Fed: Full military funeral for Black Hawk pilot

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-2006
Fed: Full military funeral for Black Hawk pilot

A full military funeral will be held in Townsville today .. for Captain MARK BINGLEY
.. the Army Black Hawk pilot killed in a helicopter crash off Fiji.

35-year-old Captain BINGLEY will be farewelled at Saint James Cathedral .. where a
large military contingent .. family and friends will gather with his widow MELISSA and
four-month-old son MITCHELL.

A trio of Black Hawks will fly over the cathedral at the end of the service, which
starts at 11 am (AEST).

Captain BINGLEY and 28-year-old SAS Trooper Corporal JOSHUA PORTER .. died when a Black
Hawk helicopter crashed during a failed landing attempt on the HMAS Kanimbla .. in waters
off Fiji .. on November 29.

Trooper PORTER'S body hasn't been recovered.







Federal Liberal MP for Herbert PETER LINDSAY will represent the government along with
Minister for Veterans' Affairs BRUCE BILLSON.

Mr BILLSON is also the Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence.

Senior Labor backbencher KIM WILKIE will represent the opposition at the funeral.

But Townsville Mayor ANN BUNNELL is angry that major national political figure .. including
Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD .. Opposition Leader KEVIN RUDD and Defence Minister BRENDAN
NELSON .. have declined to attend .. citing prior engagements.

AAP RTV nf/ks/rt

KEYWORD: HELICOPTER FUNERAL (TOWNSVILLE)

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