A friendly game of futsal between the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) and members of the ADF Pacific Sporting Program in the Solomons may look like a bit of fun, but it underlies a critical partnership.
ADF members delivering a face-to-face sports training program in Honiara, Solomon Islands, from October 7 to 12, took time out from the classroom to face off against a team from the RSIPF's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Department (EODD) and Police Response Department on the second day of the program.
Following the game, Director of EODD Inspector Clifford Tunuki - who the Aussies shamelessly poached for team ADF - said the game was a great chance for the Pacific neighbours to become even better friends.
"What the ADF is doing with our police force is really good in terms of job-related training but also sports," he said.
"We are becoming a team with our neighbours and getting to know each other while we get some sporting skills."
It's the ADF's ongoing contribution to the RSIPF and the important work they do in ridding the Pacific nation of remnant World War 2 ordnances that is really kicking goals.
It's a relentless task for 19-year RSIPF veteran Inspector Tunuki and his team, who have three pillars; respond, locate and destroy bombs in Honiara, Guadalcanal and the wider Solomon Islands.
"On average, in a week, our team responds to around 5 to 10 reports, then 10 to 15 items are removed," he said.
"Each year an average of 3000 items are removed and destroyed. In August, we had more than 200 items located near a school."
This hard work was recognised during the week-long sports training program in Honiara's Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport.
Director ADF International Sport Group Captain Jay Clarke presented Inspector Tunuki and his team with a gift of sporting equipment - the perfect offering for a department that enjoys two hours of sport in their regular working week.
However, the sports training program is about more than winning friends.
Designed to increase sport capacity in the Pacific with subjects including referee, coach, sports trainer, first aid and strength and conditioning training in volleyball, rugby union and rugby league, it is also boosting in-country skills in a nation with a 'referee crisis'.
Nine-year RSIPF member, Constable Solly Seuika, was one of the participants looking to increase his rugby league knowledge.
The former union player said he was keen to help nurture league at the grassroots level following completion of the program.
"Rugby league doesn't have a big community here. That's the reason I changed codes, because league is a rare game for us," he said.
"I've learnt a lot through the program. I would like to be a coach in future, and the trainers advised us after we get our certificate in coaching, to teach our school kids to grow the sport."
To date, the ADF has assisted more than 2500 sporting officials across the Pacific in gaining accreditation in their respective codes, providing increased capacity to continue the development of sporting programs within the country.
