pirate - department of defence

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PIRATE ATTACK

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HMA Ships Sydney and Ballarat respond to distress signal in the Gulf of AdenBy Michael Brooke

THE RAN has struck a blow against the scourge of international piracy by com-ing to the rescue of two merchant vessels under pirate attack in the Gulf of Aden.

HMA Ships Sydney (CAPT Peter Leavy) and Ballarat (CMDR Kevin Turner) responded to distress signals from two mer-chant vessels to save them from being board-ed by pirates.

Sydney and Ballarat’s swift response compelled several pirate skiffs to conduct a hasty withdrawal, which allowed the mer-chant vessels to continue their voyages with-out further incident.

The RAN’s timely rescue effort and blow against piracy drew praise from the CDF, ACM Angus Houston.

“The situation was handled with confi-dence by our two Navy crews in Sydney and Ballarat; their actions were swift and deci-sive and have contributed to international counter-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden,” he said.

ACM Houston said the measured response by the two passing RAN warships provided security to the merchant vessels and quickly stabilised the situation.

Sydney and Ballarat swung into action after receiving a distress call from the mer-chant vessel Dubai Princess, which was attacked by pirates on May 17 while in international waters about 170km south of Yemen.

The MV Dubai Princess reported it was under attack from pirates, who were firing rocket-propelled grenades and attempting to board the vessel by force.

CO Sydney CAPT Leavy took the initial distress call and responded immediately in accordance with his obligations to render assistance under the Laws of the Sea.

CAPT Leavy said Sydney closed in on the merchant vessel, which was 20 miles astern when attacked, and launched her embarked Sea Hawk helicopter to appraise the situa-tion.

Continued page 4

RESCUE: On the night of May 17, HMA Ships Sydney and Ballarat came to the aid of merchant vessels Dubai Princess and MSC Stella after they raised distress signals in the Gulf of Aden. Photo: LSPH Nadia Monteith

Volume 52, No. 9, May 28, 2009

THWARTED: (Above) The suspected pirate skiff speeds away, and left, the merchant ship Dubai Princess applies anti-piracy measures. Photos: LSPH Nadia Monteith

NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews May 28, 2009

02 NEWS

A/DirectorDavid Edlington (02) 6265 [email protected]

EditorAlisha Welch (02) 6266 [email protected]

Deputy EditorHugh McKenzie (02) 6266 [email protected]

Senior ReporterMichael Brooke (02) 9359 [email protected]

PhotographerLSPH Paul McCallum (02) 6266 [email protected]

Reserves CorrespondentLCDR Antony Underwood (02) 6265 [email protected]

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Postal AddressR8-LG-041, Russell Offices, Canberra ACT 2600

Disclaimer: Navy News is pub-lished fortnightly by the Directorate of Defence Newspapers.It is printed by Capital Fine Print.The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising if it is deemed inappropriate and to change the size of the advertisement, print type or other specifications if material is not compatible with our system.The fact an advertisement is accepted for publication does not mean that the product or service has the endorsement of Defence or Navy News.

By Michael Brooke

CLEARANCE Divers from the Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving (MCD) Group have been integral to the joint ADF contribution to the Coalition’s fight against Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Afghanistan.

Their comprehensive Explosive Ordnance Demolition (EOD) train-ing and experience with disposal has put them in the frontline of the war on IEDs, which are the indiscriminate kill-ers of civilians and Coalition soldiers alike.

More than a dozen naval officers and senior sailors have served in the Middle East Area of Operations, six of them in Afghanistan, in Counter Improvised Explosive Device (CIED) positions, with a pool of up to 100 qualified Navy EOD and IED Disposal Operators wait-ing to answer the call of duty.

The “bubblies” have also stepped up for Navy to fill rotational ADF billets as the CIED Chief Exploitation Officer posted to ISAF HQ, while Senior Sailor Clearance Divers (CDs) have performed operational IED disposal deployments

to the Oruzgan province and as part of the CIED training teams in Iraq.

Commander Australian Navy Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Group, CAPT Martin Brooker, said the RAN CDs were highly trained and experi-enced in EOD operations and had the valuable skillsets required to serve in this critical CIED role – even in a land-locked country.

