Navy The official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy SERVING AUSTRALIA WITH PRIDE Volume 53, No. 6, April 15, 2010 NEWCASTLE WINS THE CUP! DIVERS SEARCH FOR MISSING WOMAN RESOLUTE ON RESOLUTE NAVY’S BONDI RESCUE P3 / SAILORS GET READY FOR MWV FCP P7 TIME TO REFLECT: LSBM Matt Keogh, Ardent Four, takes a break on the Quaterdeck of HMAS Childers. LSBM Keogh was one of the gutsy sailors involved in the SIEV 36 incident on April 16 last year. Photo: ABIS James Whittle COMPASSION COURAGE and P2 LIFTOUT P5 INSIDE: The compelling story of SIEV 36 CENTRE OHIO DROPS INTO FBW P4
Transcript
Navy The official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy
SERVING AUSTRALIA WITH PRIDE
Volume 53, No. 6, April 15, 2010
NEWCASTLE WINS THE CUP!
NEWCASTLE
DIVERS SEARCH FOR MISSING WOMAN
RESOLUTE ON RESOLUTENAVY’S BONDI RESCUE P3 / SAILORS GET READY FOR MWV FCP P7
NavyNavyNavyNavyNavyNavy The official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy The official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy The official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy
Navy The official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy
Navy The official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy The official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy
TIME TO REFLECT: LSBM Matt Keogh, Ardent Four, takes a break on the Quaterdeck of HMAS Childers. LSBM Keogh was one of the gutsy sailors involved in the SIEV 36 incident on April 16 last year. Photo: ABIS James Whittle
COMPASSION COURAGE
COMPASSION COURAGEand
P2
RESOLUTELIFTOUT
RESOLUTE
P5
INSIDE: The compelling story of SIEV 36
CENTRE
NavyNavyNavyNavyNavyNavyNavyNavyVolume 53, No. 6, April 15, 2010
NavyVolume 53, No. 6, April 15, 2010
NavyVolume 53, No. 6, April 15, 2010
NavyVolume 53, No. 6, April 15, 2010
NavyVolume 53, No. 6, April 15, 2010
NavyVolume 53, No. 6, April 15, 2010
NavyVolume 53, No. 6, April 15, 2010
NavyVolume 53, No. 6, April 15, 2010
NavyVolume 53, No. 6, April 15, 2010
NavyVolume 53, No. 6, April 15, 2010
NavyVolume 53, No. 6, April 15, 2010
NavyVolume 53, No. 6, April 15, 2010
NavyVolume 53, No. 6, April 15, 2010
OHIO DROPS INTO FBWDROPS INTO FBW
compelling compelling story of story of DROPS
P4
THERE’S been some talk in the media recently about standardising menus across the Fleet. The rumours started when HMAS Newcastle car-ried out a review of their menus. We asked the RANs Deputy Fleet Supply Officer, LCDR Ken Stevenson, for the facts.
What was HMAS Newcastle doing?HMAS Newcastle catering staff, in
conjunction with Sea Training Group staff, re-assessed their menus – simply taking a fresh look at the content of the menus in preparation for the ship’s forthcoming workups and deployment. The guidance by Sea Training Group staff was to make sure they were fol-lowing current policy and guidelines. That’s it!
Are there any moves underway to reduce the quality, variety and por-tion size of meals served to Navy personnel?
There has been no Menu ‘trial’ conducted in any ships for the pur-pose of formulating a “standardised menu” across all platforms. Navy menus are designed to give our people the nutrition they need as well as the energy to keep them going throughout the day. We take that responsibility very seriously. Menus are drawn up by the catering team in each ship and are approved by the ship’s Medical Officer, Supply Officer and Commanding Officer to make sure that the variety of food complies with Navy’s high stand-ards and best meets the needs and, where possible, the preferences of that ship’s company.
Are there any moves underway to restrict Chefs in either their pro-fessional development or in their ability to develop customised menus which satisfy the ship’s company?
Absolutely not. The process of developing the cyclic menu is taught to our chefs during their initial train-ing and they are encouraged to further develop their skills in menu develop-ment as part of their professional train-ing. Periodic review of the cyclic menu to ensure variety is strongly encour-aged. Formal and informal input is generally sought from junior Navy chefs and ship’s company for this pur-pose.
Are there any plans to introduce the same menu across Navy?
There is absolutely no intention to standardise menus across the Fleet.
Cooks at sea, as individuals and as part of the catering team, will still be able to hone the skills they have been taught, both in the classroom and on the job, and will continue to have ample opportunity to demonstrate flair and innovation in the formulation of menus and cooking of meals for their shipmates.
Is the media reported feedback by Chefs re ‘walking out’ correct and if so, how wide spread is the feeling?
There is no evidence to support the statement that chefs are ‘walking out’. Certainly recent separation numbers for chefs do not indicate that this is the trend. You just have to look at the current edition of Navy News (page 18) to see that our chefs continue to thrive and enjoy their work and make us proud. We rely on them!
NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
Navy Strategic Command RepLCDR Fenn Kemp(02) 6265 5152 [email protected]
Postal AddressR8-LG-041, Russell Offices, Canberra ACT 2600
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Foodies need not worry!No plans to standardise menus across the Fleet
New look Ministerial team
DEFENCE’S Ministerial team has a new look with the swearing-in on April 1 of Alan Griffin as Minister for Defence Personnel, in addi-tion to his responsibilities as Minister for Veterans’ Affairs.
Minister Greg Combet will retain portfolio responsibil-ity for Defence Materiel and Science.
As the senior Minister, Senator John Faulkner has overall responsibility for all matters covered by the Defence portfolio, including Cabinet matters.
Mr Griffin’s Defence Personnel responsibilities will encompass personnel policy, including workforce planning, recruitment and retention, pay and superannuation, equity and diversity policy, personnel sup-port, housing policy and health.
Responsibilities that remain with Mr Combet are: ➤ The Defence Materiel
Organisation (DMO): ten-dering and contracting; sustainment issues; industry capacity, structure, policy and engagement; skills poli-cy; and equipment disposal.
➤ The Defence Science and Technology Organisation.
➤ Specific capability responsi-bilities, including oversight of DMO involvement in acquisi-tion strategy throughout the capability approval process; management of acquisitions after second pass approval; and assisting the Minister for Defence on development of the Defence Capability Plan; Defence Capability Plan programming and budget-ing; and processing of unap-proved projects up to, and including, second pass stage.Mr Combet will also retain
his responsibilities in terms of representing the Minister for Defence in the House of Representatives.
“THE biggest reform program in our history is now underway” says the Chief of Navy, VADM Russ Crane, “and every member of the Navy has a part in it”.
The Strategic Reform Program (SRP) aims to find $20 billion in sav-ings across Defence during the next 10 years. Navy’s share of the sav-ings is about $2.6 billion and these savings will be used to help fund future capability such as the MHR90 helicopters, Offshore Combatant Vessels, new submarines and Future Frigates.
“By rethinking the way we do business, we will achieve sustain-able savings for reinvestment in our future capability,” VADM Crane said.
The Defence White Paper identi-fied the force structure, Force 2030, needed to keep Australia secure in the future. Importantly, Force 2030 is being delivered today through every piece of new equipment acquired, every facility built and every recruit who graduates.
“The SRP is a long-term initia-tive that is not about taking money away from Defence; quite the oppo-site. This is about creating sustain-able operating efficiencies and redi-recting the savings into capability,” CN said.
CN went on to say that New Generation Navy had Navy well positioned for success in achieving the SRP objectives.
“Navy’s Signature Behaviours will be the enablers for SRP. By demonstrat ing the Signature Behaviours in the performance of their duties, each member of the Navy can contribute to achieving the reforms we need.
“We need to be cost conscious; we need to challenge and innovate; we need to fix problems and take action. These signature behaviours are particularly applicable to SRP.
“Everyone in the Navy has a part in using our Signature Behaviours to do things better and save money.”
Significantly, there is consider-able flexibility in how we achieve the savings we need and there will be a
MORE than 300 members of the Defence Senior Leadership Group (SLG) met to discuss the Strategic Reform Program on March 31.
The SLG heard from Defence Minister John Faulkner, CDF ACM Angus Houston and Defence Secretary Ian Watt and discussed the challenges of the Strategic Reform Program (SRP) and the importance of it suc-ceeding right across Defence.
The most important message emerging from the day was that Defence can’t have the new equip-ment, ICT and support infrastructure that is in Force 2030 without the SRP and that we can’t have the SRP with-out everyone in Defence committing to deliver it.
CDF described Force 2030 as a more capable, muscular and hard-hit-ting Defence. This includes everything from now to 2030 outlined in the White Paper, from the Cyber Security Operations Centre and building air power with the Super Hornets and JSF, to AWD’s and Offshore Combatant Vessels, from the Light Armoured Vehicle replacement and self propelled artillery, to remediation of infrastruc-ture and ICT as part of repairing the backbone of Defence.
While the rewards are big, the SRP will be challenging. The Minister outlined some of the challenges in the areas of governance, accountability,
transparency and process and said the Government considered SRP to be extremely important for Defence.
The key messages that emerged for everyone in Defence are:➤ We need to build a new Defence
force with Force 2030. The SRP will help us do this.
➤ The SRP is the highest priority after support to current operations.
➤ Get involved and be creative.➤ We are all part of this – we need
you.➤ It will be hard but we have to make
it happen.➤ TINA – There Is No Alternative to
reform.For Navy the key issues are:
➤ Continue to embed the Navy Signature Behaviours to achieve reform.
➤ Drive cost conscious behaviour by understanding the cost of doing business.
➤ Develop an enduring culture of efficiency and continuous improve-ment in the workplace, both at sea and ashore.
➤ Be accountable for achieving results.The SRP motto “make every
minute, dollar and round count” cap-tures what the SRP is about, making everything we do count. We will be hearing a lot more about this in com-ing weeks.
Navy reform underway thanks to SRP and NGN
lot of room for individual contribu-tions.
And reform i s underway. There are already some positive signs emerging from the Smart Sustainment work that is underway with our Minehunter Coastal vessels in the Fleet.
Navy is on target to make the necessary savings in 2009/10.
“And we won’t compromise on
safety,” CN assured. “The safety of our people is paramount.”
The focus on reducing costs and increasing efficiency will change the way we do business. It will result in lasting, smarter work practices that will make us a leaner, stronger Navy.
“We need to fix problems and take action,” CN said.
“Critically examine what we do, look for waste and inefficiencies, and make the changes Navy needs.”
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NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
03NEWS
Newcastle’s triumphBy Michael Brooke
IN HER 16 years of distinguished service in the RAN, there has been no prouder moment for HMAS Newcastle (CMDR Justin Jones) than April 6 when she was presented with the prestigious Gloucester Cup, the Spada Shield and the Australia Cup, all for the first time in her history.
Newcastle’s ships’ company were the personification of the Navy’s val-ues when they stood at attention while Governor-General Quentin Bryce pre-sented them with three Fleet Awards for 2009.
The Ms Bryce presented the awards at a ceremony on Newcastle’s flight deck at Fleet Base East where family and friends gathered to watch the out-standing warship’s crowning achieve-ment.
Ms Bryce praised CMDR Jones and his ship’s company for their extraordi-nary ethic of collaboration, teamwork, trust and respect, which ensured such a highly professional outcome.
The Governor-General said the Gloucester Cup, which recognises the Fleet unit foremost in all aspects of operations, safety, seamanship, reli-ability and unit level training, spoke volumes of Newcastle’s prolific year in 2009.
“I offer my warmest congratula-tions to her CO and her ship’s compa-ny for a hard-earned and well deserved honour; one that will stand proudly alongside her other esteemed awards of today,” she said.
COMAUSFLT, RADM Stephen Gilmore, and CDRE TRG, CDRE Daryl Bates, joined the Governor-General in presenting Newcastle with the Spada Shield for the surface com-batant foremost in operations, safety, reliability, warfare and unit level train-ing and the Australia Cup for excel-lence in marine engineering.
The three Fleet Awards for 2009 follow the successful trend Newcastle established in 2008 when she was awarded the Navy League Perpetual Trophy – Community Award, sev-eral months before raising $57,000 for her adopted charity, The Hunter Orthopaedic School in Newcastle.
CMDR Jones told Navy News this was a very proud day for Newcastle because the Gloucester Cup recog-nised the hard work each and every crew member put in.
“Today is especially auspicious because it marks the first occasion Newcastle has been awarded the Gloucester Cup, the Spada Shield and Australia Cup; achievements that reflect the power of people, of strong
ship culture and spirit, and of team-work,” he said.
Newcast le’s ship’s company rejoiced in their triumph and also
praised their CO for his leadership and trust, which inspired everyone to achieve such a professional outcome.
Newcastle’s MEO, LCDR Macinty Winner, said his Marine Engineers won the Australia Cup because they responded superbly to the trust and responsibility given to them by CMDR Jones.
“My department has been serving together for a few years now and they respond really well to the opportunities and challenges the CO gives them,” he said.
AB Maxine Davidson said she lovds being posted to Newcastle, where she is one of a very hard working but happy crew.
“The culture in Newcastle is real-ly great and I’m looking forward to another year or two,” she said.
Newcastle’s crew are already look-ing forward to new challenges during her next four month deployment, when she will participate in the 100th anni-versary of the Canadian Navy, conduct an SM2 missile firing at RIMPAC in Hawaii and also visit Guam and Japan.
ship culture and spirit, and of team-
AWARDS TRIO: Governor-General Quentin Bryce presents the Gloucester Cup to HMAS Newcastle’s CO, CMDR Justin Jones while inset, LSBM Robert Silzer helps Ms Bryce on board the ship.Photos: ABIS Peter Thompson and ABIS Sarah Williams
By Michael Brooke
THE heroes of Bondi Rescue recently saluted HMAS Newcastle’s SBLT Dan Buys for his ‘real’ to ‘reel’ rescue of a man drowning at iconic Bondi Beach.
SBLT Buys’ prior experience as a lifeguard, coupled with his ability to calmly respond to crisis, was put to the test when he went to Bondi with his fian-cée, Vanessa, for a swim on March 21.
Upon entering the water the 33-year-old Bondi local heard three men scream-ing for help some 30m out.
He immediately swam to the aid of the three men, where one was in a rip and struggling to keep his head above water.
SBLT Buys said the man was terri-fied and was trying to grab onto him to stay afloat.
“I quickly realised how very serious the situation was because I was also run-ning out of puff in the strong rip,” he said.
SBLT Buys said that, despite his con-cerns, he managed to calm the man, flip him onto his back and bring him back to shore.
“But it wasn’t long until the life-guards arrived on the scene to render fur-ther assistance, which is when I noticed a camera crew from Bondi Rescue filming us,” he said.
SBLT Buys, who has served in the RAN for almost three years, then gave an interview about how he responded to the drowning man’s plea for help and got him back to shore.
Like many unsung Navy heroes, SBLT Buys was overcome with modesty when the Bondi lifeguards told him they would nominate him for bravery award.
“One of the lifeguards asked me for my name and contact details because they wanted to nominate me for a brav-ery award but, in all honesty, I was only doing what I’ve been trained to do.”
TV debut for Navy hero
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NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
04 NEWS
By LEUT Gary McHugh
THE US Navy was in town recently in the west as USS Ohio made a brief port visit to HMAS Stirling.
Ohio (SSGN 726) is the first of the Ohio class of nuclear powered subma-rines of the US Navy Fleet.
Home-por ted in Bremerton, Washington, Ohio was commissioned in 1981 and was the first in her class to undergo extensive upgrades to sonar, fire control and navigation systems.
Ohio is capable of carrying more than 150 conventional Tomahawk cruise missiles – she is also able to serve as an underwater command and control base.
The 171m submarine is operated on a dual-crewing system and is the fourth ship to be named after the 17th state of the Union.
