Caithness army reserves link up with Aussie unit
ARMY reserves in Caithness could have the opportunity to head down under as a link has been established with an armed forces unit in Australia.
Caithness Seven Scots Army Reserves has agreed a partnership with the 41st Battalion Royal New South Wales Regiment with the view to reserves from the far north travelling to Australia to carry out joint training army exercises.
Captain Richard Otley, who is in charge of the Caithness unit, is in Australia on holiday and visited the unit in Lismore, New South Wales.
The unit is based across the east coast of Australia between Brisbane and Sydney.
He said as well as giving the opportunity for Caithness reservists to visit the other side of the world, members from the Australian unit would also have the chance to visit Wick and carry out training in the Highlands.

He said: “I have family links in Australia and while here last year I was asked to initiate approaches with 41st Battalion Royal New South Wales Regiment which I did.
“This year I have taken that relationship forward.
“The joint training is still to be discussed but it is likely that the two week annual deployment for Caithness Seven Scots reserve soldiers could be in Australia and Australian reservists would visit Scotland and train with us.
“There are many opportunities available to army reservists.”
The Army Reserves have experienced a renaissance in the far north after it almost faced being wound up in the county in 2015 after the number of volunteers dwindled to single figures.
However, a major recruitment drive in the far north led by Captain Otley and Seven Scots Lieutenant Colonel Piers Strudwick has seen a surge of 60 people apply to sign up.
The Caithness Army Reserves are based at Macrae Street in Wick.