Four MCD officers, LCDRs Russ Crawford, David Ince, Doug Griffiths, and LEUT Sam Coleman, along with two senior sailors, CPOCD Philip Shirley and POCD Troy Eather, have, or are currently serving in Afghanistan. A further four CDs are training for upcom-ing deployments.

The excellent work of LCDR Crawford was recently acknowledged with an ISAF Commendation, which recognised his

important contribution to countering the IED menace

in Afghanistan.

Bubblies’ vital role in Afghanistan

LCDR Crawford said the fact that Navy had been able to fill all its com-mitments and more, including the rotations of other Services, was testa-

ment to this and the high regard given to the CDs subject matter expertise.

“All the operators would agree that their leadership experience and previ-ous exposure in the CIED and IED disposal environments has enabled them to make a very significant con-tribution to the CIED fight,” he said.

LCDR Ince said the ISAF HQ CIED job involved the coordination of all CIED exploitation teams across Afghanistan, the analysis of trends and enemy tactics and direct support to targeting the insurgency IED net-work.

“The CIED job also involves the training and mentoring of Afghan National Security Force EOD and IED Disposal teams on the ground in and around Kabul,” he said.

LCDR Ince said the main responsi-bility of the job was to make a differ-ence and not just count the IEDs, but actually counter them by providing useful and timely exploitation intel-ligence to the action arms.

“We called it ‘getting left of boom’,” he said.

Both LCDRs Crawford and Ince said winning the battle against the IEDs was crucial to winning the war against the insurgency, which would bring peace and economic sustainabil-ity for the people of Afghanistan.

Acting Commander Australian Fleet CDRE Simon Cullen recently praised the MCD Group for its hard work and meaningful contribution to ADF operations in Afghanistan and around the globe.

CDRE Cullen in par t icular acknowledged the valuable contri-bution of the MCDOs and CDs who have served, or are about to serve, in Afghanistan in the CIED role.

At the strategic level, CIED efforts are coordinated through the ADF C-IED Task Force (Brigadier Phil Winter) under the Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group. Presently a CMDR MCDO is the RAN repre-sentative to the Task Force.

Further contributions to key joint CIED positions are being developed to contribute to ADF efforts to defeat, and raise awareness of, the IED threat.

By Dallas McMaugh

HMAS Albatross personnel had the opportunity to hear from Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon exact-ly what the White Paper means for them when he visited the base recently – and the future looks very exciting indeed.

“Albatross remains central to the Government’s plans to rebuild and revitalise Navy’s aviation capabili-ties,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

During his visit Mr Fitzgibbon observed the construction already in progress for the new squadron and hangar facilities for the first of the six new MRH 90 helicopters, due to arrive in 2011.

This construction is part of a sub-stantial increase in infrastructure development at Albatross that reflects the important and ongoing role for the Fleet Air Arm articulated in the White Paper.

“This $38 million investment will ensure that Albatross has first-class facilities to operate and maintain the MRH 90s,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

In recognition of the ongoing strategic importance of the Naval Air Station to Defence’s future capability needs, the Government is also invest-ing $130 million into further upgrad-ing base infrastructure.

Mr Fitzgibbon took the opportuni-ty to meet with aircrew and maintain-ers of 817 and 816 Squadrons where he spoke of the Government’s com-mitment to rectifying the shortfalls in the current naval aviation combat fleet as a matter of urgency.

The Whi te Paper ou t l ines Government plans to acquire a fleet of at least 24 new naval combat heli-copters.

“These new aircraft will boost Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capa-bilities while possessing potent air-launched torpedoes and anti-ship mis-siles.”

The Minister also took time out to lunch with a number of aviation technicians in the junior sailors’ café and gained some very direct feedback on the White Paper’s shaping of the future of the Fleet Air Arm.

“Today is about recognising and thanking the men and women of the

Exciting future for NAS

Navy’s Fleet Air Arm for their serv-ice, while reassuring them they have a crucial role to play in our plans to build, a stronger, more capable ADF for the 21st century.”

At the end of the visit CDRE Tony Dalton, Commander Australian Navy

Aviation Group, said the ball was now back in Navy’s court to take the direc-tion detailed in the White Paper and turn it into reality for the Fleet Air Arm.