The first USS Ohio was commis-sioned in 1813, and was part of a squadron commanded by CDRE Oliver H Perry.
Western Australia has a close asso-ciation with the US Navy with frequent port visits by a number of taskforces over the past few years.
This latest visit involved a brief stopover at the homeport of the Australian Submarine Force for Ohio’s 154 officers and crew.
USS Ohio visits FBWSILENT VISITOR: USS Ohio arrives at Fleet Base West for a short break from duties with the US 7th Fleet Photo: ABIS Dove Smithett
By MIDN Stuart Dennis
JUST days before departing for the MEAO, HMAS Parramatta’s CO, CMDR Heath Robertson, lit-erally marked his ship’s place in the history books handing over a unique artefact to the Australian War Memorial’s Research Centre (AWMRC).
CMDR Robertson personally delivered the Gun Crew’s state board from Parramatta’s 2008-09 deploy-ment on Op Catalyst, preserved with patrol sectors around the oil plat-forms, identified contacts, personnel allocations for an upcoming RAS and even shakes for the Boatswain department.
“The state board remains as it was leading up to the final RAS the ship completed before leaving the area of operation bound for home,” CMDR Robertson said.
The desirable artefact was accepted on behalf of the AWMRC by Assistant Currator Alexander Orr, who was overjoyed at taking deliv-ery of such an important piece of contemporary military history.
“The first priority of the research centre is to preserve the state board in its original condition as best as we can, so that the children and grandchildren of the ship’s company are able to look at it in the future,” Ms Orr said.
“Ideally, we would like to use it in different ways to illustrate the
Parramatta makes her mark
story of the ship’s deployment with-in the gallery.”
The state board was originally identified in the ship by former head of the research centre, Mal Booth, in late 2008 when he visited the ship in the Gulf and identified a host of items of interest to the War Memorial.
Parramatta’s ship’s company previously gave the AWMRC a ship’s ball cap, tally band and a cata-logue of documents from the ship as well as the one of a kind Op Catalyst Command Weight passed between the RAN ships deployed to the Gulf.
“Contemporary items from the most recent operations involving the Australian military are very hard to
come by, so we are constantly on the lookout and always welcome any-thing that members may have hid-den away in their cupboards,” Ms Orr said.
Parramatta left Fleet Base East on March 15 heading for her deploy-ment to Op Slipper, where the ship’s company have promised to save more items that they can provide to the AWMRC.
If you have items of interest, particularly cruise books, t-shirts, posters or any-thing you have saved from deployments, and would like to donate them for pres-ervation and research, please contact the staff at the AWMRC on (02) 6243 4315 or email [email protected]
PRECIOUS HISTORY: CO HMAS Parramatta, CMDRHeath Robertson, presents the AWM’s Alexandra Or with the ship’s Gun Direction Platform state soard used in Op Catlyst.Photos: LSIS Phillip Cullinan
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NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
05NEWS
By Michael Brooke
IN A move designed to boost the Navy’s medical personnel through a Defence Force Recruiting-ini-tiated event, HMAS Kanimbla (CMDR Tim Byles) opened her gangway recently to 21 medical students to give them a glimpse of life in the RAN.
If they choose to answer the ‘call of the sea’, they will enrol in either the ADF Sponsored Undergraduate (Medical) or the Graduate Medical Scheme, which over the years has enabled Navy to recruit skilled and qualified medical officers.
The 21 medical students were given a comprehensive inspection of Kanimbla by LEUT Richard Classon in his capacity as the OC of the Primary Care Reception Facility (PCRF).
The medical students were surprised that both Kanimbla and HMAS Manoora were fitted with PCRFs that provide a Level Three health capability.
LEUT Classon , who was awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal in recognition of his outstanding performance during the New Entry
Help us help you
Sea King tragedy remembered
Medical students taste life in the RAN
Officer Course and also the Military Advanced Resuscitation Course at Bandiana, explained how the PCRF enabled early treatment of casual-ties.
The PCRF cons i s t s o f a Casualty Reception Area located forward of the hangar; a modern Operating Theatre; an eight-bed High Dependency Unit, with two of those beds able to be used as Intensive Care beds; a 36 bed Low
Dependency Unit and x-ray and pathology equipment.
He told the students the PCRF had been used in numerous deploy-ments, including combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, peace-keeping operations in the Solomon Islands, border protection, and humanitarian assistance such as Op Padang Assist and Ops Sumatra Assist I/II.
WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY: LEUT Richard Classon shows visiting medical students around HMAS Kanimbla. Photo: ABIS Peter Thompson
DEFENCE personnel recently joined with relatives of those who died in the Nias accident to remember the Sea King Shark 02 crash in which nine young ADF lives were lost while on humanitarian duties in Indonesia.
Led by Navy Chaplain Garry Lock, the April 1 service was attended by Defence Minister John Faulkner, CDF ACM Angus Houston, Defence Secretary Ian Watt, CN VADM Russ Crane, CAF AIRMSHL Mark Binskin, DCN RADM Davyd Thomas and CAPT George McGuire representing HMAS Kanimbla.
Addressing the service, ACM Houston recalled when he first heard of the worst tragedy that befell the ADF in his time as the Chief of Air Force.
ACM Houston honoured the nine men and women and their families. He also recognised the two survivors, Scott Nichols and Shane Warburton.
“Today I must acknowledge that for five years those who were left behind have had to endure life without [their loved ones],” ACM Houston said.
“I also extend my gratitude and esteem to the survivors of this terrible accident. They too have endured five years of great challenge. Their courage and strength in the face of adversity has been remarkable.
“Today, try as I might, no words of mine will do proper justice to the mem-ory or the many achievements of these outstanding Australians.”
The service ended with the laying of wreaths in memory of those who were lost: SQNLDR Paul McCarthy, LEUT Matthew Davey, LEUT Jonathan King, LEUT Paul Kimlin, LEUT Matthew Goodall, FLTLT Lynne Rowbottom, PO Stephen Slattery, SGT Wendy Jones and LS Scott Bennet.
By Fiona van der Plaat
THE future of many veterans’ health care could depend on what the Defence Military Health Outcomes Program (MilHOP) finds when it turns the microscope on tens of thousands per-sonnel who have been, and will be, deployed to the Middle East.
A survey of all members who have served in the Middle East and ongoing pre- and post-deployment physiological tests on future MEAO deployed person-nel will be the key to proving a crucial link between illness and deployment.
Professor Sandy McFarlane, principal investigator for the MilHOP studies, said nailing down scientific evidence of this link was critical, both for helping veter-ans who believe deployment has affected their health and for finding ways of pre-venting such illness.
“The best evidence comes from stud-ies that begin as close as possible to the deployments of interest, so that is why a major study of the MEAO deployments is about to begin,” he said.
While psychological conditions, such
as post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, can arise from deployment, Prof McFarlane said researchers would look at how prolonged exposure to high levels of stress could disorganise a per-son’s physiology, particularly the ability to fight infection.
Prof McFarlane said the MilHOP studies would build on knowledge gained from past investigations, such as those from the Gulf War, Bougainville, Solomon Islands and East Timor and would take a leaf from modern analyses of elite athletes.
“Work done with Olympic athletes has shown that improving performance depends on careful scientific studies of physiological and psychological factors,” Prof McFarlane said.
“If you are a fit and healthy member of the ADF, you might think such studies have no relevance to you,” he said.
“But the best way to help your mates is for you to be involved. We need to understand what keeps people healthy just as much as we need to find what exposures make people sick.”
CRUCIAL LINK: The aim of the MilHOP is to find a link between illness and deployment.Photo: LSIS Yuri Ramsey
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NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
07NEWS
By Michael Brooke
COMMANDING Officers and crews of ACPBs, LCHs and MHCs involved in Minor War Vessel Concentration Period (MWVCP) are preparing to conduct a highly challenging collective training activity with a unique collection of ships and capabilities.
Commander Sea Training (CST) MWV, CMDR Alex Hawes, told Navy News the MWVCP will be conducted from May 24 – June 4 from HMAS Coonawarra amid the high tempo demands of Op Resolute off northern Australia.
“We will be in an environment where real pressures are combined with resolve to achieve collective training objectives,” he said.
CMDR Hawes said as many as nine MWVs, two 109A helicop-
ters from 723 SQN and support craft from Coonawarra would be involved in MWVCP.
“The period aims to enhance and continue development of general warfare and in-company competen-cies for MWVs within a structured training environment,” he said.
The MWVCP includes a com-prehensive shore phase, including off-watch ACPB maximising the training benefit and involvement of MWV crews.
CMDR Hawes said the shore phase would allow MWV sailors from Sydney, Cairns and Darwin to unite in a common aim and catch up with old mates.
“Ships’ companies will be given the opportunity to compete in a sports day against each other in an enjoyable environment,” he said.
In addition to a serialised pro-
gram, the sea phase participants will be challenged by a free play period which, through an induced scenario, will challenge the command teams and ships’ companies to integrate as a force to achieve the mission.
CMDR Hawes said that, without giving the game away, the sea phase would challenge the participating MWVs and their ships companies to work together towards multiple priorities within a multi-threat envi-ronment.
“I’m very much looking forward to seeing how they will collectively deal with the challenging scenario,” he said.
CST MWV said his team would embark in all ships during the sea phase to provide ‘best practice’ training and mentoring for COs and their personnel.
MOST Australians aspire to travel to Gallipoli at some point in their life to be a part of the Anzac Day commemo-rations on the shores of Anzac Cove. For most Australians the dream to play a pivotal role in the official ceremony is impossible to realise.
For DGCHAP-N, Principal Chaplain Garry Lock, however, the once in a lifetime possibility is now reality as he prepares to head over to Turkey to pre-side over the official ceremony as the Australian Chaplain on April 25.
What was your reaction when you discovered it was Navy’s turn and therefore your turn to preside over the ceremony?
It is certainly a privilege to be able to participate in the services on the day, and is a rare opportunity.
What will be your role during the offi-cial Anzac Day ceremony in Gallipoli?
I’ll be leading a couple of the prayers during the main Dawn Service and then leading the service at Lone Pine.
How do you prepare for such a high profile occasion with the audience size this ceremony attracts?
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs have carriage of the day in Gallipoli, and I have been working with them on the service itself. I will also be working with my New Zealand counterpart, Principal Chaplain Don Parker.
What does it mean to you to be in Gallipoli for Anzac Day and to play such a pivotal role in the ceremony?
It will be interesting, enjoyable and a special moment. For me it is vital that we engage with each other as a nation and remember Gallipoli and other events in the conflicts of our past and present. We need to tell our stories, listen to the moment, and carefully and in a most dig-nified manner remember what the sacri-fice of all these young people means for us all.
RAN Chaplain heading to Gallipoli
How does your family feel about your involvement? Will they be there with you?
My family think this is great. Ann, my wife, is coming with me and is looking forward to the experience.
Where does this occasion rate amongst the highlights of your Naval career?
This is certainly a highlight. One of the real privileges I have as a chaplain is to be engaged in these very special times in our national and personal life. Chaplains often find themselves invited into the very centre, the sacred space, of people’s lives at moments of great joy or sadness. This is a bit like that but on a national scale.
Sailors ready for MWVCP challenge
CHALLENGING SCENARIO: Minor war vessels will soon converge on Darwin to participate in the Minor War Vessel Concentration Period. Here, HMA Ships Norman and Yarra enter Fleet Base West for Exercise Pacific Reach in 2007. Photo: POIS Damian Pawlenko
HONOURED: Principal Chaplain Garry Lock is heading to Gallipoli to preside over the Dawn Service on Anzac Day.Photo: CPL Chris Moore
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Annual Rent Allowance Review
The annual Rent Allowance review has now commenced.
If you are currently in receipt of Rent Allowance, and you are included in this year’s review, you should have already received your review letter and statement. If this is the case, you will need to respond quickly.
You will need to complete a statement with details of your rental
situation and provide a current rent receipt or tenant payment
history. NOTE: Other supporting documentation may be requested.
It is important you respond to this review as it establishes if there
have been any changes to your domestic circumstances that could
affect your Rent Allowance.
Failure to respond by the due date may cause your Rent Allowance to be stopped.
If you have any questions, please contact your regional DHA offi ce on 139 DHA (139 342).
call 139 DHA (139 342)visit www.dha.gov.au
NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
08 NEWS
ALTHOUGH there have been recent improvements in recruiting and retention in the Permanent Navy, the Naval Reserve’s part-time contribution will still be vital to ‘ease the pain’ of future PN shortfalls.
“We are committed to better inte-gration between part-time and full-time service in the ADF and remov-ing the factors that can impede the contribution part-time forces can make to ADF capability,” Chief of Navy VADM Russ Crane said.
“The evolution of an integrated and capability-based Naval Reserve structure is consistent with a highly-trained and professional Reserve.”
VADM Crane was address-ing delegates to the recent Naval Reserve Corporate Leadership Forum in Canberra on March 22.
He said the “history and enviable reputation” of Naval Reserve serv-ice had been interwoven with unit and individual achievements since the formation of the NSW Naval Brigade in 1963.
“Today, Reservists can feel, jus-tifiably, a sense of pride not just in their history, but in their achieve-ments in supporting operations and in knowing that they are an inte-grated force delivering fundamental capability as part of the ADF,” he said.
Reservists have participated in each and every major operation in recent times including the Solomon Islands, East Timor, Bougainville, Iraq and Afghanistan. This is in addition to humanitarian efforts in South East Asia, Pakistan, Vanuatu and, more recently, Tonga.
“Over recent years, Defence has employed part-time members in several large scale national secu-rity activities such as the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, APEC meetings and visits by international dignitaries,” VADM Crane said.
“Critical specialists, such as sur-geons and other professionals, have also provided invaluable service to Defence operations on a part-time basis.
“Part-time personnel now rou-tinely undertake extended operation-al deployments in the near region,
Reserves vital to success
By Michael Brooke
AFTER almost 37 years loyal service in the RAN, LCDR Allan Brown will soon ‘swallowed the anchor’.
LCDR Brown, 52, will retire from the Navy in July to “go fishing and surfing” for the next 12 months, but anticipates remaining useful to the RAN by eventu-ally returning as a Reservist.
LCDR Brown was farewelled from his posting at the Amphibious Afloat Support System Program Office by friends and colleges at a morning tea on March 12.
In his parting message he said sailors serving in ships at sea did a fantastic job and deserved all the support they could get from Navy personnel and public serv-ants posted to shore establishments.
LCDR Brown joined the Navy in 1974 as a baby-faced 16-year-old marine technician who wanted the challenges, rewards and opportunities that only a career in the RAN could offer.
He said the highlights of his career included his time at sea on DDGs, two postings with the Sea Training Group and his final posting at Ship Repair.
Goin’ fishing!
such as the members of the Reserve Diving Team who deployed to the Solomon Islands in 2009.”
VADM Crane said the future suc-cess of our modern defence force would be influenced by our ability to attract and retain the best people into the ADF, and to provide train-ing and operational opportunities to ensure the ongoing provision of capability and outputs on which the ADF could depend.
“I am heartened by the recent improvements in the recruiting and retention of PN personnel,” he said.
“However, I sound a warning against any complacency in this area and suggest that it may only be a matter of time before a resurgent commercial sector renews its vora-
cious trawl for key skills which will place Navy under manning pressure once again.
“It is therefore as important now, as it will be in the future, to invest in maintaining a trained, dedicated and available Naval Reserve that will be there to ease the pain of potential future PN shortfalls.”
VADM Crane also urged Naval Reservists to make the most of favourable publicity.
“The service Reserves provide to the ADF make good news stories and, in an age where the media is often looking for angles or a scoop, it is in the Services’ interests to high-light such contributions and achieve-ments as one positive way to build on good reputation.”
