Village for Vietnamese DPR/TV/708

Task Force base at Nui Dat, Vietnam has been given an official name and Diggers of the Task Force are spending most of their spare time improving the hamlet and helping the villagers to become settled. The official name for the village is Ap Suoi Nghe. So far 180 families which were moved from a Viet Cong staging and supply area have been resettled in their new homes. Afurther 40 families are still to be settled. One of the major tasks at present is the construction of houses. Timber for the houses has been supplied by all Task Force units and most of the work on the site is being done by Australian engineers. Although the moonsoon season has almost passed, levelling and drainage are still two important features in the development of the village. Not all the work is being done by Australians. When not chasing their cattle, the local Vietnamese also lend a hand with the construction. When not engaged on improvements to the village, the villagers are given the opportunity to listen to music, in this case provided by the band of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.