Local MP Darren Chester enjoyed the opportunity to meet a Churchill local while visiting troops in the Middle East. Mr Chester, who is the Federal Minister For Veterans' Affairs, is pictured with Sgt Shane Cooper who grew up in Churchill. Sgt Cooper joined the RAAF in 1999 as a supplier and worked at flying squadrons, Defence Force Recruiting and as an instructor. Sgt Cooper has previously served on OP Anode (Solomon Islands) and is currently on his second tour of the Middle East on OP Accordion. On this deployment, Sgt Cooper is 2IC of Logistics Support Flight, where he facilitates base logistic support to task units based at Australia's main airbase in the Middle East, in support of OP Okra. Sgt Cooper is married to Sharon who grew up in Morwell. They have two children Grady, aged 11, and Milla, aged six.