IMPORTANT CAPABILITY: CN says the conribution Naval Reserves make to overall ADF capability is critical. Here, SMN Anthony Graham of Australian Navy Reserve Diving Team 10 helps out at the Hobart Regatta.Photo: SBLT Carolyn Docking
BON VOYAGE! LCDR Allan Brown (centre) will soon retire from the RAN. At a recent farewell morning tea, CO HMAS Kuttabul, CMDR Christine Clarke, and Sustainment Manager Amphibious Afloat Support System Program Office, CMDR Graham Williams, presented LCDR Brown with a framed gift detailing all the ships on which he has served during his lengthy career.Photo: ABIS Lee-Anne Mack
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NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
09NEWS
By Michael Brooke
HMAS Ballarat (CMDR Kevin Turner) recently opened her gangway to several Australian and US WWII veterans who praised the courage and sacrifice of all past and present sailors.
Ballarat’s ship’s company treated the Navy WWII veterans to a tour of their FFH and to a delicious lunch in the wardroom, where they traded war stories and shared a few jokes.
Ballarat’s hospitality provided US veteran Harrison Hart with an oppor-tunity to tell his story about how he survived the surprise attack on Pearl Harbour, on December 7, 1941, which sank eight US battleships and triggered the war in the Pacific.
Mr Hart and former RAN veteran, Howard Halstead – who is the presi-dent of the RAN Corvette Association – spoke about how the ‘winds of war’ had carried them to the four corners of the globe.
“I was a junior officer stationed on the USS Detroit (CL-8), a light cruiser which was moored in Pearl Harbour the day the Japanese attacked,” Mr Hart said.
“Despite the fury of the attack,
Detroit was able to get underway and set up anti-aircraft fire.”
Mr Halstead said he served in HMAS Strahan, a Bathurst class mine-sweeper that hit a mine in Hong Kong Harbour in 1945.
“The mine was probably payback because earlier we had traded fire with a Japanese shore battery and blown up their toilet block,” he said with a grin.
CMDR Turner said his crew were honoured to host the visit by the Navy veterans, particularly as the ship car-ried the battle honours of Ballarat (I), which was a Bathurst class mine-sweeper in WWII.
The visit by the WWII veterans supports the ‘Keep 45 Alive’ interna-tional initiative to commemorate the 65th anniversary of Victory Pacific Day (VP Day) on August 15 this year.
The ini t iat ive was launched locally by Veterans’ Affairs Minister Alan Griffin, COMAUSFLT RADM Steve Gilmore and the RSL’s Eastern Metropolitan Districts Council, which is working in partnership with the Australian War Memorial and The Sir Roden Cutler Charities.
RADM Gilmore said the ending of World War II on August 15, 1945 (VP
Day) was one of the most important day’s in the 20th Century.
He also praised the heroism of the Australian WWII Service personnel who contributed to Japan’s surrender on August 15, 1945, which ended four years of fighting in the Pacific and hostilities in WWII.
During that period, more than 19,000 Australians lost their lives, 15,000 were wounded and 22,000 were taken prisoner.
“We in uniform today owe a great deal to our veterans of former con-flicts,” RADM Gilmore said.
“We appreciate that, through their valour, our country emerged from WWII with a new sense of independ-ence. They inspire us with their exam-ple and our nation rightly owes them its deepest and most sincere gratitude.”
Throughout 2010, the ‘Keep 45 Alive’ initiative will honour its aim to ‘remember their sacrifice, celebrate our freedom’, by hosting and supporting key commemorative activities, gather and record personal memories of men and women who experienced VP Day in 1945 before they are lost forever, and to link and create a bond between
Pearl Harbour vets tour Ballarat
current generations of Australians with those of the 1945 era.
Navy personnel can submit their
relatives’ stories and memories to
www.keep45alive.org.au
VIP: Harrison Hart receives a gift from CO HMAS Ballarat CMDR Kevin Turner.Photo: ABIS Andrew Dakin
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NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
10 NEWS
By LCDR Antony Underwood
BRISBANE-based Naval Reserve med-ical specialist LCDR Anthony Holley is the winner of this year’s overseas study grant.
The Matthew Davey Award, as the Professional Studies Program’s award is known, will take LCDR Holley to the Netherlands to study cryopreserva-tion of red blood cells, as used by the Netherlands Military on deployment, in particular in Afghanistan.
The award was announced at the Navy Corporate Leadership Forum dinner in Canberra on March 22.
Born in Johannesburg and educat-ed in South Africa and New Zealand, LCDR Holley is Supervisor of Training in Royal Brisbane Hospital’s Department of Intensive Care Medicine, a senior lec-turer in medicine at the University of Queensland, and instructs in intensive care, trauma and care of critically ill patients.
Chief of Navy VADM Russ Crane signed the citation for the award, which says: LCDR Anthony Holley is a dedicated
Navy Health Reservist who has completed a number of deployments and Reserve post-ings over recent years. His proposed area of study is with the Netherlands military, detail-ing trauma resuscitation and the transfusion of blood products including red blood cells, platelets and plasma.
The project title is ‘Effective, safe and reliable provision of blood products in the maritime military environment’. The main objective of the project is to conduct a detailed study that will explore technology, storage facilities required and potential introduction of frozen product usage for deployed mari-time resuscitation facilities.
LCDR Holley is to be commended for his professionalism and the dedication he displays to the Royal Australian Navy as a member of the Naval Reserve.
The overseas studies grant provides up to $14,000 and 20 training days which will enable LCDR Holley to examine the effectiveness of a similar system to that employed by the Netherlands Military for the ADF.
The Matthew Davey Award is named after LEUT Matthew Davey, a Naval Reserve medical officer killed in the RAN Sea King helicopter disaster on the island of Nias in April 2005.
Navy’s healthy futureThe RANR Professional Studies Program (an activity of the Office of DGRES-N) held the Navy Corporate Leadership Forum in the R1 Theatrette on March 23,.
Focus for the day centred on the theme Navy Reputation – Working With The Media. It was well attended by Navy senior lead-ership and senior representatives from the other two Services.
Head of Navy People and Reputation RADM Trevor Jones opened the Forum by reinforcing the message that we are largely judged on our success of failure,
DG’s HEADS UP DG’s HEADS UP DG’s HEADS UP
By CDRE Ranford ElseyDGRES-N
Navy Corporate Leadership Forum 2010 – media focus
both internally and externally, through the reputation we have built.
The digital age has seen the media play an increasingly impor-tant role in leading debate on morality, ethics, standards and public expectations. As such, the media can influence perceptions and shape the reputation of cor-porate and public sector organisa-tions.
In recent times, not all ADF publicity has been favourable. CLF 2010 brought together sen-ior ADF and corporate leaders with experience in media and reputation management to discuss options for enhancing the way we work with the media.
Defence’s Director General Public Affairs BRIG Alison Creagh followed RADM Jones in outlining challenges for the ADF in balancing public interest, opera-
tional security and image. Civilian speakers then gave us a view from a different perspective, including that of online reputation manage-ment in the digital age.
The last speaker, CAPT Tony Aldred (DNCC) captured the very essence of reputation management through effective communication. More on these insights from CLF 2010 can be found in other articles in Navy News.
Those present finished the day with a greater understanding of how the media views newsworthy events and how their portrayal of an event can shape opinion and thus impact on reputation man-agement.
It was evident that the man-ner in which we address the chal-lenges of working with the media may well determine our success or otherwise in managing our repu-tation.
OPPORTUNITY: CN VADM Russ Crane presents LCDR Anthony Holley with the Matthew Davey Award.Photo: SGT Brian Hartigan
CHIEF of Navy VADM Russ Crane was recently pre-
sented with a very detailed 1:72 scale model of the ASMD Upgraded HMAS Perth in his offices at Russell, Canberra.
In making the pres-entation on behalf of DMO, Head of Maritime Systems RADM Peter Marshall said DMO was presenting the model to mark the start of the
ASMD Upgrade in Perth that began on January 18.
“CN will now have a model of the immediate future warships that will be in the RAN for all his visitors to view,” RADM Marshall said.
CN’s office is consid-ering loaning the model, which was hand made in Australia, to the Naval Museum in Canakkle, Turkey for display in its gallery.
History in the making
Photo: LSIS Phillip Cullinan
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NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
11NEWS
By Michael Brooke
IN A Navy career spanning 26 years, including almost three years as Command Warrant Officer (CWO), WO Simon Kelly has learnt to answer opportunity when it knocks on his door.
In recognition of the endless opportunities in the Navy, WO Kelly has stepped down from the covet-ed position as Command Warrant Officer to become an officer.
In a changing of the guard cere-mony at Fleet HQ on March 25, WO Kelly handed over the position of the most Senior sailor in the Fleet to WO Martin Holzberger.
The handover ceremony was pre-sided over by COMAUSFLT, RADM Steve Gilmore, who praised WO Kelly and WO Holzberger for their hardwork and meaningful contribu-tion to Navy over the years.
RADM Gilmore presented WO Kelly with his LEUT rank slides and wished him well with his future endeavours as an officer, which will begin in May when he marches into HMAS Creswell.
WO Kelly told Navy News that the end of his career as a sailor marked the beginning of a new chap-ter in his career as an officer.
“One of the great aspects of the Navy is that there are endless oppor-tunities to continually challenge yourself, to do many different and exciting things,” he said.
WO Kelly said his tenure as the CWO was shaped by his earlier WO postings: as the Navy’s first ever Ship’s Warrant Officer (SWO) in
Changing of the guard at Fleet
HMAS Success where he “strived to win”, as well as the SWO of HMAS Penguin where he was “proud to serve”.
This enabled him to be “ready and reso lu te” in suppor t ing COMAUSFLT.
RADM Gilmore welcomed WO
Holzberger to the position of CWO, which he said provided crucial insight and very wise council on a range of issues, including morale and welfare, that enabled him to function as the COMAUSFLT much more effectively.
NEW ADVENTURE:
Outgoing CWO, WO Simon Kelly, holds up his presenta-tion board and, inset, RADM Steve Gilmore, new CWO WO Martin Holzberger (left), and outgoing CWO WO Simon Kelly.Photos: ABIS Andrew Dakin
By LEUT Emily Kennedy
AUSTRALIAN Navy Cadet, PO Martyn Chandler, has been declared the RSL Tasmania Spirit of Anzac Cadet of the Year for 2009.
The coveted award earned him 10 days in STS Young Endeavour and he’s hoping to become a seaman officer in the RAN.
The Spirit of Anzac Cadet of the Year rewards a young ADF cadet from Tasmania each year with a voyage on board Young Endeavour and is one of RSL Tasmania’s two major youth pro-grams.
RSL CEO Noeleen Lincoln is proud the RSL can be involved in developing young people in Tasmania.
“The Spirit of Anzac Cadet of the Year is a great program where nominated Navy, Army and Air Force cadets from all over Tasmania submit an essay and
must satisfy an interview panel on their knowledge of their own Service and gen-eral military knowledge,” she said.
“Qualities such as leadership, fairness, mateship and how they treat their fellow cadets are also assessed – we look for the qualities shown by the original Anzacs.”
Martyn, 18, joined 24 other young Australians on board Young Endeavour as this edition of Navy News went to press to begin the voyage which aims to develop teamwork, leadership and com-munication skills.
A member of the only Australian Navy Cadet Band Unit in Tasmania, TS Hobart, Martyn has been a valuable woodwind player since 2004.
Ms Lincoln said Martyn’s essay on the significance of the RSL in the com-munity today was outstanding.
“We were so impressed with the essay, his exceptional dress and bearing and great nature – he just shone,” she said.
Experience of a lifetime
STAND OUT: Tasmania’s 2009 Cadet of the Year, Cadet PO Martyn Chandler on board STS Young Endeavour.Photo: SBLT Carolyn Docking
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NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
12 NEWS
By LCDR Fenn Kemp
NAVY’S head of People and Reputation believes maintaining a positive image is crucial to ensuring the RAN’s capability.
RADM Trevor Jones has told the Navy Corporate Leadership Forum in Canberra that a poor reputation ultimately leads to fewer recruits and a high separation rate. According to RADM Jones, it can also cause the general public and the Government to lose faith in Navy.
RADM Jones warned that Navy’s ability to attract the right people and a continued level of federal funding could be undermined if our reputation was in a poor state.
“Our success is reliant upon the manner in which Navy is understood and viewed by both the Australian Government and the public,” RADM Jones said. However, HNPAR warned against the dangers of “spin”.
“Each time Navy is publicly chal-lenged about the health of its work-
places or the conduct of its people in challenging operational environments, we must be open, honest and transpar-ent.
“This includes having the courage to admit mistakes but also to fight hard on reputational matters when factual errors or unfounded allegations are allowed to simmer within public for a without an appropriate counter view.”
The half-day forum, organised by the Naval Reserve Professional Studies Program, focussed on Navy reputation – working with the media. Senior reservists attended from around Australia.
The Deputy Director of News in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Alan Sunderland, called for an end to what he labelled mutu-al mistrust between the media and Defence.
“Engagement is crucial,” he said. “We should look towards conver-
gence of these two streets. It should be a two-way street between the media and Defence.”
Reputation key to capabilityto capability
BIG PICTURE: HNPAR RADM Trevor Jones says ensuring Navy’s posi-tive reputation is key to maintaining maritime capability.Photo: Mark Brennan
By LCDR Tony Underwood
VIC Jeffery, for nearly three decades Navy’s public affairs representative and a Naval Reserve intelligence officer based at HMAS Stirling, has gone ashore for the last time.
LCDR Victor Jeffery, RN, OAM, RANR (Rtd) (to give him his full title) has seen Fleet Base West grow from a basic RAN outpost with a hydrograph-ic ship and a World War II-vintage frigate converted to an oceanographic role to a modern naval base accommo-dating nearly half the Australian Fleet.
Since his appointment as Navy’s Command Public Relations Officer in WA in 1981, Vic’s taken the rough with the smooth – and left behind some tangible signs of his presence at Stirling.
Originally a newspaper journalist, Vic was able to take his interest in Defence, and the RAN in particular, offshore when Stirling was estab-lished.
“My early responsibilities were HMA Ships Moresby and Diamantina, and the patrol boat HMAS Acute, along with No. 2 Flying Training
School and No. 25 Reserve Squadron at RAAF Base Pearce,” he said.
Vic sees the high point of a long career the media arrangements he put in place for the rescue of Vendee Globe solo yachtsmen Thierry Dubois and Tony Bullimore by HMAS Adelaide from the Southern Ocean early in 1997.
He was in casual clothes cleaning out his desk at the start of a new year when he took a call from ops advising there were a couple of yachtsmen in distress in the Southern Ocean and that the Navy might have a crash sailing.
He arranged with Adelaide’s CO, then-CAPT Raydon Gates, to embark media on a ‘pool’ basis with the selected representatives to be kitted out and briefed with the scratch crew.
The mission to the Southern Ocean led to Vic’s greatest moment when Adelaide pulled off the miraculous rescue in horrendous seas.
“Ops rang me in my office and said: ‘Mate, we’ve got both of them – they’re OK. It was an emotional moment and one of tremendous pride.”
Vic is in no doubt about the worst event he encountered as Navy’s PR officer in the west.
“The HMAS Westralia fire shocked the RAN community, resulting as it did in the death of four of our people and, apart from the anger and frustra-tion I shared as part of that commu-nity, I had to deal with the huge media contingent that showed up at Stirling when the ship was towed in,” Vic said.
“Every so often I see some flash of the incident in old news reviews of Navy tragedies and it brings it all back – and guarantees a sleepless night.”
A keen historian, Vic has penned many historical articles for Australian and British and US Naval Institute magazines, reviewed many naval his-tory books and produced two books with well known Australian naval author, Ross Gillett.
Part of his legacy is an enviable collection of naval memorabilia on display for visitors to Stirling.
While Vic’s planning to “stay well and truly away” from Stirling in the immediate future, he said that, after some travel, there was “every chance there’ll be a book in the wind”.
“It’ll be on WA-related Navy short stories and shipwrecks,” he said. “There’s just so much to be written.”
