Airlift of fun for E Timor

A group of well-known comedians have mounted a major operation to entertain our troops in East Timor.

Mike King, Ewen Gilmour, Brendhan Lovegrove, Cal Wilson and young entertainer Ainslee Allen will perform five shows in the region next month.

First, they will entertain the families of soldiers in Christchurch and Whenuapai and take videotape messages from the concerts overseas.

A container of food, sporting equipment, stationery and toys was yesterday sent to East Timor to be given to children and troops when the performers arrive.

King said Project Timor had been a big operation but with the help of sponsors and the Defence Force, it had come together.

The comedy corps will leave on August 13 and perform shows for the United Nations in Darwin and Dili, before heading to outposts where the second contingent of Kiwi soldiers is on duty.

King said the troupe would perform in temperatures up to 40 deg.