Mefloquine Mission Log: Operation LAGOON (4-20 October 1994)
The Quinism Foundation is launching a campaign to document the use of mefloquine on international military deployments. The South Pacific Peace Keeping Force (SPPKF) deployment to Bougainville in 1994
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The Trigger
A chance encounter with a few ‘ghosts’ from ANZAC Day. Including my occasional next-door neighbour in 1994. Ian Withrington. Via the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Australians gather at Anzac Day services across the country to honour service men and women. Excerpt, photo and two redacted nominal rolls:
'A new tradition'
In Queensland, thousands attended the dawn service in Brisbane which started with the traditional lowering of flags to half mast.
Queensland's Governor Jeannette Young addressed the service before leading the wreath laying ceremony.
Dean Davies and Ian Withrington both served in the Australian Army at Bougainville in 1994 as peacekeepers but never met.
After spending the last four years chatting on social media and calling each other, they decided this year's Anzac Day service in Brisbane would be the day to meet.
"This Anzac Day has started a new tradition for us" said Mr Davies.
"We were on the flight deck on the HMAS Tobruk. He was on the port side and I was on the starboard side," said Mr Withrington.
"It's like we've known each other for years"
Dean Davies (left) and Ian Withrington (right) met for the first time after serving on Operation LAGOON in October 1994 (source: ABC News/Arianna Levy)
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Operation LAGOON nominal roll. Dean Davies (source R. Bowd)
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Operation LAGOON nominal roll. Ian Withrington (source R. Bowd). Misspelled, which caused me to giggle. Major Teece as Officer Commanding.
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The Policy Document
The Standard Operating Procedure for antimalarials in the Australian Defence Force in 1994 was a ‘pam’. Titled in Newspeak as Annex E to SGADF HPD Dated 14 April 1994. Australian Defence Force Anti-Malarial Chemoprophylaxis (Refer to Annex H for paediatric dosage) the fact that mefloquine might have been used or was not used does not matter. Chloroquine was the 1st line. The standard eradication course for Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu in 1994 was primaquine:
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Why cannot I rule out Mefloquine?
No one told the planners until the last moment…
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Why cannot I rule out Mefloquine?
Enteritis.
Not much in the way of medical issues. Except for enteritis. Day 3 of deployment. Interesting…
Other side effects of mefloquine include Diarrhea and stomach pain.
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From the pages of History
Never leave a soldier behind. 103 Signal Squadron. 1995 (* redacted)
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REFLECTION
3rd wave injuries are weird.
You can add you details to the Mefloquine Mission Log. Visit the Quinism Foundation to find out [https://quinism.org/].
Add your details and your operational details. Even if you can’t quite prove it… Add it
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UPDATES
29.05.2024: Reviewed/Updated. Minor updates only
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REFERENCES
ABC (25.04.2024) Australians gather at Anzac Day services across the country to honour service men and women [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-25/australians-gather-for-anzac-day-services-around-the-country/103763630]. Page accessed 5.05.2024
ADF (14.04.1994) Annex E to SGADF HPD Dated 14 April 1994. Australian Defence Force Anti-Malarial Chemoprophylaxis (Refer to Annex H for paediatric dosage). ADF, Canberra, ACT, Australia
Bowd, R.R.E (2007) Doves Over the Pacific. In Pursuit of Peace and Stability in Bougainville. Australian Military History Publications. Loftus, Australia
Breen, B (2008) Struggling for Self Reliance. Four case studies of Australian Regional Force Projection in the late 1980s and the 1990s. ANU Press, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal (9.11.2012) Inquiry into Recognition of Service with Operation Lagoon 1994 [https://defence-honours-tribunal.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Operation-Lagoon-Inquiry-Report.pdf]. Page accessed 5.05.2024. Australian Government
Drugs.com (2024) Mefloquine side effects [https://www.drugs.com/sfx/mefloquine-side-effects.html]. Page accessed 5.05.2024
Marriot, A.G. (2022) If you wake at Midnight. The Lariam wonder drug scandal. Austin Macauley. London, UK
Signalman (1995) 103 Signal Squadron. Volume 29. Reflections Media Pty Ltd, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia.
The Quinism Foundation (2024) Homesite [https://quinism.org/]. Page accessed 5.05.2024
Wikipedia (2024) South Pacific Peacekeeping Force [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Pacific_Peacekeeping_Force]. Page accessed 5.05.2024
Wright, T (21.03.1997) Gunpoint in PNG; mercenaries evacuated [https://www.smh.com.au/world/oceania/from-the-archives-gunpoint-in-png-mercenaries-evacuated-20190319-p515hi.html]