Ashore for the last time
FAREWELL: Regional Public Affairs Officer Vic Jeffery is farwelled from HMAS Stirling by CO Brett Dowsing after his long and dedicated service to the Defence Force of 28 and a half years.Photo: ABIS Morgana Salabert
NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
AS THE dawn of a new day approached over the horizon on April 16, 2009 and patrol boats HMA Ships Albany
(Assail Two) and Childers (Ardent Four) rendezvoused on a quiet, calm sea near Ashmore Island, nobody could have imagined the drama that would soon unfold aboard the suspected ille-gal entry vessel known as SIEV 36, which had been intercepted one day earlier by Albany.
With the completion of the Northern Territory Coroner’s Inquest into the deaths of five Afghan men who died after petrol was deliberately poured and set alight, causing a horrific explosion on board SIEV 36, the incredible stories of those directly involved can now be told.
In that pre-dawn darkness, Ardent Four’s CO, LCDR Brett Westcott, took control of SIEV 36 from his Assail Two counterpart LCDR Barry Learoyd. Nine months later during evidence to the Coroner, both men gave insights to the heavy burden upon their shoulders as they reflected upon decisions they made that morning regarding the handover but, for reasons relating to crew fatigue and other operational imperatives, they had little choice but to do things as they did. There was no indication at all that could have caused them to foresee the events that were to unfold.
As the sun rose and Albany steamed off, the atmosphere on board the SIEV changed. The Afghans believed they were being returned to Indonesia, some-thing that the Northern Territory Coroner accepts the ADF never intended. First the SIEV’s engines were sabotaged, then passengers became restless and non-compliant as the unmistakable odour of petrol could be smelt 60m away on the bridge wing of Childers. From his vantage point atop the SIEV 36 coach house, the fumes were strong enough to burn the eyes of Steaming Party Leader CPO Dean Faunt, who declared a ‘High Threat’ as he sent PO Thomas Dawe and Army CPL Bradley Bendeich forward to the bow of the vessel to wrestle a cigarette lighter from an Afghan man observed behaving suspiciously.
LSBM Matthew Keogh was part of the security reinforcement detail that boarded the vessel barely a minute prior to the explosion, and told the Inquest he recalls being greeted with looks of “dis-gust” from the Afghan men on board.
Those witnessing the explosion from the bridge of Childers describe feeling a thump in their chests, such was its force. They saw their crew mates blown into the water and ADF members and civilians alike jumping and swimming for their lives. There was debris all over the water and screams of people yelling in pain and trying to attract attention. Everyone on board feared the worst. They would not know for nearly a quarter of an hour whether their crew mates were dead or alive, but they did know they had a job to do. Albany was already returning to the scene. In Childers, LCDR Westcott took charge of the bridge while his Executive Officer, LEUT Alfonso Santos, went to the quarterdeck to take charge of the res-cue, he and other crew members immedi-ately pulling seriously burnt civilian sur-vivors on board. Medical Officer, FLTLT Joleen Darby, went to work transforming the quarterdeck into a triage ward, know-ing the supplies in her backpack would never be enough to handle a catastrophe of such scale.
Of the one Army, one Air Force and seven Navy members on board SIEV 36 when it exploded, all except LSBM Keogh ended up in the water almost immediately, either blown off or forced to jump for their lives as flames engulfed the disintegrating vessel.
During LSBM Keogh’s evidence to the Coroner, he said his decision to remain on board the burning SIEV was deliberate and calculated.
“My priority was to make sure all the guys were off. I just wanted to make sure everyone was off the boat.”
Although realising he was potentially on a floating bomb, LSBM Keogh was forced to delay his escape from the boat as he was faced with the chaos of panick-
14 19CENTRESPREAD
Above and beyond
ing people in the water whom he feared would latch on and drown him.
“The PIIs (potential illegal immi-grants) were trying to get back on the boat. Again, I was worried about the boat exploding so every time I went to jump off guys were trying to get back on. I made the decision at that point, if I were to jump in I would’ve got swamped.”
LSBM Keogh recalled watching a man drown, despite his desperate attempts to throw improvised flotation aids to him.
“There ended up being a group of PIIs who were struggling, one in par-ticular. I tried to pull out the seat inside the wheelhouse and it melted in my hands and I also tried to kick a panel off the side of the boat.”
Asked in the Coroner’s Court what happened to the person struggling, LS Keogh responded, “He eventually went under.”
Obvious ly moved by LSBM Keogh’s evidence, the Coroner, Mr Greg Cavanagh SM, said, “I think it was heroic to stay on the boat knowing it might explode, to try and get everyone else off.”
There were many other acts of brav-ery and extraordinary efforts during the 15 minutes it took to rescue 56 of the 58 people who were on board the SIEV when it exploded (two Afghan men were never recovered). LSBM Keogh was rescued by AB Adrian Medbury and AB Quinton Boorman who skill-fully manouevred against the stern of the burning SIEV long enough for him
to leap aboard. AB Medbury and AB Boorman also rescued Air Force CPL Sharon Jager, whose life vest had not properly inflated and who was being dragged under the water by a desperate Afghan man who tried to climb over her in order to save himself first. AB Medbury told the Coroner CPL Jager’s head was only just above the water and that she looked terrified. AB Boorman described the desperation to save CPL Jager as being like rescuing someone from his own family.
Within minutes of the explosion there were four RHIBs from Childers and Albany in the water picking up ADF members and civilians, but there remained a number of people on board the SIEV whom had either not entered
the water or decided to return to the burning and sinking vessel.
On the port bridge wing of Childers, LCDR Westcott, fearing a secondary explosion, was using a loud hailer and arm gestures to urge people to swim away from the SIEV. LSBM Paul Hetherington, 2IC of the Assail Two boarding team, was driving one of the RHIBs from Albany. With him were the Boarding Officer CPO Shane McCallum and AB Jason List. The trio was aware of LCDR Westcott’s warnings and the potential danger presented by the SIEV. They could also see that none of the civilians were attempting to swim away from the SIEV. The RHIB crew made a gutsy decision, which saved up to a dozen lives.
“There were people on a burning
boat, Sir…they needed rescuing and we were there,” LSBM Hetherington told the Coroner.
“Initially, when we approached the SIEV we held off at about one metre. The people that were clinging onto the SIEV wouldn’t even let go to swim that metre to our sea boat, which is why we had to raft up against the SIEV so we could pull these people into our boat.”
McCallum, Hetherington and List also pulled an unconscious man from the water into the RHIB. Refusing to accept the man was dead, the sea boat crew performed CPR while the RHIB sped to Childers, only to be told by the Medical Officer that their efforts had been in vain. He had died from drown-ing. Meanwhile, three other RHIBs continued searching for survivors,
their crews navigating in and out of the smoke from the burning SIEV, disre-garding the natural instinct to stay well away.
With the rescue of survivors com-plete, the ordeal was far from over. Darwin was more than a day’s transit away. In excess of 40 people, including several ADF members, required treat-ment for burns and other injuries, secu-rity needed to be maintained and neither patrol boat had the resources to handle an emergency on such a scale. Through improvisation, initiative and inspired leadership, sailors became nurses and the quarterdecks of both patrol boats were turned into hospitals.
The doctor, FLTLT Darby, gave LCDR Westcott the grave news that up to a dozen people would likely die in
the day it would take to sail to Darwin. Another option was desperately need-ed. Staff in the Operations Room at HQNORCOM brought news of a solu-tion in the form of a permanently posi-tioned tanker sitting over the top of a well less than 90 minutes away from the disaster scene. The tanker, Front Puffin, had a heli-deck and it was just within helicopter range of the mainland. Despair immediately turned to hope.
The most seriously injured Priority 1 casualties were put onto Childers as both patrol boats made their way to Front Puffin. An Air Force AP-3C Orion dropped 18 urgently needed ‘heli-boxes’ containing drugs, burns dressings and other medical supplies. In a painstaking operation lasting many hours Childers transferred its casualties via crane to the
deck of Front Puffin and Albany pro-ceeded to Darwin.
The challenge for those on board Albany was that their Priority 2 and 3 casualties would have been Priority 1 on any other day. PONPC Cheryl McCabe, Albany’s principal health care provider with just a month of basic medical training, now found herself run-ning an improvised intensive care ward. Normally, anything more than a graze would require her to telephone the Fleet Medical Officer for advice, but now she had the responsibility for coordinat-ing care for a large number of injured people with first and 2nd degree burns, effectively running an intensive care ward on the quarterdeck.
“We did what we could with what we had,” PONPC McCabe said.
“We improvised burns treatment using wet sheets. We wrapped burns in cling wrap, administered some pain relief and reassured the patients.”
Albany was met en route by HMAS Glenelg, carrying medical supplies and a doctor, but it was the immediate care given by the crews of Ardent Four and Assail Two in those first critical hours after the explosion that prevented further loss of life.
“What they achieved was noth-ing short of incredible,” said WGCDR Sandra Riley, leader of one of the RAAF aeromedical retrieval teams sent to pick-up survivors.
“It would have been unbelievably dif-ficult to treat so many seriously injured people at once with the supplies they had available, but through the judicious use of equipment they did a marvelous job under the most austere conditions imaginable.”
Reflecting on the events following the explosion, Assail Two CO LCDR Barry Learoyd – a 40 year Navy veteran old enough to be the father of many of his crew – said the way everyone performed was absolutely magnificent.
“When the vessel blew up I declared ‘Mass SOLAS’. That was the last order I gave. Everyone just swung into action and went to work and they didn’t stop until we reached Darwin the following day.
“As a dad I’m proud of my children when they do things. As a captain I’m just as proud when I see my crew battle through adversity, allowing their training to come to the fore.
“What both crews did that day embodied the Navy values of loyalty, honesty, integrity and courage as well as the Australian values of helping a mate or anybody in need. The compassion of our people that day in dealing with things that no person should ever have to endure was truly remarkable.”
More than a day-and-a-half after the explosion, but not before giving inter-views to police while events were still fresh in their minds, the crews of Albany and Childers were finally able to stand down, but they’ll never forget the ordeal. In fact, LCDR Westcott hopes he’ll never forget it, such is his pride in his crew.
Now, nearly one year later, the SIEV 36 experience remains burnt into the memories of all who were involved. It’s been a tough year for everyone con-cerned waiting for the resolution of the Coronial process. LCDR Westcott told the Coroner that, while sincerely regret-ting the deaths of five people, he believes the members of Ardent Four and Assail Two did everything possible to save life. Neither he nor LCDR Learoyd doubt the strength, courage and dedication to duty displayed by every member of their respective crews throughout the entire event. As tragic as events were, the men and women of Ardent Four and Assail Two saved more than 50 lives and then worked around the clock with lim-ited resources to treat the injured. That nobody died after being pulled from the water is something in which both COs take enormous pride. They know the out-come could have been very different if not for the way their crews performed.
Even while the Northern Territory Police and Coronial investigation was underway, the ADF took immediate action to learn from SIEV 36. The ADF Inquiry Officer Report by BRIG Don Higgins was complete by the end of June 2009 and made some 59 recommenda-tions relating to doctrine, policy, proce-dures and training relevant to boarding operations in general, as well as on their application in the boarding and control of SIEV 36. As a result, Armidale Class Patrol Boat Standing Orders relating to boarding operations were amended to complement the re-drafting of ABR 1920.
“The compassion of our people that day in dealing with things that no person should ever have to endure was truly remarkable.” – LCDR Barry Learoyd, CO Assail Two
As reported in the last edition of Navy News, the departments of Defence and Customs and Border Protection recently welcomed the release of the Northern Territory Coroner’s report into the incident involving SIEV 36 last April. In the wake of the report’s release, Army’s CAPT Joe Nyhan spoke to those personnel intimately involved in the incident and shares this account of the courage, honesty and integrity that defined the actions of the crews of HMA Ships Childers and Albany on that fateful day and in the aftermath where their heroics saved countless lives.
Personnel embarked in HMA Ships Childers and Albany on April 16, 2009
HMAS AlbanyCPOMT Robert BeanLSCIS Nadine BlockLSBM Christel BuckmanABCK Sean CreamerABMT Thomas GallantLAC Adam HaynesLSBM Paul HetheringtonLCDR Barry LearoydLEUT Nancy LegrandABBM Jason ListABBM Michael LordanABCK Darren LovedayLAC Zachary MartinLSCK Maria MathewsPONPC Cheryl McCabeCPOB Shane McCallumLAC Louise McDonaldABBM Mathew PierceLSMT Daniel RyanABBM Christopher SavillePOMT Duncan ThomasLSET Jayson TufreyLAC Kathrine Weeks
HMAS ChildersLSCK Mark AmphlettLSCIS Katrina AsletteCPOMT Gary Bartley
CPL (Army) Bradley BendeichABCK Quinton BoormanABET Andrew Palmer (Borg)ABBM Kirsty-Lee BrownPONPC Rachelle BurnettFLTLT Joleen DarbyPOMT Thomas DaweCPOB Dean FauntCPL (RAAF) Sharon JagerABBM Christopher JonesPOB Rachele KarmisteLSBM Matthew KeoghSMNET Thomas LovellSMBCIS Jacob MastermanPOCIS Anthony McMahonABBM Adrian MedburyLAC Thomas NortonLAC Amanda OlzardABMT Matthew OwenLEUT Alfonso SantosPOB Adrian ShorrocksSMNBM Luke ThompsonLSMT Darren ToblerLCDR Brett WestcottABMT Tara-Ann Wilson
REFLECTING: (Left) LSBM Paul Hetherington and CO Assail Two, LCDR Barry Learoyd, take a moment to reflect while on the bridge wing of HMAS Childers.Photo: ABIS James Whittle
THE INCIDENT: (Below) RHIBs from HMA Ships Albany and Childers retrieve injured people from the water after an explosion on board SIEV 36.Photo: LS Jayson Tufrey
BRAVE ACTIONS: (Above) LSBM Paul Hetherington, along with CPOB Shane McCallum and ABBM Jason List, pulled an unconscious man onto the SIEV during the incident in an attempt to save him.
TAKING CHARGE: (Left) LEUT Alfonso Santos, Executive Officer Ardent Four, on the Quaterdeck of HMAS Childers.
Photo: ABIS James Whittle
NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
15LIFTOUT
By Michael Brooke
HMAS Ararat is one of the Navy’s 14 state-of-the-art Armidale class patrol boats that give sailors such a
smooth ride on Op Resolute.Ararat’s main features are technol-
ogy (harnessing modern technology to increase operational capability), habit-ability (improving living conditions for the crew) and predictability (providing more certainty in the operational pro-gram crews).
In terms of technology, Ararat’s bridge is fitted with the Marinelink system for command, control and ship management, search radar systems for enhanced situational awareness, and state-of-the-art UHF/VHF comms and satcoms, as well as an advanced ‘paperless’ navigation display system.
Ararat also features a Rafael Typhoon 25mm remotely operated gun, two 7.2m Zodiac Jet RHIBS, and two MTU 16V 4000 M70 turbo diesel engines that purr like a kitten over a range of 3000nm.
The Typhoon deck gun, which gives Ararat and other ACPBs their power of intimidation, is similar to the Army Bushmaster gun as it features an electro-optical fire control system and boasts a rate of fire of 200 rounds per minute.
But Ararat’s biggest selling point is probably the smooth ride she gives her crew of 21 (nine plus two boarding parties).
Navy News’ recent sea-ride on Ararat was surprisingly smooth, and I was impressed with the way she sliced through 1-1.5m waves with hardly a splash.
Ararat’s computer command stabi-liser fins and stern trim tabs contribut-ed to the smooth and stable ride, which saved this Navy News sea-rider from the embarrassment of being sea-sick.
Even in sea state one or two con-ditions there would be spray coming over the bow of a FCBP and people could be feeling a bit wheezy, but with the ACPB it’s just a really smooth ride.
