More than 20 years ago, a team who set off to deliver lifesaving aid met a tragic fate.
Six sailors and three aviators died when their Sea King helicopter crashed on the Indonesian island of Nias.
The emergency medical team were deployed with Operation Sumatra after a 8.6-magnitude earthquake struck days earlier.
There were only two survivors.
Air Force Sergeant Wendy Jones was among those who perished.
On April 2, commemoration ceremonies were held at Russell Offices in Canberra and at the Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm at HMAS Albatross in Nowra, NSW.
Flight Lieutenant Brooke Steege attended the Canberra service to pay respects to her aunt, Sergeant Jones.
"My aunt Wendy was the reason I joined the Air Force," Flight Lieutenant Steege said.
The Shark 02 crash happened five days after then trainee Steege joined 1st Recruit Trainee Unit.
Through her own service, she has honoured her aunt's legacy.
"My family have always been supportive of Defence; they encouraged me to continue my training at the time of the accident," she said.
"I continue to honour her, having served longer than she got the opportunity to, and will continue to, as I know that if she were still alive she would still be serving and doing what she loved."
Shark 02 was part of a two-aircraft flight from HMAS Kanimbla when the flight controls failed, causing the nose of the aircraft to pitch down, leading to an impact with the ground.
The ADF was helping with disaster relief efforts following the Indian Ocean earthquake and subsequent tsunamis that devastated the region.
Navy Leading Seaman Shane Warburton and Air Force Corporal Scott Nichols were seriously injured and survived the crash.
The nine others who died are survived by family and mates.
