The Chief of the Defence Force has thanked military personnel for providing a "comforting" presence to Australia's bushfire victims, while warning the worst of the crisis may still lie ahead.
During a visit to the New South Wales south coast, General Angus Campbell promised the Australian Defence Force (ADF) was "going to be part of the story of rebuilding this country" and told troops they would be "in it for the long haul".
"Australians are helping Australians and that is an incredibly comforting experience for our people," General Campbell said while addressing soldiers at the Navy's HMAS Albatross base.
Questioned by one soldier on when the ADF's response would end, the Defence Chief said it was not possible to put a time frame on the mission.
"We're still halfway through the bushfire season and we don't know if it's going to get worse in time, or better," he said.
"There are millions of hectares of forests destroyed, communities isolated, and people need to have that sense that we're reaching out and we're going to be part of the story of rebuilding this country."
General Campbell accompanied Defence Minister Linda Reynolds as she toured Australia's largest warship HMAS Adelaide, which has been stationed off Eden for the past week coordinating bushfire relief operations.
"No matter whether you're onboard or whether you're actually going out into some of the local communities, people will never ever, ever forget what you have done for them here," Ms Reynolds told personnel on board HMAS Adelaide.
Unlike HMAS Choules in Victoria, HMAS Adelaide has not yet been asked to evacuate any residents.
Captain Lief Maxfield, the commander of the task force operating off Eden and Victoria, says HMAS Adelaide is now completing around 30 relief missions a day, reaching bushfire stranded communities by watercraft or helicopter.
"Reaching into these communities that are isolated … their responses to the support has been very positive," Captain Maxfield told the Minister and Defence Chief.
"[They are] very appreciative to know that as this situation can change that all of the state services and the ADF are there postured ready for their continued support."
Some bushfire victims have criticised what they believe to be a slow response by the ADF to this summer's bushfire crisis, but General Campbell says the military has been helping since September last year.
Earlier this month the Prime Minister announced 3,000 Australian Defence Force reservists would be deployed to help with the bushfire recovery.
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