Ararat includes a range of other impressive features sure to have poten-tial volunteers for the Patrol Boat FEG dribbling in anticipation of service on the RAN’s newest class of ship.
Ararat is big on comfort and habit-ability; she has spacious single, double and four-man berths complete with ensuite, that provide the crew with the kind of comfort and privacy they would otherwise only find on a cruise ship.
Similarly, Ararat is fitted with not only ship’s email allowing her crew to stay in touch with family and friends, but her three messes are equipped with satellite TV meaning her crew, when not on duty, can enjoy major sport-ing events like the cricket, stay cur-rent with world events or monitor their favourite soap opera.
Ararat and the other ACPBs are so spacious and user-friendly that the galley is close to the size of that in the Anzac class FFH, which is why there is enough room for two cooks to whip up a range of culinary delights that play no small role in helping maintain the crew’s morale.
The galley is also a chef’s dream come true compared to those on the O-boats and FCPBs.
The ACPB has also paved the way for a new method of operating minor
warfare vessels and a new relationship and understanding with contractors.
Another key feature of the ACPB is the multi-crewing concept that involves some 21 crews rotating through 14 ACPBs, which provides for greater respite at the end of long patrols.
Additionally, the multi-crew-ing concept reflects the RAN’s new management and maintenance of the ACPBs, which is coordinated by the contractor Defence Maritime Services. This frees the crews of the time-con-suming responsibility of maintenance planning.
Ararat’s bewitching looks and eye-catching performance stamp the ACPB as a state-of-the-art platform that mini-mises the discomforts and personal sacrifices sometimes encountered by sailors during lengthy periods at sea.
Resolute action
Navy News reporter Michael Brooke recently spent a fortnight with the Patrol Boat Group in Darwin, where he saw the tenacious work of our northern-based sailors and officers first-hand. Read all about the men and women of the Patrol Boat Group in part two of this special two-part liftout.
Ararat’s smooth ride
Photo: LSIS Helen Frank
JOINT EFFORT: Australian Customs Vessel ‘Triton’ arrives in Ashmore Reef to process persons found aboard a SIEV during HMAS Ararat’s recent Op Resolute patrol.Photo: Michael Brooke
16 17LIFTOUT
NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
People powerMeet (some!) of the crew of Assail 6
CMDR Chris Galloway, CO
CMDR Chris Galloway is one of a number of highly experienced Navy Reservists who come in at short notice to help the Patrol Boat Group (PBGRP) to maintain its operational tempo.
CMDR Galloway, who has accu-mulated 27 years service in the RAN, with several breaks to further qualifi-cations in the civil workplace, is one of four Reserve officers who com-mand ACPBs during Op Resolute patrols.
“Being a Reservist gives me and the RAN great flexibility,” he said.
“The multi-crewing concept has created a ‘handover’ culture whereby operational relief replacements, such as myself, can often be found to sail at short notice.”
CMDR Galloway said the avail-ability of Reservists and the hando-ver and replacement system ensured manning issues had less impact on PBGRP operations than might other-wise be the case.
CMDR Galloway, who has served in Attack, Fremantle and Armidale class patrol boats, said the people who served on Op Resolute were motivated by the challenge of con-tributing to Australia’s homeland security and border protection.
He said the ACPBs were a great platform and manned by highly moti-vated sailors and officers.
CMDR Galloway said the crew of Assail 6, like all ACPB crews, ben-efitted from the small team environ-ment of having responsibilities thrust on them at a fairly junior level.
“It’s a really great environment on a patrol boat. With a small crew of 24-30, every individual counts and must step up to perform the role of a rank higher,” he said.
“For example, nowhere else in the world do we rely on boarding teams
to discharge duties individually, or for junior and senior sailors to have the opportunity to perform the duties of Officer of the Watch.”
CMDR Galloway said his com-mand philosophy of empowering people to get on and do the job fitted well with the culture of the PBGRP and the crew of Assail 6.
“Empowering people means the crew feel they can be involved and demonstrate leadership at all levels,” he said.
He said patrol boats were the perfect setting for the injection of individual flair and creativity, because even young sailors had good ideas about what the ‘big picture’ is all about.
“I think that, with small crews, patrol boats are a great opportunity for sailors and junior officers to consolidate their training, especially as the level of autonomy and the responsibility they carry is often higher than in a MFU,” he said.
LEUT Matt Warren is the XO of Assail 6 and is really enjoying the challenge and lifestyle of serving in an ACPB.
“I joined the RAN in 2002 because I believe strongly in the Navy and defend-ing the nation,” he said.
LEUT Warren posted to Assail 6 on June 12 last year, during which time he has exercised and developed his leader-ship and navigation skills to a level not possible in a MFU.
In his role as XO, LEUT Warren is in charge of the whole ship’s internal run-ning, basically everything from keeping the boat in a clean and organised state to maintaining the annual continuum train-ing from DC to man-overboard evolu-tions.
“I’m also responsible to ensure that the boat is postured to respond to all the threats we face or potentially encounter.”
LEUT Warren said he carried a lot of responsibility for someone so junior in rank, but it was also a great opportunity to prepare for future postings.
“One of the advantages and most stimulating challenges of being in a patrol boat is being able to exercise lead-ership at such a junior rank and young age.”
LEUT Warren urged junior officers who really want to step up to the mark to jump on board patrol boats because it was a great opportunity to exhibit true leadership.
“In an ACPB you do everything you have trained for, as opposed to being in MFU where you are mostly conducting training exercises,” he said.
“Here you are very much in charge of running the whole ship, which is very, very rewarding.”
LEUT Matt Warren, XO
AB Billy-Joe Grotherr, BM
ABBM Billy-Joe Grotherr is one of Assail 6’s boarding party who regularly comes face-to-face with people smugglers and illegal fish-ermen.
“I really enjoy the challenge and excitement of the Resolute patrols,” he said.
AB Grotherr, 22, has been in the Navy for five years and finds every day a new challenge.
“I just couldn’t imagine a nine-to-five job after having been in the Navy.”
ABBM Grotherr said since June 2009 Assail 6 had apprehended 18 SIEVs.
“Like this patrol, it’s been really busy at sea,” he said.
ABBM Grotherr said that, in addition to his role with the board-ing party, he, like all BMs, is
expected to provide the specialist knowledge, training and supervision of the more advanced seamanship evolutions including anchor work, rope work, small boat handling and operations, berthing, towing, helms-manship and replenishment at sea.
ABBM Grotherr is one of the Navy’s close range weapon special-ists who can maintain and operate weapons like the Typhoon and Mini-Typhoon electro-optical remotely fired gun systems, 12.7mm heavy machine gun, F88 Austeyr rifle and the F89 Minimi machine guns.
ABBM Grotherr said when he gets promoted to LSBM, he has the option of becoming an Officer of the Watch (OOW) on an ACPB after obtaining his Limited Navigation Watch keeping Certificate.
SOME 28-years ago, a baby-faced Dean Watkins from Apollo Bay in Victoria answered the call of the sea and joined the RAN.
Since 1999, he has served with the Patrol Boat Group (PBGRP) in Fremantle and Armidale class patrol boats based in Darwin.
CPO Watkins is currently posted to Assail 6 as the Boarding Officer, where he is responsible for all board-ing operations as well as the training of boarding party members.
“I’m also one of the Officers of the Watch, as well as DCI, DC train-ing and fire fighting, in addition to being one of the Divisional Officers for the executive category sailors,” he said with a wily grin.
CPO Watkins has been with Assail 6 for more than a month, but admits he is still feeling his way around the boat and the crew’s vari-ous personalities.
The old salt has performed count-less patrols over the years, so many in fact that he stopped counting after completing 200 boardings from Fremantle class patrol boats.
“I can remember one year my boat, HMAS Dubbo, apprehended more than 2000 people in just nine months,” he said.
CPO Watkins said this particular Op Resolute patrol was fairly event-ful given it involved the boarding and apprehension of one FFV and two SIEVs while HMAS Ararat was on station at Ashmore Reef.
CPO Dean Watkins, Boarding Officer
LS Allan Mawer, CIS
LSCIS Allan Mawer is Assail 6’s senior communicator, which gives him access to the ACPB’s state-of-the-art UHF/VHF comms and satcom systems, which he uses to communicate with ADF platforms and those of other Government agencies involved in Op Resolute.
LSCIS Mawer joined the RAN 17 years ago and, in his five years with the Patrol Boat Group, has found great job satisfaction and pride in being a member of a small crew who contribute to such an important border protection operation.
“I was posted to Fremantle’s dur-ing 1994-95 and, after a stint on a MFU, I couldn’t get back to patrol boats fast enough,” he said.
LSCIS Mawer told Navy News his roles and responsibilities as Assail 6’s senior communicator were to run all communications in and out of the boat, as well as the LAN on board.
“We have enough technologies to get the job done.”
LSCIS Mawer starts his day at 6am, an hour before the official
‘wakey’, to collect the signals traffic before the CO gets up. He completes a number of schedules every day involv-ing numerous traffic with other patrol boats, ships, and senior traffic, which sees him retire at night no earlier than 2230.
“I love serving in patrol boats because of the lifestyle, but the tempo is pretty busy,” he said.
LSCIS Mawer said he likes the fact he is in charge of his own department and answers directly to the CO.
“There is plenty of pressure because the CO relies on me heavily to do my job without prompting from anyone – particularly to keep commu-nications open during boarding opera-tions and other important evolutions,” he said.
PO Ian King, Buffer
POB Ian King has come a long way from Euroa, in the heart of ‘Ned Kelly country’, where he had a mid-life crisis that compelled him to answer the call of the sea some 10 years ago.
As the Buffer, PO King has two duties for Assail 6 – to manage the training for gunnery and seamanship.
“Its my responsibility to ensure all the crew of Assail 6 are in date with their weapons qualifications and seamanship training so they can conduct all the evolutions, including berthing,” he said.
PO King believes very much in mentoring the junior sailors and leading by example, which he dem-onstrates by doing Officer of the Watch duties each day, in addition to his other responsibilities.
“I have many responsibilities as an Officer of the Watch, such as ensuring the boat remains on the course set by the XO who is respon-sible for navigation,” he said.
In this role he also looks after the safety of personnel and the ship, launching and recovery of RHIBs, controls the daily routine set by the XO, and handles any immediate emergencies.
PO King said mentoring the junior sailors helped them to mature and assume the greater responsibilities often expected of the small crews that man patrol boats.
He said all his sailors were cross-trained to perform all the seamanship evolutions.
“Basically, on an ACPB the sailors generally work one rank higher than what they would on a MFU, where sailors send to specialise in one cat-egory,” he said.
“Junior sailors in an ACPB get fast-tracked and if they’re good they get qualified earlier because of the responsibility they’ve had.”
PO King said the junior sailors, particularly the members of the board-ing party, performed to a high stand-ard on this patrol.
“We were pretty rushed to launch the sea-boats for each of the three boardings we performed on this patrol, and it speaks volumes of the sailors’ ‘can do’ attitude,” he said.
The Buffer urged junior and senior sailors who wanted to challenge them-selves with greater responsibilities, while enjoying the camaraderie of a small crew who are proud to contrib-ute to an actual operation, to give the Patrol Boat Group a go.
“The eight-week patrol roster and the four-week respite, combined with the lifestyle and camaraderie really, suits most sailors’ work-life balance,” he said.
“But I reckon you work a lot harder on a patrol boat than what you do on a big ship, mainly because you are always operational, which forces us to do much of our training during operational time.”
LS Chris Harrop, ET
LSET Chris ‘Squeak’ Harrop enjoys minor celebrity status on HMAS Ararat because the top of his head appeared regularly in the second series of Sea Patrol.
Viewers saw LSET Harrop’s crew-cut and egg-shaped head in the background as he gazed intensely at the Marinelink system – the state-of-the-art operations centre for engi-neering on ACPBs.
LSET Harrop, 27, boasts another milestone – serving in the first eight ACPBs which has given him the goal of serving in all 14 by the time he swallows the anchor.
Like the Assail 6 crew, LSET Harrop worked his butt off dur-ing this Op Resolute patrol, which featured three boat apprehensions and a lot of individual and collective training.
Such are the demands on the small crews that operate ACPBs, LSET Harrop has also served in the boarding party and conducted more than 60 boardings.
“I great have pride in the job on board and also in the operation we do; I wouldn’t post out from the Patrol Boat Group for anything,” he said.
“In a patrol boat you get a lot of opportunities to fast-track your learn-ing and experience as a member of a small team with a big job.”
On the homeward voyage LSET Harrop operated the Automated Maintenance Planning System to check on the engineering depart-ment’s jobs and general maintenance requirements.
“This is to put together a pack-age for our maintenance availability which starts the day after we get back from this seven-day patrol,” he said.
LSET Harrop said certain main-tenance jobs could be put off until they were due, but if the ship was not going to be available at that time (such as Ararat when she’s at sea), then they needed to get things squared away before the next time she was in port.
LSET Harrop said Marinelink made the ACPB a dream to monitor and operate.
“Maintenance wise, it’s far better than the older boats,” he said.
“Our crew takes particular pride in being able to fix defects ourselves. This means we remain operational and do not miss our patrol schedule.”
LS Cameron Symons, BM
LSBM Cameron Symons posted into the Patrol Boat Group (PBGRP) some four years ago and has since conducted about 100 boardings of FFVs and SIEVs.
LSBM Symons is the IC of the quarter deck on board the Patrol Boat and also the security number with the boarding teams.
“My billet as LSBM means I look after the weapons side of things as well as manage the AB bosuns,” he said.
LSBM Symons said this patrol featured three boarding operations which taxed the boarding party mem-bers both mentally and physically for the duration of the patrol.
“When boarding stations are piped it’s a bit chaotic while everyone gets themselves ready for what we will face, either an FFV or SIEV,” he said.
The boarding party’s first one was a FFV boarding.
LSCIS Symons said once on the FFV the fishing crew were secured to ensure that everything was safe and all the sharp items were removed in case they “got a bit nasty”.
“So you do a sweep of the boat and start collecting evidence at the same time.”
The SIEV boardings are a “differ-ent kettle of fish,” he said.
“The main priority there is to secure the SIEV and get the crew mustered to find out exactly what you
are dealing with, even the people who may be in a desperate situation.
LSBM Symons has spent much of his time in MFUs but would now be happy to stay with the PBGRP as long as he could because he enjoyed the challenge of contributing to an actual operation and being a member of a small and closely-knit team.
“Op Resolute is very important because it protects our borders from illegal immigrants and foreign com-mercial interests that seek to poach our maritime resources and fish stocks,” he said.
“It’s also a genuine job where you are out there making an active contribution to Australia’s homeland security.”
His eight-man boarding party deploys in two 7.2 m Zodiac Jet RHIBS that have the horse-power and versatility to intercept Type II and Type III FFVs fleeing the AEEZ with their illegal catch.
“The boarding party work at a pretty high tempo, but it’s worthwhile
because we are making a meaningful contribution to an important homeland security operation,” he said.
CPO Watkins said he would con-tinue to give the PBGRP another two years, to crack the 30-year milestone, before giving any thought of swallow-ing the anchor.
His eight-man boarding party because we are making a meaningful
NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
THROUGHOUT Assail 6’s Op Resolute patrol, the heav-enly scent of gourmet food wafted through the lower
decks of HMAS Ararat, ensnaring the ravenous sailors hook, line and sinker and hypnotically drawing them to the galley for a feast fit for a king.
At least three times a day the 21 crew members of the Armidale class patrol boat were lured to the galley, where they surrendered to the culinary delights prepared by ABCK Lloyd Winfield and LSCK Sam Snowball.
‘Winnie and “Snowy’ have per-fected their recipe for success over the past couple of years in the Navy.
Both cooks appreciate that the morale of a ship’s company is directly linked to the quality of the food they receive and are, therefore, totally com-mitted to winning the hearts, minds and stomachs of hungry sailors.
