"Landmine clearer Tony ‘Bomber’ Bower-Miles is a Vietnam veteran who is voluntarily spending his retirement removing landmines in Cambodia. The task is mammoth.
There are an estimated four to six million mines strewn on a land mass the size of Tasmania, and some say it will take a century to complete. Tony, and fellow Vietnam veteran, Roy Chamberlain, have travelled to Cambodia together to disarm mines.
Tony taught Roy how to lift and disarm landmines with nothing more than a dental probe and a pair of pliers. They are believed to be the only freelancers removing landmines in the countryside for free, and work with local man, Aki Ra, who at the time of first meeting them had voluntarily lifted 33,000 mines on his own using just a stick. In Brisbane, Tony ran chook raffles to raise enough money to buy seven mine detectors, engraving each one with the name of an Australian army field engineer who was killed by a landmine incident in South Vietnam. Tony describes the altruistic work he does as therapeutic, helping him to make peace with his past."
Visit the website for Bomber's work in Cambodia
Previous posts about the mighty Bomber
I am so proud to have met Bomber in person, when he was honoured at Citipointe Church with a community spirit award of $1000 towards his mine clearing program. How inspiring to meet people making such a difference. ABC Radio Breakfast and Australian Story reported Bomber's mission to be part of the solution to a tragic situation in Cambodia.
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