonstrates that we already have some very good people here working towards improving the community,” Major Venz said.

The army have been welcomed with open arms, according to Toomelah elder Elaine Edwards.

“We need them. We are hoping they can make a difference to Toomelah, to our children,” Elaine said.

Their role is even more vital, according to Toomelah Land Council CEO Carl McGrady. He believes the next six months could be Toomelah’s “last resort”.

“There’s been a slow and steady decline of the vilage) over the past  decade,” he said.

For many reasons, but the main one?  “Our mob need a reason to get up,” he said. To be succinct, they need hope and the Army may give them that and more.

More than 200 soldiers will be involved. They are qualified in the areas of health, building trades, logistics, catering and vehicle maintenance. The Federal Government will spend $7 million while the Army will provide a similar value in skills and labour.

The program will deliver specified infrastructure including a new multi-purpose community facility; wastewater treatment system; new sporting facilities and refurbishment of existing facilities; vocational and skills training; and complementary health care services.

“Army, likewise, understands the need for an integrated approach to celebrate and acknowledge the Indigenous dimension, the resilience and the capability of all people. 

“The soldiers get to experience a new culture while gaining training value in remote locations. 2017 is the first year that AACAP has worked in NSW but it is the 21st consecutive year the Australian Army has deployed to a remote Indigenous community to deliver infrastructure, vocational skills training and health care.”