Nothing speaks so eloquently of both cooks’ culinary mastery as the rave reviews of the crew who have come to worship them at meal times.
Throughout the patrol Navy News was drawn to the galley by the scent of mouth-watering roast pork and Asian stirfries, which made me want to sink my fangs into the succulent morsels with the fury of a ravenous Neanderthal.
LSCK Snowball has been in the Navy for 10 years, during which time he has cooked in five different classes of warship.
“I have been in the Patrol Boat Group for four years and the galley in the ACBP is by far the best,” he said.
LSCM Snowball said this was an extremely busy patrol, because not only did he and ABCK Winfield pre-pare in excess of 1600 meals, but they also doubled as SMETs and members of the boarding party.
Both LSCK Snowball and ABCK Winfield usually start their day at 0500 to prepare breakfast and finish up at 2100 after they’ve scrubbed down the galley in preparation for the next day.
And in-between preparing the main
18 LIFTOUT
LS Adam Davies, ET
AS A LS maintainer, Adam Davies has had his fingers on the pulse of HMAS Ararat and other ACPBs for five of the six years he has been in the Navy.
LSET Davies operates Marinelink, which is the state-of-the-art operations centre for engineering on an ACPB.
“We can monitor and control most systems from the propulsion system, to the main engines, to water and any of the services,” he said.
“For example, from Marinelink’s “FIRE PAGE” we can also oper-ate the aft or forward water pumps which, as you can appreciate, is really important.”
LSET Davies, who is one of five members of Assail 6 trained to oper-ate Marinelink, described the piece of important kit as “a computer, designed by professionals for mon-keys” that mitigates the risk associ-ated with working in machinery spaces where there can be numerous hazards.
He said he relished the challenge and responsibility of serving in an
ACPB, and also contributing to a real border security operation.
“You are expected to work very hard in patrol boats but I see this as an opportunity to fast-track my skills and experience, which will help my career,” he said.
AB Phillip Masson, CSO
NOVOCASTRIAN ABCSO Phillip Masson joined Assail 6 only recently from Huon class MCHs to see if he liked patrol boats enough to literally “jump ship”.
ABCSO Masson is a Navy Reservist who pulled the pin on full-time service a few years ago to pur-sue a career as a commercial chef, but has ‘seen the light’ and wants to return to the Navy because of the opportunities and lifestyle.
The 25-year-old said his experi-ence on this patrol convinced him he should sign up for CFTS to do more work with the patrol boats on Op Resolute.
“Right now being on patrol boats for such an important homeland security operation as Op Resolute is looking pretty appealing,” he said.
ABCSO Masson said Op Resolute was an important opera-tion that protected our sovereignty and assets for future generations of Australians.
During this patrol he acted as the helmsman and look-out, or Watch on Deck.
ABCSO Masson joined the Navy soon after his 17th birthday because he needed discipline and direction.
“The Navy helped me grow
from a boy into a man, and gain
an appreciation that sometimes
the simplest jobs can give the
most satisfaction.”
Cooks’ recipe for success
meals and the snacks, they contrib-ute to the usual boarding and sea-boat launch evolutions.
In order to challenge himself and explore new opportunities ABCK Winfield quit his job as a third-year apprentice cook at Harry’s Bar & Grill at Northbridge in WA and joined the RAN.
Since joining patrol boats eight months ago ABCK Winfield has made the most of every opportunity provid-ed through service in an ACPB.
Now a fully-qualified cook, ABCK Winfield said there were many chal-lenges involved in preparing three quality meal choices for a crew of 30 sailors at least three times a day.
“The crew love their curries and I’m happy to cook that, but I also love
to cook seafood because you can be so creative with it,” he said.
“We are generally appreciated by the crew for the good food we serve them, but if you cook crap they’ll hate you!”
In addition to cooking, ABCK Winfield also serves as a bowman to help the boarding party whenever the opportunity arises which, judging by this patrol, is quite often.
ABCK Winfield said he loved the lifestyle of serving in a patrol boat as much as the pride he feels in con-tributing to Op Resolute, which is an important border protection operation.
“But the real challenge is that because we are multi-tasked – we don’t just cook, we have other respon-sibilities and commitments which real-ly get the blood pumping,” he said.
MULTI-SKILLED: ABCK Lloyd Winfield prepares a special treat for Assail 6 sailors in HMAS Ararat and, inset, riding in a RHIB during a boarding operation.Photos: Michael Brooke
FEEDING THE MASSES: LSCK Sam Snowball prepares a tasty treat for the sailors on board HMAS Ararat.
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NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
MISS March was a four-masted barquentine with a funnel between masts two and three photographed in
Sydney Harbour. It was obviously an old image – mon-
ochrome and a bit soft.A number of mystery-shippers said
she was HMAS Tingira (nèe clipper Sobraon) used as a boy’s reformatory before being commissioned as a RAN junior recruit training ship moored in Sydney’s Rose Bay.
Tingira advocates included Geoff Skelton of Navy Personnel and Training Centre, Toni Munday of the HMAS Cerberus Museum and Fred Gibbs of the Royal United Services Institute in Sydney.
“My first thoughts were immediately cancelled by the Coathanger in back-ground. However, was talking to Blue Harvey and he reckons HMAS Tingira, which could have had the Harbour Bridge in background of photo before she was BU,” Fred says … which just goes to show you should not always listen to Blue Harvey.
No Fred, Geoff and Toni, she’s not Tingira. Apart from other differences, Tingira had three masts, not four and a funnel.
Eighty-three-year-old salt Mike Pollard plumps for the WWI-vintage sloop, HMAS Fantome. She certainly had a funnel, Mike, but the wrong number of masts.
John Partington bought in with the Chilean Navy training ship, Esmeralda. The beautiful four-masted barque is not a bad ‘best guess’, but Esmeralda had no funnel and Miss March was not Esmeralda.
Two entrants, Dave Rickard and ex-CPOUC Rob Sweet, though Miss March was the Japanese sail training ship, STS Nippon Maru, another beautiful tall ship last seen in Australian waters (as far as I know) when she joined other tall ships at Pier 1 in Sydney Harbour during our bicentennary celebrations.
No gentlemen, she was not Nippon Maru. Had it been a ship that visited within the last 30 years, the image would have been better – and there would have been a bit more on the Sydney foreshore.
Three entrants to the Miss March competition managed to come up with the correct answer.
It was a difficult task and honours go to all three.
Honours, in particular, go to first in with correct identification, ex-RO ‘Sandy’ McNab, who says: “Researching the National Maritime Museum archives of all things ‘four-masted barques’ and they have hundreds themselves all awaiting positive identification as part of a collec-tion.
“Sensing I was on the right scent I pursued and found what I believe the mystery Miss March may be the Japanese Government training ship Taisei Maru visiting Sydney either before WWII or perhaps in the 1950s on a goodwill visit.”
In fact, Sandy sent in an electronic copy of a moth-eaten old print from the Australian National Maritime Museum’s Samuel J. Hood studio collection.
Steve ‘Jaffa’ Dixon used the process of deduction to arrive at Taisei Maru: “I noted certain ‘recognition features’ such as it being four-masted (three square-rigged and one gaff-rigged) with auxiliary
steam, Admiralty pattern anchor, a drop in the gunwale level with the foremast and a lift in the gunwale just in front of the ‘bridge’ plus three boats on the port side and a cruiser stern.
“I then went through every image of sailing/windjammer/tall-ship/square-rigged ships I could find until I was able to narrow it down to a few Japanese Ships. The Taisei Maru came out in front as all its recognition features matched.”
He and CENCAT sustainment officer Gordon Branch both forwarded much better pics of the Taisei Maru than I had.
Gordon said: “After lots of search-ing the WWW I discovered there were (and still are) lots of four-masted barque training ships. Even trying to restrict the search to Sydney Harbour didn’t work too well.
“Finally I decided to have a look at the State Library of Victoria collection and BINGO! I found the attached pic-ture; which looks like a match to me. The tall thin auxiliary funnel is a particu-larly defining feature.
“I could not find another reference to a ship of this name on the internet other than this one picture on the Victorian Library site (and an associated Picture Australia site).”
Another creditable effort was made by ‘Guns’ Manolas who also deduced from a wide variety of clues that she was Taisei Maru. Congratulations. Information with the pic is that it was taken in 1934.
Finally, I’d like to acknowledge cor-rect identification by Canberra-based naval historian, Ian Reynolds, of the pre-vious month’s mystery ship as the slowest ship in the fleet, HMAS Kinchela. His email arrived after we went to press.
Obviously nettled by not seeing his name, Ian wrote: “It appears you are either censoring those correct answers you do not like or you are very care-less with attention to detail. I suspect the latter. This is very dangerous in a naval officer of your rank, specially if you are seamen officer who keeps watch.
“I have been to Antarctica seven times from Antarctic Peninsula to Mawson I have a complete set of charts for all the coast line above which I used to plot the ship’s position and other details every four hours. So I know how important attention to detail is. You fall down here.”
Thanks Ian. I am suitably chastened.As you can see from the pic (above
right) Miss April is an aircraft carrier. Please email the results of your investiga-tions to [email protected] by April 28.
Footnote:It’s character-building to admit you were
wrong. The fact that I and one of the respond-ents to Miss March were somewhat remiss. In the case of the correspondent, it was a sin of commission; in my case, a sin of omission.
It stems from a remark from regular SA mystery-shipper Dave ‘Don’t call me English’ Rickard who said he had been “…browsing through the late Ross Gillett’s superb book Australian and New Zealand Warships…”.
Assuming Dave knew more than I did, I let it through to the keeper.
On March 4, I had an email which sug-gested any report of Mr Gillett’s demise was exaggerated.
Ross said: “I wish to advise that I am indeed alive and well, maybe walking a bit slower than usual, but still walking.”
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NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
23PERSONNEL
IN BRIEF
Item If the member is... then the casual meal charge is ($)...
Breakfast Lunch Dinner
1 a. a LS or lower; or b. a trainee
4.00 5.00 5.00
2 a. a PO, CPO or WO 5.00 6.00 6.00
3 an officer (other than trainee)
5.00 7.00 7.00
By LCDR Annette Nelson
IN ORDER to assist with the imple-mentation of the new ‘cash only’ policy for the purchase of casual meals in messes, casual meal charges for all ADF/ Defence APS will be rounded up to the next whole dollar.
Rounding of the charges to whole dollars will make the handling of money and purchase of meals in messes simpler.
The rounding up of casual meal charges is being done instead of the nor-
mal annual adjustment for 2010. The revised charges are shown in the table below.
The date of effect for these changes is April 12, 2010.
These adjustments to casual meal charges in 2010 are being made in isola-tion of adjustments to fortnightly meal charges.
Fortnightly meal charges will be adjusted as normal in mid-2010 based on the movement in the food component of the Consumer Price Index.
Do you hear there?
Adjustments to casual meal charges
THE second release from the Perth Mint’s annual Anzac Day $1 coin program pays tribute to all those who have served or are cur-rently serving with the RAN.
The coin’s reverse portrays HMAS Parramatta, a River class torpedo boat destroyer built for the RAN before WWI and the image of a lead-ing seaman from the same era.
With a silhouetted bugler in the background, the coin’s reverse is inscribed with the words ‘Lest We Forget’ and the date of Anzac Day, April 25.
The coin’s obverse depicts the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the 2010 year-date.
ANZAC Day $1 coin
FESR to celebrate 55 years of service
Exciting future for Navy trainingBy Annabelle Haywood
COMMODORE Training, CDRE Daryl Bates, recently briefed all Fleet and shore COs on the future of Training Force, Navy’s “cradle to grave” training organisation.
Training Force was created on July 1, 2009 to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of individual and collec-tive training.
“With the formation of Training Force, we have put in place the organi-sation that will allow us to provide our people the training they need, when they need it,” CDRE Bates said.
“A key driver of the New Generation Navy program is to deliver a train-ing-focussed Navy that addresses the burgeoning numbers under training and ensures that our people are prop-erly trained, get to sea early and update their skills when it is appropriate.
“This was the catalyst for Plan TRAIN, and the use of Anzac class ships to train more technical trade sailors. It has been a terrific success, enabling us to recover a critical defi-ciency in the Anzac class, particularly the Marine Technicians’ operational qualifications.”
CDRE Bates said Navy intended to move on from Plan TRAIN and develop a more scientific way to identify when
ships were needed at sea and alongside to support the training pipeline.
“We have started to look very close-ly at how we operate the Fleet to sup-port individual and collective training,” CDRE Bates said.
“With shore-based Train ing Authorities now in Fleet Command, we now have the wherewithal to maximise the effectiveness and efficiency of our shore training facilities, as well as the in those ‘classrooms’ that float and are painted grey.”
A key initiative to support this approach is the new Fleet Operating Concept, which will focus on quality training for both individual profession-al development as well as the collective training for all units.
CDRE Bates said this would allow Sea Training Group to operate more effectively and efficiently.
“We are focused on achieving the absolute maximum value from every moment at sea – those who were involved in the recent Fleet Concentration Period would have seen that every minute of every day was used more effectively than in the past,” CDRE Bates said.
“We are making sure that we have a training organisation that ensures we have properly trained people who are well equipped for their jobs at sea and ashore. The future is very exciting!”
MAXIMISING EFFICIENCY: CDRE Darryl Bates says the future looks bright for Navy training.Photo: ABIS Hayley Clarke
THE Far East Strategic Reserve’s 55th Anniversary International Reunion will be held from May 27-30 at Twin Towns Services Club Coolangatta – Tweed Heads.
To be involved in festivities people do not have to be members of the FESR Association, providing they served betweem 1955-1971.
For further information con-tact FESR QLD Secretary Jim Shaw on (07) 5499 1275 or email [email protected]
For further information contact the Mint on (08) 9421 7222 or check out the website at www.perthmint.com.au
NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
24 GANGWAY
TAKE NOTE: PONPC Cheryl McCabe from Assail Two makes medical notes on an observation chart in HMAS Childers.Photo: ABIS James Whittle
A LITTLE TO THE LEFT: POA Tim McNamara guides Ben Boffo through the land-ing signals on the flight emulator at the 2010 Clipsal 500.Photo: LAC Vasilis Solomou
INSPECTION: ABATA Joshua Rutledge conducts maintenance on the Seahawk helicopter.Photo: LAC Aaron Curran
ALL GOOD: POMED Kenan Huseini Amber conducts a medical assessment SMNCK Rikki Hilton.Photo: ABIS Lincoln Commane
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NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
26 HEALTH
How do you rate?By Hugh McKenzie
THE Outpat ient Alcohol Treatment Program (OATP) has been running since 2004.
It’s a four-day program run by the Directorate of Mental Health and this year has been evaluated and revised.
Jennifer Harland’s background is in nursing and mental health and she has extensive experience in the drug and alcohol field. A subject matter expert, she holds the position of National Coordinator Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Program.
“You can see the change in people,” she said. “It’s what you might call the light bulb moment or the tipping point.
“During the four days, usually about the end of day two or three, you can see a change.
“Some people come along feeling that they have been ‘sent’. Hovever by the end of the program they can see the value as they recognise that they do have a problem with alcohol and can change.
“During the first day there is gener-ally some resistance. By the end of day two some people comment ‘Well hang on, maybe I do have an issue with alco-hol’ and by the end of day four most of the evaluations that come back say, ‘I do realise that I have a problem with alcohol and I’m going to do something about it,” Ms Harland said.
Jennifer Harland said she considered the program a success when she heard comments like, “I wish I’d done this
years ago” or “I think everyone in my unit could do this”.
MAJ Michelle McInnes is SO2 Projects in the Directorate of Mental Health and has worked as a clinician in the regions.
“Many times I’ve been doing coun-selling one-on-one with ADF members and just wishing there was something like this I could have referred them to,” she said.
