Specialist combat engineer Sapper Rowan Robinson. Photo: ADFSapper Rowan Robinson, 23, was killed by insurgent fire last week after his patrol destroyed an enemy weapons cache during operations in southern Helmand.
He was on his second deployment to Afghanistan.
Sapper Rowan Robinson's casket is carried out of the Amberley ramp ceremony Photo: ADF
To protect the identities of those attending, the media were excluded from Monday's ramp ceremony at the base west of Brisbane.
Sapper Robinson's family has also requested they be left alone to mourn.
Parents Marie and Peter, sister Rachael and brothers Ben and Troy said Rowan's death had devastated them.
"We know he died protecting his mates and doing a job he loved, a job for which he was greatly respected by the people who served by his side," the family said in a statement released on Sunday.
Fellow soldiers described the highly decorated combat engineer as a "superb young man who was fit, happy-go-lucky and a great team member".
"Those who had the pleasure of meeting him instantly warmed to him, and his easy-going nature made him popular with his peers and chain of command alike," a defence statement read.
Australia has 1550 troops deployed in Afghanistan, including a 320-strong Special Operations Task Group comprising personnel from the Perth-based Special Air Service Regiment and the Sydney-based Commando and Incident Response regiments.
Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/he-died-protecting-mates-sapper-robinson-farewelled-20110613-1g06k.html#ixzz1P9KExUkx
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