For the last several weeks the folk of Cooma have had a taste of what it might be like to live in conflict or natural disaster area as about 80 trainee soldiers from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, were in town for an exercise.
As well as the trainees – known as staff cadets – officers and support personnel were also part of the exercise.
While some Cooma residents initially found the sight of soldiers walking about town toting rifles and wearing camouflage gear a bit confronting, in time the friendliness and warmth of the young men and women won everybody over.
As part of the exercise, an information day was held at the historic Cooma railway station where members of the local amateur railway group offered hospitality and raised funds for their organisation.
Others in town found the military presence a pleasing boost to business as the trainees spent a number of evenings frequenting local eateries and licenced establishments. Organisers of the Cooma Rotary Club’s regular monthly markets considered it a boon when several truck loads of soldiers turned up for a Sunday breakfast of bacon and egg rolls and coffee.
Market co-ordinator Carlo Botto said generally they expected the markets to be a bit slower as the cold weather started to bite.
“When we saw those trucks pull up we were more than happy to cook what ever they wanted,” he said.
As a public relations exercise the event was a success with trainees visiting local schools to read to children and familiarise little ones with what it might be like to live in a war zone.
St Patrick’s Parish School principal Frances Robertson commended the army on its work in town.
“Our experience has been of friendly and kindly people who have gone about their jobs with dignity and warmth,” she said.
“It’s been a very positive experience – certainly for our school – but also, I dare say for the whole community.”