“I think it’s a fantastic initiative because it’s a step in between those who are dependant on alcohol and require in patient care and the one-on-one coun-selling they can get from a psycholo-gist in the regions where they can be strapped for resources.
“As part of the Mental Health Reform process we’re putting eight alcohol and drug specialists around Australia. We hope we’ll see a lot more people going into OATP programs,” MAJ McInnes said.
MAJ McInnes and Jennifer Harland are hoping to see an upward spike in people attending the program as more people are discussing their problems and seeking assistance.
“There is nothing quite like this pro-gram in the civilian world, so Defence members are lucky to have this level of intervention at an early stage,” Ms Harland said.
The OATP objectives are to:➤ Inform and educate participants
about alcohol and other substance use and alcohol consumption.
➤ Create awareness in each individual
of his or her alcohol consumption.➤ Gain an awareness of the participants’
alcohol use and workplace values.➤ Assist participants to understand
blood alcohol content in relation to safe drink driving practices.
➤ Explore the participants’ motivations and readiness for change.
➤ Explore the positive and negative aspects associated with engaging in risky drinking behaviours.“The program was first developed
by CAPT Alison Kaine and the revi-sion has ensured that the original intent and content has been maintained,” Ms Harland said. “Some people come thinking they’re going to be lectured or hounded or talked at for four days but that’s not the case.
“It’s really about each of the indi-vidual participants; it’s their course and they get an opportunity over four days to explore their own reasons for drink-ing,” she said.
MAJ McInnes said a change in atti-tude became obvious in the 1980s and 1990s.
“There’s been a slow and gradual change in people’s attitudes in the com-munity and that change has filtered through to the ADF. The key is getting people to realise that drinking respon-sibly means taking care of yourself and your mates,” she said.
Read up on the ADF Mental Health Strategy at: http://intranet.defence.gov.au/dsg/sites/dmh/ or www.defence.gov.au/health/DMH/i-dmh.htm or email: [email protected]
A score of 8 or more indicates drinking in excess of low risk guidelines. Your ADF health provider can give you some information and sup-port to help you cut down to a less risky amount. Members can also see their ADPA or contact their local ADPC for further assistance.
AUDIT YOURSELFQuestions 0 1 2 3 4
1. How often do you have a drink? Never(Skip to Q9&10)
Monthly or less
2 to 4 times a month
2 to 3 times a week
4 or more times a week
2. How many drinks do you have on a typical day?
1 or 2 3 or 4 5 or 6 7 to 9 10 or more
3. How often do you have six or more drinks on one occasion?
Never Less than monthly
Monthly Weekly Daily or almost daily
4. How often during the last year have you found you were not able to stop drinking once you had started?
Never Less than monthly
Monthly Weekly Daily or almost daily
5. How often during the last year have you failed to do what was normally expected of you because of drinking?
Never Less than monthly
Monthly Weekly Daily or almost daily
6. How often during the last year have you needed a first drink in the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session?
Never Less than monthly
Monthly Weekly Daily or almost daily
7. How often during the last year have you had a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking?
Never Less than monthly
Monthly Weekly Daily or almost daily
8. How often during the last year have you been unable to remem-ber what happened the night before because of your drinking?
Never Less than monthly
Monthly Weekly Daily or almost daily
9. Have you or someone else been injured because of your drinking?
No Yes, but not in the last year
Yes, dur-ing the last year
10. Has a relative, friend, doctor or other health care worker been concerned about your drinking and suggested you cut down?
No Yes, but not in the last year
Yes, dur-ing the last year
Do not score questions 11 & 12 Total
11. Do you think you presently have a problem with drinking?
No Probably not
Unsure Possibly Definitely
12. In the next three months, how difficult would you find it to cut down or stop drinking?
Very easy
Fairly easy Neither difficult nor easy
Fairlydifficult
Verydifficult
Place an X in one box that best describes your answer to each question and total your score for questions 1 to 10. See the bottom of the page for an interpretation of your score.
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ADF Financial Services Consumer CouncilADF Financial Services Consumer Council
NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
27FINANCE
ASIC Chairman, Tony D’Aloisio, says to look at car insurance options carefully before choosing a policy.
Shop around for best deal
THE type of cover you take out will affect how much you have to pay if you’re involved in an accident.
So, if you’re about to buy a new vehicle or if your insurance is up for renewal, shop around for the best deal.
Compulsory third partyCompulsory third party (CTP)
insurance is the most important type of car insurance. It covers death and inju-ry to other people if you are involved in an accident. You must have CTP insur-ance to register your car. Go to your State or Territory Roads and Traffic Authority website to compare quotes on CTP car insurance.
By law you are required to have CTP insurance. This is sometimes known as a green slip.
Questions to ask ➤ If I crash into a luxury sports car
will I be able to afford the repairs?➤ Is my car likely to be broken into?➤ How will I get around if my car is
stolen or written off?
Choosing a policyCar insurance policies are based
on either ‘agreed’ or ‘market’ value. An agreed value policy has a set dol-lar value for your vehicle. Market value policies value your car based on the make, model and condition. The agreed value is usually higher than the market value.
When you purchase a car insur-ance policy you will agree to pay a premium, that is, a regular amount that covers the cost of the insurance. You will also agree to an excess, which is the initial amount you will have to pay if you make a claim on the policy. Weigh up the difference between hav-ing a high premium and low excess versus paying a lower premium and having to pay a higher excess if you have an accident.
Typical exclusionsMake sure you understand the level
of cover before signing up. All insur-ance policies come with ‘exclusions’. Exclusions are things not covered by your policy. Typical car insurance
exclusions to watch out for include:➤ Damage from mechanical failure,
modifications, depreciation, rust and wear and tear.
➤ Lost wages if you can’t drive.➤ Damage caused because your car
was unsafe or in a race.➤ Intentional damage.➤ Damage caused if the driver was
unlicensed, drunk or under the influ-ence of drugs.
➤ The driver wasn’t covered by the policy.
Case studySMN Baker gets into debtSMN Baker decided not to get
any extra car insurance on top of his Compulsory third party because his car was very old. A few months later, he hit a brand new sports car, which needed $10,000 worth of repairs.
Because he was not insured for damage to other cars and without access to such a huge amount of cash, SMN Baker had to take out an expen-sive personal loan to pay off the debt over three years.
Drivers under 25The cost of insurance is determined
by the level of risk your insurer is tak-ing on. As more young drivers are involved in accidents than older driv-ers, most insurance companies charge a higher premium for drivers under 25.
It pays to be extra vigilant with checking the details and doing all the appropriate paperwork and back checks before buying any vehicle.
It’s wise to go to your State or Territory Roads and Traffic Authority for helpful information on what you need to do when buying a car. It’s also very important to call your insurer before you buy to find out everything they need to know about the car in order to insure you.
If you’re not covered when you drive away having just bought your new vehicle and you’re involved in a crash, even if it’s not your fault, you could end up with a very expensive debt and no vehicle.
➤ Compulsory third party insurance only covers injuries or death to other people in an accident.
➤ Third party property insurance, which covers damage to other people’s property (e.g. their car or home) and your own legal costs.
➤ Third party, fire and theft insurance, which covers damage to other peo-ple’s property, and provides limited cover for damage to your own car caused by theft or fire.
➤ Comprehensive insurance, which covers damage to your own car and other people’s property if your car is in an accident (including fire) as well as theft.
WHAT YOU ARE COVERED FOR
BRAND NEW BABY: Make certain your pride and joy isn’t so much val-ueless scrap metal. Photo: SGT Andrew Hetherington
Defence Honours and Awards to visit 6 Capital Cities on Anzac Day
On Sunday 25 April, Defence Honours and Awards staff will attend Anzac Day ceremonies in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Hobart.
You and your family are invited to visit the Defence Honours and Awards display as part of the commemorative activities for the day. You will fi nd helpful staff at the following locations:
The Australian War Memorial, CanberraAnzac Memorial, Hyde Park South, Sydney The Shrine of Remembrance, MelbourneQueens Park, BrisbaneStirling Gardens (prior to march) and Anzac House (at completion of march), St George’s Terrace, Perth The Hobart Cenotaph, Hobart
Staff from Honours and Awards welcome this opportunity to answer any questions, provide application forms and assist with general information on medals contained within the Australian honours and awards system as well as information on Imperial and foreign awards.
For more information on medals and eligibility criteria or to subscribe to automatically receive policy updates and the Defence Honours and Awards Newsletter, please visit the Defence Honours and Awards’ website at www.defence.gov.au/medals or phone the Customer Response Team toll-free on 1800 111 321 between 0900 and 1700 AEST.
NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
28 SPORT
By POPT Brian Fish
MANLY beach was invaded by ships and establishments from the East Australian Area (EAA) with HMAS Tobruk (CMDR Paul Scott) leading the charge and winning the 2010 EAA beach volleyball competition.
Tobruk employed the tried and trusted flood tactic to come away with the championship after fielding five teams in the 27-team competition held on March 10.
After a series of round robin qualifiers, the top teams from each pool played off in the semi-finals with three teams from Tobruk taking on a team from Hydro 2.
With the Hydro team dis-pensed it was down to Tobruk’s Ships Army Detachment (SAD) 2 team and the No Remorse Desert Rats to contest the final with SAD2 winning 2-0.
Navy Indoor Sports Centre staff would like to thank all indi-vidual commands for releasing personnel to participate in the competition
Sailors head to Manly for beach volleyball comp
EIGHTY-EIGHT of Australia’s best AFL footballers have written heartfelt messages on guernseys destined to be worn by ADF personnel in the MEAO, Solomon Islands and East Timor.
Along with six Sherrin footballs, the guerneys are gifts from the Australian Football League to the ADF to help pro-mote the Telstra ‘Message to the Troops’ on Anzac Day.
Outside of AFL grand final day, Anzac Day is the biggest occasion on the AFL calendar, with AFL clubs, players and fans embracing the opportunity to show their respect and appreciation to Australian Servicemen and women who have served or are currently in active service overseas.
The guernseys come from four teams which are scheduled to play games on Anzac Day – Richmond and Fremantle, which will play at Subiaco Oval, and Essendon and Collingwood, which will play at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
ADF personnel will be photographed in the guernseys for footage to be used promoting the Message to the Troops in the week leading up to April 25.
ADF representatives from the Navy,
Army and Air Force were given VIP treatment when they attended the guern-sey-signing day by Richmond at Punt Road Oval last month.
Navy was represented by life-long footy lover, PO Adam Bamford, of HMAS Cerberus.
PO Bamford was senior coach of the Cerberus Football Club for the 2008 and 2009 seasons and this year is the team manager for the Navy men’s national team. He took a screamer over Tiger util-ity Daniel Jackson.
“These jumpers will be received in great honour and admiration,” PO Bamford said.
“They will be used to capture an important aspect of Anzac Day, that being the celebration of pride, bravery and mateship, but this time on the foot-ball ground.”
The 22 Essendon and 22 Collingwood guernseys and two footballs are destined for the Middle East, 11 Richmond guern-seys and 11 Fremantle guernseys and two balls will go to East Timor, and 11 Richmond guernseys and 11 Fremantle guernseys and two balls will go to the Solomons.
AFL donates guernseys
UP THERE CAZALY: PO Adam Bamford flies for a mark over Richmond player Daniel Jackson and, inset, Ben Cousins with his signed guernsey.Photos: Simon Blackie
PO Adam Bamford flies for a mark over Richmond
IT’S MINE! A player from team “Ship’s Army Department 2” saves the ball during the competition final against Team “No Remorse Desert Rats”, both from HMAS Tobruk. Photo: ABIS Sarah Williams
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NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
29SPORT
FAVOURITE AB Andrew Wilkinson has won the Australian Defence Sports Triathlon Association (ADSTA) Olympic Distance Triathlon in Newcastle, run in conjunction with the Sparke Helmore NBN Newcastle Triathlon on March 21.
AB Wilkinson completed the 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run in a time of 2:04.14 after taking an early lead in the swim leg.
With water conditions being deemed too warm for wetsuits by the officials, AB Wilkinson’s fish-like swimming came to the fore and he left the water in the lead pack, well set for the bike and run leg of the race.
“The Newcastle triathlon was just a training run,” AB Wilkinson said.
“I’m building up to the Busselton half ironman in May.”
The Newcastle race was a late entry for AB Wilkinson who only competed as ADSTA had reserved entries for some of its competitors.
“It was a good race for me until the last four kilometres – my left knee started to blow out and it wasn’t a pret-ty finish. Hopefully it will be good for Busselton.
“I had a really fast swim and there were two of us in the bike leg work-ing together to keep the pace up and we managed to catch the lead group, which put us in a good position for the run.
“The Newcastle race was great fun and will definitely be on the to-do list for next year.”
Second place finisher MAJ David Thomas was a further 13 minutes behind with a time of 2:17.42.
Special mention went to LS Justin Tranter who competed in his first Olympic distance triathlon with a time of 2:32.10 and LCDR James Pearson who recorded the fastest time in the
Olympic distance just a training run for Toowoomba triathlete
bike leg with a blistering 1:09.31 to complete the course in 2:21.36.
LS Tranter trained for two months for the race after having only competed in a sprint distance race before.
“To complete my first Olympic dis-
tance race was awesome,” LS Tranter said.
“Having only raced a sprint com-prising a 750 metre swim, 20km bike and 5km run, the distance was always going to be challenging.
“The hill on the bike leg was as
hard as it was steep and only levelled out once – it was quite harsh on the legs. Fortunately the run leg was fairly flat, which was good after the tough bike leg.”
Overall it was a great day with
all competitors doing the ADF and ADSTA proud.
For more information or to keep up to date, go to the ADSTA website http://intranet.defence.gov.au/raafweb/sites/ADSTA/comweb.asp?page=104629
PEDAL POWER: Olympic distance debu-tante LS Justin Tranter powers back to the run transition while (inset) LCDR James Pearson recorded the fastest time for the cycle leg.Photos: LACW Katharine Pearson
HAVING FUN: LS Luke Heckenberg enjoys the bike leg.Photo: LACW Amy Trebilco
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NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
30 SPORT
By LTCOL Mark Elliott
It is interesting to note that history remembers great battles, epic chal-lenges and even sporting events by location rather than the units or par-ticipants.
So too will the weekend of March 27-28 be remembered not for those who competed but the terrain itself, “Sparrow Hill”.
In an unprecedented show of sup-port by the mountainbike (MTB) com-munity, Defence riders joined the rest of the riders for the first hour of the race in a “Honour Roll” paying tribute to MTB world champion and Canberra local James Williamson who died while competing in the Cape Epic ride in South Africa earlier in the week.
For 23 hours beginning on the Saturday at 1pm, riders threw them-selves around a 19km single track course at speeds that would make some road cyclists cringe in fear.
Past and present Navy members raced through the trees in teams such as Doomers 1 with CMDR Menno Zwerwer and The Bludgers from HMAS Albatross.
Many a smile was gained from the art work and slogans on different team shirts with The Bludgers having “You are passing another Bludger” blazed across their backs.
Either by its local terrain or the determination of her ship’s company, Albatross fielded more than a dozen riders with CPO Raimund Winkler in The Bludgers clocking up some fast laps of the demanding course.
Other teams from Albatross includ-ed “Fuelled by Freddo” captained
No chickens at sparrow hill
by LS Richard Hall and “Summer Rolling” captained by AB Jamie Warren.
Other members of Albatross’ ship’s company like PO Mezz Slavik partici-pated in combined teams such as the PANDAS alongside Army and APS members LTCOLs Mike Harris, Geoff Thompson and Mark ‘Pup’ Elliott.➤ Bludgers – 25th place in the
Foursomes – Honest 40s Male➤ Fuelled by Freddo – 76th place in
the Six pack Open Males category➤ Summer Rolling – 39th place in Six
Pack Open Mixed category
NIGHT RIDER: PO Mezz Slavik prepares for her night leg of the MONT 24.