“The hard work has only just begun,” he said.

ON TOUR: Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon talks with members of 816 Squadron about the Defence White Paper and how it’s going to affect the Fleet Air Arm.

IMPORTANT ROLE: Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon chats with pilots LEUT Han Yu and

SBLT Chris Broadbent from 816 Squadron at HMAS Albatross.

Photos: ABPH Craig Owen

GOOD LUCK: LCDR Doug Griffiths (left) and LCDR David Ince (right) handover at ISAF HQ Kabul.

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03NEWS

SOME Defence families now have access to free basic health care thanks to the ADF Family Health Trial launched in Cairns on May 19.

Launched by Defence Science and Personnel Minister Warren Snowdon, the trial will benefit about 2700 Defence dependants in Cairns, Singleton, Katherine, Sale and the Pilbara region.

Mr Snowdon said looking after Defence families was something the Government took seriously.

“This initiative will provide practical support to the dependants of ADF per-sonnel,” he said.

“We are testing delivery models to ensure that ADF dependants will not only be able to access free basic medical care, but they have choice and flexibility about who they consult with. Medicare Australia will administer these services through bulk-billing arrangements.

“The trial also has provision for

dependants to claim up to $300 each for non-cosmetic dental services, which can be accessed at any dentist in Australia.”

Dependants registered for the trial will be issued with an ADF Family Health card that will enable them to sub-mit claims electronically at most dentists, up to the capped amount.

“The ADF Family Health Trial is one way we can support Defence families as they support our Defence men and women,” Mr Snowdon said.

In October the trial will expand to include a further 13,300 ADF dependants in Townsville, Darwin and Puckapunyal.

Under the scheme, health care is accessed through civilian medical prac-tices, not ADF facilities.

The benefits associated with the trial will be considered a fringe benefit for taxation purposes.

For more information visit www.defence.gov.au/health/

Minister launchesfamily health trial

BENEFICIAL: Defence Science and Personnel Minister Warren Snowdon greets CPO Paul Priddy’s family. Photo: Brian Cassey

First steps to NGNBy LCDR Fenn Kemp

THE New Generation Navy (NGN) team has taken the first important step to implementing the NGN strategy.

‘Driving the Change’ sessions have begun for captains, COs, facul-ty heads and some SWOs and chiefs to give them the information they need to communicate the key mes-sages of NGN at the local level.

All of Navy will hear about NGN – what is planned and how individu-als can be involved – over the next few weeks.

The Transition and Governance team from across Navy has also been working to finalise the transi-tion plan for structural change. This includes holding structural stress-testing sessions with representatives from areas across Navy. These war gaming-type sessions were designed to identify rub points in the new Navy structure and to work out how to best work within it.

The NGN Culture Pillar is being led by CMDR Jenni Wittwer, who is in charge of a team of 22 Navy personnel and four civilians who are rolling out cultural change across Navy.

This month saw the start of the

implementation planning for the six ‘bow wave’ culture projects designed to support the cultural change of NGN. There are 17 projects recom-mended in the NGN strategy. The first six are designed to: ➤ Embed signature behaviours and

align them to Navy values.➤ Align promotion and advance-

ment of leaders with NGN. ➤ Improve responsiveness to those

re-joining Navy.➤ Deliver people-focused work

practices.➤ Recruit more people and send

them to sea earlier.➤ Reform category training and job

roles.Implementing the Submarine

Sustainability Review recommenda-tions and Plain Train are also under-way as part of the cultural change in NGN.

The first bow wave project is focused on embedding the 10 sig-nature behaviours (see break-out box), which were signed off by CN after widespread consultation with 500 personnel from all ranks and endorsed as part of the NGN strate-gy. With the Navy values, they form the foundation of the Navy culture of the future. The team is also look-ing at ways to embed these in Navy systems and processes and help peo-ple understand and display these behaviours.

