'Greetings all from the sands of the middle east. This year has been a challenging one for Judi and I. We moved away from the safe confines of Sydney to Cairns and with that move lost the daily comfort of having our children and grand babies close at hand. On top of that I have been sent to the middle east and am currently half way through a six month tour in Iraq. Our two year plan has been interupted with my mission over here but hopefully come March life can settle down for us once and for all.



My work in Iraq is professionally and personally rewarding and I do genuinely believe that the work my team does here saves lives. Even more satisfying is that the lives we are saving are not just the young men and women of the coalition forces but the Iraqi's themselves. In an environment where life can be challenging and dangerous it is pleasing to see the successess that my program delivers. This battle is showing signs of success and the Iraqi population is slowly being able to get on with their lives without the daily and constant fear of what the next day will bring.



I will be home for christmas; albeit it only for a couple of weeks, but I will take this opportunity now to wish you all a merry christmas and the very best wishes for everything that 2008 will bring. I also ask that if you can please spare a moment and send your good thoughts and wishes to the hundreds of thousands of troops and personnel over here in Iraq and all the other theatres that Australians and our coalition friends are operating in who will not be home with their families this christmas. It will be a sombre and trying day for them but rest assured they are fine men and women and they are doing you and our country proud. See you all soon.' - Dad, Nov 2007

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From Cairns to Sydney, Lismore to Lawson, and across the seas to sunny Baghdad, this site is keeping the Hughes' connected!