Mixed bag tour of NZNAVY cricket has returned from a fivegame tour of New Zealand with a mixed bag of results after beating the RNZN and Army but losing to the RNZAF in a rain-affected series opener and the combined forces of the NZDF.
The opening match of the series against the RNZAF began with a strong batting display by the home side despite good contributions with the ball from bowlers POET Samuel McGregor and debutante MIDN Jared Burton.
In reply to the Kiwi total, Navy began shakily amid changing weath-er conditions. As the rain closed in, team captain PO Luke Grimmond was stranded high and dry on 41 not out and the game was awarded to the RNZAF.
Backing up and adjusting to local conditions, the second match was a better result for the visiting team with spin twins LEUT Shane Wallace and PO Mark Ham taking 5 for 14
between them. Opening batsmen ABCSO Stephen Mann (56 not out) and PO Ham (46) set up an easy win with LEUT Wallace chipping in to pass the RNZN total with the loss of just one wicket.
Carrying momentum from such a strong win, the RAN side went through the NZ Army in clinical fash-ion. Despite getting away to a flyer with 17 runs from the first over, Navy tightened the screws and good bowl-ing and desperate fielding held the Army side to 220 after their 50 overs.
In reply, LEUT Wallace opened up a batting clinic as he set about smashing the Kiwi bowlers all around the ground. SMNCD Kaine Duncan offered good support but it was LEUT Wallace’s unbeaten 120 that helped Navy take the match with just four wickets lost.
With round games finished, and a two-day break to rest some weary bones, the focus shifted to the RAN versus the NZDF combined sides.
In the 50 over match, Navy got away to a good start on a damp pitch with ABCSO Mann (26) and PO Ham (40) each getting a start and LEUT Wallace again led the charge with 81 runs but the loss of wickets at crucial times saw the team all out for 220.
The combined strength of the NZDF and a drying pitch led to an easy win to the locals with seven wickets to spare and five overs remaining, despite a spirited pace attack by MIDN Burton.
The series decider came down to a 20/20 match between the RAN and the best of the NZDF.
LEUT Wallace took the helm and a re-jigged batting order promoted SMN Duncan to the role of opening batsman.
He didn’t disappoint with a crack-ing 46 and a valiant 60 by injured PO Grimmond but, again, the loss of wickets at key moments drowned the momentum and the side was dis-missed for 138.
THE TEAM: Navy cricketers enjoyed a recent tour of New Zealand and came away from the series with a bright future.
By Barry Rollings
NAVY will be in no hurry to surren-der its men’s and women’s crowns at the Australian Services Australian Football Association (ASAFA) Championships now under way at Melbourne’s Whitten Oval.
The titles began yesterday (April 14) with Army and Air Force opposed in both matches.
Tomorrow (April 16), Navy has its first hitouts at noon and 2.15pm against the losers of the opening day games.
After a rest day on Saturday (April 17), Navy will feature in the final games on Sunday (April 18) when it plays the winners of the opening day games.
Navy men will be defending the Jim Smail Trophy and the women will be out to retain the Geoff Ledger Cup, with the move of the titles from
Canberra last year providing Navy with a happy hunting ground.
Navy men, who won the title in 2005 and 2006, proved simply irre-sistible last year in hammering Army 128-71 and Air Force 134-68. But they will be well aware that Army wrestled away its crown in 2007 (on percent-ages) and 2008.
The women also won handsomely last year with convincing wins against both Air Force and then Army by 70 points.
The Navy women, who won the Kapooka 12s competition in 2009, were understrength at this year’s recent competition and surrendered that title to Army.
They expect to be boosted this week by the infusion of talent from Western Australia.
The men were represented at Kapooka by teams from HMAS Cerberus, which lost by two points to Air Force, and HMAS Albatross,
which won the Kapooka Cup by beat-ing Army Recruit Training Centre in a closely contested encounter.
The ASAFA carnival is the major event for Navy, Army and Air Force footballers and provides an opportuni-ty for players to represent their respec-tive Service and the ADF. Spirited and fair competition is the hallmark of the championships.
A championship dinner and awards ceremony will be held following Sunday’s (18 April) matches.
An added incentive for the men this year is the annual Services Challenge against the Australian Combined Emergency Services team, which will be a curtain-raiser to the Port Adelaide – St Kilda Australian Football League match at Adelaide Oval on the Anzac weekend.
A representative match for the ADF women’s side will be confirmed at a later date.
Navy at battle stations for title defence
HISTORY REPEATING: Navy is looking to defend its 2009 ASAFA titles at the ASAFA Championships.
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NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
31SPORT
By LCDR Angus Mitchell and LSIS Paul McCallum
MERE centimetres were the differ-ence between victory and defeat for the RAN under 21’s rugby side in its tour match against the RNZN in Auckland with the Aussies going down 11-12.
In the curtain raiser to the ACT Brumbies v Auckland Blues Super 14 match on March 20, the under 21 trans-Tasman challenge saw our up and coming rugby starts take on a strong Kiwi Navy team on the hal-lowed grounds of Eden Park.
In front of a predominately Kiwi crowd, with the exception of a cheer squad from visiting ships HMA Ships Anzac (CAPT Peter Quinn) and Arunta (CMDR Steve Bowater), SMNCK Benny Turuva got the RAN off to an early 6-0 lead with accurate kicking before the Kiwi team scored a well executed back line try just before half time to close the gap 6-5.
Desperate goal line defence by the Kiwis held out a barrage of attacks by the Aussies and forced handling errors that prevented the visiting team from extending their lead.
A resurgent RNZN side came out of the sheds for the second half and managed a try and conversion near the 60-minute mark to finally take the lead 12-6.
Poor discipline by the home side followed and, after several penalties, the Aussie boys were within range and SMNET Hamish Day crossed for the RAN’s second try.
With the score at 11-12 and just minutes left on the game clock, it came down to the historically accurate boot
Kiwis win trans-tasman rugby challenge by centimetres
of SMN Turuva to make the conver-sion and win the match.
Unfortunately, history wasn’t to repeat itself and Benny’s conversion attempt missed by just centimetres, giving the win to the boys from the RNZN.
Post game presentations were made
and SMN Turuva was awarded with the player of the game award.
“I have only been in the Navy for a year and this has been my first hit-out with RANRU,” SMN Turuva said.
“The PT staff are excellent letting us know what to eat, how to prepare for games and how to recover with
physio and ice baths; the whole team was a great bunch of blokes.”
All RANRU and potential play-ers are reminded that the Australian Services Rugby Championships will be held in Canberra during May. RANRU training is held every Wednesday at the NISC, HMAS Kuttabul. All play-
LAST CHANCE: SMNCK Benny Turuva attempts a conversion to win the game against the RNZN while, inset, the ball is on it’s way but misses.
SO CLOSE: The RANRU under 21 side missed victory by just centimetres at Eden Park as their RNZN opponents survived a late conversion attempt.Photos: CPL Paul Firth (NZDF)
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JUST GETTING STARTED
Townsville-based birdie swoops on olympic distance triathlon in training for Bussleton half-ironman
U21’s take on Kiwis in NZ
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AFL gets on board P28
New Generation Navy Special Edition
Navy The official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy
SERVING AUSTRALIA WITH PRIDE
Volume 53, No. 6, April 15, 2010
NGN TURNS ONE
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NGN WRAPAROUND WHAT A YEAR! Chief of Navy VADM Russ Crane slices up the New Generation Navy cake to celebrate the first birthday of Navy’s landmark culture change program.Photo: LSIS Phillip Cullinan
NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
NGN TURNS ONE NGN TURNS ONE NGN TURNS ONE NGN TURNS ONE NGN TURNS ONE NGN TURNS ONE NGN TURNS ONE NGN TURNS ONE NGN TURNS ONE NGN TURNS ONE NGN TURNS ONE NGN TURNS ONE NGN TURNS ONE NGN TURNS ONE NGN TURNS ONE
By Annabelle haywood and LEUT Todd Austin
THE New Generation Navy (NGN) program has reached the end of its first year and many aspects are already “business as usual” in Navy.
Chief of Navy VADM Russ Crane said that, when the NGN program was launched, he made it clear that improving Navy’s culture was his number one priority.
“I am proud to say that in the last 12 months there has been a positive change in our culture, but we need to do more,” he said.
There has been a tremendous amount of work done by NGN person-nel to implement and deliver initia-tives and changes for the RAN and its sailors, and there have been successes and positive reactions throughout the Navy.
Warrant Officer of the Navy Mark Tandy agreed the impact of NGN was beginning to be felt across the Fleet,
but change would need to be initiated and managed by leaders of all ranks.
“Sailors are genuinely excited about NGN and what the future holds, however, they want to see results in their workplace,” WO-N Tandy said.
“This will be the focus for Navy in the second year – ensuring that we lead by example. If we are going to make a real difference in our culture then workplace leadership will be the key.”
CN acknowledged there is a still more to do to create Navy’s desired culture and that the changes would continue to be felt for some time.
“NGN is a five-year program and culture change is too challenging and far too important to rush,” he said.
“The Australian people expect us to perform and behave to a higher standard, and to ensure we are a Navy renowned for excellence in service to our nation. This vision must be con-sistently interpreted and shared by all throughout the Navy.”
NGN comes of ageLeadership training for future senior sailorsBy LEUT Todd Austin
NEW modules being conducted as part of the Petty Officer’s Promotion Course (POPC) are giving leading seamen the tools they need to lead culture change once they are pro-moted.
LCDR Wayne Gobert, facilitator of the leadership module of the POPC recently held at HMAS Stirling, said the step from leading seaman to petty officer is a crucial one for a sailor.
“They move to being a senior sailor and, as a part of our change process, we need to ensure they’re equipped to lead teams and work with people,” LCDR Gobert said.
LSPT Chris Vale said his position as a physical trainer at HMAS Creswell allowed him to lead in a practical way, but the leadership modules in the POPC allowed him to access the theory of leadership.
“To progress as a PO, it helps to have some knowledge of the theory behind leadership and why people take
the actions they do – this is something I’m interested in,” LSPT Vale said.
“This course has given me some insight into that, as well as some good tools I can use along with what I already do in the workplace.”
LSWTR Kylie Bakes, from Defence Force Recruiting in Perth, agreed the course would assist her in the transi-tion to senior sailor.
“I am already using the signature behaviours in my daily work and there are definitely techniques I’ll be talk-ing away from this course, particularly about influencing subordinates to make changes for the better,” LSWTR Bakes said.
LCDR Gobert said the participants in the POPC were generally supportive of what they were taught, but that cul-ture change in the Navy would always take fire.
“There is a mix of people who are comfortable with change and those who have a healthy cynicism – but this adds to the richness of the discussion,” LCDR Gobert said.
CULTURE CHANGE: (Above) LCDR Wayne Gobert addresses leading seamen attending the Petty Officer’s Promotion Course held recently in the Training Centre – West at HMAS Stirling.(Below) POPC Instructor, CMDR Sue Bigham, addresses the course.Photos: ABIS Lincoln Commane
Business as usual
PROUD OF OUR NAVY: Chief of Navy VADM Russ Crane, AB Kristy Debnam and Warrant Officer of the Navy Mark Tandy cut the cake to celebrate the first birthday of New Generation Navy.Photo: LSIS Phillip Cullinan
NGN comes of age
NGN first year clear lower deck DVDTO SHOWCASE these successes and to commemorate the 12 month anniver-sary of NGN, a Clear Lower Deck DVD is being created for release on the anniversary date of April 14, 2010.
The contents of the DVD will provide examples of the successes and achieve-ments by our sailors since the NGN initiative was announced. These include successful re-joiners, sailors who are implementing flexible work practices
and participants in leadership and eth-ics programs that are currently being conducted.
This DVD will be sent wherever Navy people are serving and will allow Commanding Officers, Directors and Divisional Officers the opportunity to present to sailors in their commands and divisions what has been achieved and what is planned for the next six to 12 months.
NGN projectsPROJECTS under NGN include changes to the way leadership training is deliv-ered to all ranks, with a focus on what makes an effective, inclusive and ethical leader.
These leadership principles are now delivered as three-day workshops to sen-ior sailors and senior officers, as modules in existing training programs for junior officers, and in promotion courses for junior sailors.
Culture change projects include improving technical training, getting people to sea earlier, improving the effectiveness of the rejoining process, increasing awareness of flexible work practices and reviewing respite and pre-dictability across the Fleet.
The Signature Behaviours were an
early outcome of NGN and are now being embedded in Navy through the “Making the Change” program, which is being facilitated through the Divisional System. These behaviours are a guide to Navy’s preferred culture and demon-strate attention to People, Performance and Professionalism.
All Navy people will now have their performance assessed against these behaviours as part of their NOPARs and SPARs, with work underway to align the Navy’s promotion and advancement sys-tems with NGN.
For further information on the NGN projects, log on to the NGN site on the Navy intranet.
THE saying is ‘a change is as good as a holiday’, but there is nothing like the feeling of coming home – which LSCD Keith Marning has recently done in rejoining the Navy full-time.
After an eight-year Navy career as a clearance diver, including tours to Iraq, LSCD Marning worked in the commercial diving industry for five years.
“The commercial work was dif-ferent, but there was a limited career progression path, plus there was a constant safety unknown working with people you didn’t know,” LSCD Marning said.
“Coming back to Navy, I’m work-ing with divers I used to instruct who are now teaching me, so there’s the reassurance of knowing who’s next to you and who’s watching your back.”
Once the decision to return was made with his wife’s support, LSCD Marning went through his Reserve divisional system and initiated the return through the Navy’s Rejoin Case Management Team (RCMT).
“It’s good to be back doing some-
thing I really enjoyed doing for eight years,” LS Marning said of his recent return.
“I wanted some stability in my work life after the birth of my little boy and, believe it or not, a career in the Navy offers that.”
The 2IC of the Navy Dive School, LCDR Taff Sweeney, said the school was always pleased to welcome the return of experienced diving person-nel.
“It takes a tremendous amount of training and experience to be able to successfully fulfil the role that LS Marning has chosen, and to train someone from scratch requires time and money. The skills and knowl-edge he has can be put to use soon-er,” LCDR Sweeney said.
RCMT has been able to drasti-cally shorten the rejoin process for personnel in critical categories, with some applications being complet-ed within 36 hours – in the case of LSCD Marning it was just 23 days.
For more information go to on the Rejoin Case Management Team go to [email protected]
CHIEF of Navy VADM Rudd Crane found some time during the recent Fleet Concentration Period to take part in a “Making the Change” engagement on board HMAS Anzac.
The engagement was held in the ship’s café and workloads on board meant the engagement featured a mix of personnel across different departments.
The engagement was the first of the four and discussed the 10 Signature Behaviours, including Exercise Crocodile River and fea-tured discussions based around a short comedy, “Between the Flags”, concerning two young guys prepar-ing for the Cronulla riots.
The exercises were well received and the audience appreciated being addressed by CN in person.
All four of the “Making the Change” engagements must be com-pleted by all personnel by June 30, 2010.
For further information check out the “Making the Change” section of the Navy intranet at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/navyweb/sites/NGN/comweb.asp?page=109133&Title=Making%20the%20Change
NGN TURNS ONE NGN TURNS ONE NGN TURNS ONE NGN TURNS ONE NGN TURNS ONE NGN TURNS ONE NGN TURNS ONE
NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews April 15, 2010
CN making the change at seaCN making the change at sea
Rejoining Navy easier than ever thanks to rejoin team
MESSAGE FROM THE TOP: Chief of Navy VADM Russ Crane talks to junior sailors in HMAS Anzac about New Generation Navy during the Fleet Concentration Period.Photo: ABIS Andrew Dakin
WELCOME BACK: With the assistance of the Rejoin Case Management Team, LSCD Keith Marning was able to rejoin the Navy with ease.Photo: ABIS Evan Murphy