1. Respect the contribution of every individual

2. Promote the wellbeing and development of Navy people

3. Communicate well and regularly4. Challenge and innovate5. Be cost conscious6. Fix problems, take action7. Drive decision-making down8. Strengthen relationships across

and beyond Navy

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9. Be the best I can10. Make Navy proud, make

Australia proud

WORTHWHILE: CPOWTR Kym Van Wetering passes on his thoughts duing the NGN work-shop.Photo: POPH Ollie Garside

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04 NEWS

By Michael Brooke

THE important contribution of the MHC Hunter patrols to Operation Resolute was recognised recently when the ships’ companies of HMA Ship’s Huon (LCDR Mike Gough) and Hawkesbury (LCDR Ben Esler) were awarded commendations by the Commander Border Protection Command, RADM Allan du Toit.

The commendations were pre-sented to the ships’ companies at a Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving (MCD) Group clear lower deck at HMAS Waterhen (CMDR Larry Menon), which was also attended by the Acting Fleet Commander, CDRE Simon Cullen.

RADM du Toit said the commenda-tions were recognition to all those who had served in Hunter One and Two as acknowledgement of their important contribution to Op Resolute and other related border protection tasks.

During the 30 months that the ships were assigned, the Hunter crews steamed a combined 97,727 nautical miles, conducted 30 boardings, appre-hended 13 foreign fishing vessels and destroyed three of them (for unsea-worthiness).

“They must be praised for their professional and hard-working

Hunter patrols praised

WELL DONE: RADM Allan du Toit presents a commendation to HMAS Huon’s CO, LCDR Mike Gough, for the ship’s contribution to border security. Photo: ABPH Peter Thompson

NT’09 ships deter pirates From page 1

“When Sydney and Ballarat reached the MV Dubai Princess she appeared to be under attack by two pirate skiffs,” he said. “But after a few minutes the pres-ence of the RAN vessels was enough to force the skiffs to retreat.”

As the RAN was coming to the rescue of the MV Dubai Princess, another mer-chant vessel, MSC Stella, signalled it was being threatened by other pirate skiffs in the same vicinity. Ballarat immediately went to action stations and joined the response, with her arrival on the scene quickly deterring the pirates.

CAPT Leavy said the Sea Hawk

played an important role providing both Sydney and Ballarat with vital situational awareness.

Once the threat had eased, Ballarat escorted the two merchant vessels, as well as six others that subsequently entered the area, to safety.

Sydney remained in the area to report the situation to a Task Force 151 ship assigned to the counter-piracy mission.

Sydney and Ballarat have since resumed their passage through the Gulf and will continue with Northern Trident ’09.➤ For a pictorial snapshot of NT09, see

centrespread.

By LCDR Stan Buckham

THE crew of HMAS Toowoomba have helped save a civilian sailor during a dramatic ocean rescue off the West Australian coast.

Toowoomba was undergoing workups when the call went out for assistance. A member of the Seahorse Standard was taking part in an exercise with HMAS Collins when he began suffering chest pains.

Toowoomba’s CO, CMDR Ivan Ingham, said they first heard about it through a broken radio transmission.

“It was late at night and we were in the middle of our Mission Rehearsal Exercise (MRE),” he said.

“But as soon as the Seahorse Standard had confirmed she needed our help, we suspended the exercise and headed their way.”

The ship made it to the Seahorse Standard in just 30 minutes and the Deputy Fleet Medical Officer went on board to assess the patient. He diagnosed the crew mem-ber as having suffered a suspected heart attack but, sud-denly, time was against Toowoomba’s crew. It was too dangerous to transfer the patient by RHIB – the fastest way to get him to hospital was by helicopter.

The ship’s Seahawk “Pegasus” scrambled and the crew member was winched aboard before being rushed to Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital in Perth.

The MRE was successful – indeed, Toowoomba passed with flying colours.

approach to operations in the border protection multi-agency environment, which often resulted in further appre-hensions and the curtailing of illegal fishing operations,” RADM du Toit said.

RADM du Toit also praised the efforts of Hunter Three for providing support and maintenance, which con-tributed to the success of the patrols.

The Hunter patrols began in 2006 to bolster the RAN’s role in the ADF’s contribution to the whole-of-Government effort to safeguard Australia’s exclusive economic zone and other offshore areas.

Toowoomba’s midnight rescue

MISSION READY: HMAS Toowoomba’s flight deck crew prepare the helo for takeoff during workups. Photo: LSPH Philip Cullinan

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05NEWS

By Michael Brooke

LEADERSHIP, loyalty, courage and dedication to duty take many forms and this was evident when seven RAN officers and sailors received decora-tions from NSW Governor Professor Marie Bashir.

