Perhaps you may wish to send a soldier a care package. The idea behind this is that some troops over in Afghanistan may not have family who are able to send them packages with things they may need or things that make their time over there just that tiny bit easier. There may also just be a soldier who is finding their time over there difficult and just needs a bit of cheering up. It'll get given to whoever needs it most.
To send a care package to an Australian Soldier in Afghanistan, you need to purchase a "BM x 2" size box (weighs 175g itself) from Australia Post, they cost around $2.35. They'll give you some customs forms which you will also need to fill out. The address you need to send the package to is below. Make sure you seal all the edges of the box with packing tape. If the box after being packed weighs less than 2kg, Australia Post will send it for Free.
To give an example of what can be sent, a care package could be made up using some of the following:
For a bloke
1 x Shower Gel Travel Size
1 x Pack of Disposable Razors
1 x NON-AEROSOL Shaving Cream
1 x Roll On Deodorant
1 x Small Baby Powder (Talc)
1 x Chap Stick (SPF 30+)
3 x Bags of Lollies (NOT CHOCOLATE)
1 x Beef Instant Noodles
1 x Pack of Scotch Finger Biscuits or Anzac Biscuits
2 x Canned Tuna (Pull Ring Style)
1 x Coffee Sachets or Tea Bags
1 x Readers digest or similar sized paperback or even your ABPA Mag
Close weave cotton scarves - to keep sand and dust out of noses and mouths and ears.
For a Female
1 x Moist Towlettes
1 x Hand sanitizer in tube
1 x Dove soap or shower Gel
1 x Roll on Deodorant
1 x disposable razors
1 x Body moisturizer
1 x Chap Stick spf30
1 x small baby talc powder
3 x Soft purse packs of tissues
3 x bags of Lollies
1 x Toothbrush and Paste
1 x Lollies in a roll to slip in pockets eg Mentos mints, TicTacs
All those free shampoo and conditioner/face Cream/hand cream samples you accumulate or can get from your chemist and beauty counters
I x Pack of Anzac Biscuits or Ginger Nuts
1 x Coffee Sachets – Latte etc or Tea Bags
1 x Readers digest or similar sized paperback or even your ABPA Mag or a Take 5 Mag or That's Life mag - Road Ahead, Women's weekly will all fit into this size box - books of crosswords and puzzles also are well received as are newspapers - even if they are a few days old.
For those of you that are animal lovers, you may wish to do the following:
sending care packages to our Explosive Detection Dogs (EDD) with the following items included:
1 x box dog biscuits
1 x pack of Smackos or Liver treats or similar dried treat - make sure they are not pork based - so no Oinkers
3 x Tins sardines – dogs love them
1x toy – a frisby or tug rope
1 x tennis ball
and don't forget a couple of packets of lollies for the handler.
The dogs do a magnificent job under very trying conditions and quite a few have lost their lives serving their country, including Herbie…see below
Things not to send:
Alcohol
No Clothing, Except socks
Aerosols
Cigarettes
Pork
chocolate (melts)
Magazines with naked people.
But don't limit it to this let your imagination do the walking, and I suggest that toiletries be put into a snap lock bag just in case of leakage and remember no aerosols. Not sure how relevant this in the current situation but go for unscented products if possible. I always remember a Vietnam Vet telling me that you could smell the Americans before you saw them because of their aftershave, toothpaste, deodorant etc.
If you just wan't to send over some used mags the PO told me that they can be put into a large envelope - securely taped and addressed and as long as they are under 2kg no problems
You may wish to also include a self addressed envelope and a letter, or include your email address as well just in case they want to contact you or have something specific they want you to get for them.
Mark your parcel
To – Australian Soldier - Male or Female
or – Australian EDD and Handler (Explosives Detection Dog)
AFPO 60
Middle East operations
defence force
NSW 2890
THE DOGS OF WAR
He was a dog of no account, a mongrel breed someone threw out.
A Kelpie with a bit of Blue, perhaps some Border Collie too.
A dog endowed with working genes and sense of smell that's mighty keen.
The Army boys said, 'He will do, he's just the type we want it's true.
The work is hard, the terrain tough but we know this blokes got the stuff.
He's got the stamina to work all day and this bloke will not shirk.'
So Herbie went to war as well. They relied on his sense of smell.
For Herbie's job was finding mines, thus saving those who walked behind
and on this day he found the trace; they saw it written on his face
but who would know the Taliban would detonate the mine by hand,
and Herbie's life came to an end along with his two mates and friends
before the mine could be disarmed – three mates were gone and others harmed
And Herbie's just one of a score of dogs that work – The dogs of war.
Each day bravely they lead the fray – with just a pat received in pay.
They give their all, their second chance. Time may be short, but just a glance
from one bloke in a uniform sets their tails wagging – Desert Storm.
Part of a team, the men rely – on canine smell and canine eye
and if perchance the canine dies – then men in uniform will cry.
So here's to Herbie, Hammer, Jack and and those that didn't make it back.
To those who served, and their lives gave – four legged people, loyal and brave.
Who snuggled up when nights were cold – whose furry ears were often told
of the anguish and fear that dwelt within – they sympathized, men felt
the caress of a warm wet tongue, they listened when there was no one
but them to talk to in the night – when waiting for the call to fight.
He was a dog of no account, a mongrel breed someone threw out.
Now Herbie's guarding Heavens Gate – right alongside his Human mates.
Maureen Clifford © 08/10
Sappers Jacob Daniel Moerland, 21, and Darren James Smith, 25, were killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan their bodies were reunited with loved ones at the RAAF Base at Amberley, in Queensland.
Sapper Moerland had been in the war zone since February, 2010 and Sapper Smith served less than two months. Sapper Smith's bomb detector dog, Herbie, was also killed in the blast.
The dog has been cremated in Afghanistan and his ashes are expected to be delivered to Sapper Smith's wife. The two young soldiers had the most dangerous job of their contingent - clearing roadside bombs ahead of their army comrades.http://www.abc.net.au/news/photos/2010/ ... 921885.htm
Ask your vet if he has suitable samples he can let you have - dog shampoo in sachets . Worm tablets, vitamins etc he may some stock that is out of date or close to its use by date.