In the context of the international military exercise ‘Pitch Black 2024‘ in which Italy took part with the aircraft carrier Cavour, the frigate Alpino and more than 23 aircraft of our Air Force, the Italian Ambassador Paolo Crudele, accompanied by Air Squadron General Alberto Biavati and Brisbane Consul Luna Angelini Marinucci also had the opportunity to greet, on 2 August, the personnel currently stationed at the Amberley air base in Queensland, 39 Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers who are also engaged in support activities for the Italian participation in Pitch Black.
The Ambassador, while in Queensland, took the opportunity to board on the ‘Spirit of Star,’ the world’s first barrier-free catamaran, which arrived in Brisbane a few days ago for the first of its Australian stops in the context of the WOW Initiative – Wheels on Waves. The project, which involves circumnavigating the globe favouring the participation of people with disabilities, civilians, and military personnel from Italian and foreign Armed Forces, was promoted by the Ministry of Defence, the Defence General Staff, and Defence Services, and was also enthusiastically welcomed by the Australian Armed Forces.
“We share with our Australian friends the importance of living and sharing the experience of the sea on a sailing boat, to show that barriers of all kinds can be broken down, in full compliance with the values sanctioned by the UN Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” reiterated the Ambassador on board the “Spirito di Stella” (Spirit of Star).
The catamaran will continue, with some technical stops, to Darwin, where it will join the Amerigo Vespucci training ship in early October.
Along the way, it will welcome on board some members of the Australian Armed Forces with disabilities, testifying to the friendship and cooperation between our two countries.