The awards were announced on Australia Day and were presented during investiture ceremonies at Government House from May 6-8.

If the medals could speak they would praise the courage and professionalism of the Navy recipients, who not only made numerous personal sacrifices but, in some cases, risked their lives to do their duty for the country.

POA Ben Sime was awarded the Medal for Gallantry for his actions in hazardous circumstances during a water-borne terrorist attack in the Middle East Area of Operation during Operation Catalyst in 2004.

POA Sime was modest in receiving this award.

“Receiving the medal is a very proud occasion for both me and my family,” he said.

“Serving in the RAN is a great hon-our and all sailors should be proud of the work they do.”

The Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Military Division was awarded to WO Mark Donlan for meri-torious service throughout his career in the RAN, particularly as the inaugural Officer-in-Charge of the Local Career Management Centre at Fleet Base East.

LCDR Peter de Maskens was award-ed the OAM in the Military Division for meritorious service in the field of mari-time communications and information systems.

CMDR John Foster (Rtd) was award-ed the OAM for service to the recording of Australian naval history and the search for the submarine HMAS AE1 lost dur-ing WWI.

LCDR Fraser Vergelius was award-ed the Conspicuous Service Medal for devotion to duty as the Submarine Plans Officer at Fleet Headquarters.

CMDR Niel Wark was awarded the CSM for outstanding achievement as the

Dedication awarded

PROUD: POA Ben Sime was invested with the Medal for Gallantry at NSW Government House recently.Photo: ABPH David McMahon

By Michael Brooke

LSMT Andrew Neaves was recent-ly awarded the 2008 Peter Mitchell prize for the most outstanding Junior Sailor by Chief of Navy VADM Russ Crane AM, CSM, RAN.

The prestigious award recognises LSMT Neaves’ tireless and exem-plary performance in carrying out his duties as the interim Propulsion Work Centre Supervisor and Marine Systems Manager in HMAS Ballarat between 2007 and 2008.

CN presented LSMT Neaves with the framed commendation, which formally acknowledges his outstanding service and devotion to duty at a ceremony conducted at Fleet HQ.

VADM Crane praised LSMT Neaves for his willingness, despite being a junior leading seaman, to provide prompt and effective leader-ship to an undermanned and inexpe-rienced work centre and to perform the duties of the petty officer, which were instrumental in ensuring the

CN crowns top junior sailor

Petty Officer Sime gave a selfless and spontaneous display of gal-lantry on April 24, 2004, under the most hazardous operational circumstances following a coordi-nated terrorist attack against Iraqi oil terminals, during which sailors from USS Firebolt were critically injured. PO Sime showed outstand-ing courage and remained dedicat-ed to supporting a sailor in his care without regard to his own safety. His efforts and his achievements were of the highest order and were in the finest traditions of the RAN and the ADF.

The Citation

technical integrity of the systems in his charge and the advancement of those sailors under his command.

LSMT Neaves said he answered the call of the sea in 2000 when he did work experience with the Fleet Support Unit – Sydney, which motivated him to join the RAN in September 2002.

LSMT Neaves said he loved all things engineering and the best place for someone like him was in an Anzac class FFH “because of the massive variation of complex engi-neering systems”.

“The camaraderie among Anzac stokers is brilliant, because we have to punch above our weight to get the job done,” he said.

“The engineering department on Ballarat, particularly the propulsion work centre, were the best group of blokes and technicians I have ever worked with.”

LSMT Neaves said his next chal-lenge was to complete Year 12 math-ematics so he could tackle the RMIT entrance exam later this year, which is the stepping-stone for his transfer to become and engineering officer.

OUTSTANDING SAILOR: LSMT Andrew Neaves tends to some routine maintenance on the Gas Turbine on board HMAS Ballarat. Photo: ABPH Andrew Black

Fleet Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Coordinator Officer.

The Conspicuous Service Cross was awarded to LCDR Adrian Lister for outstanding achievement as the Senior Military Recruiting Officer, Defence Force Recruiting NSW.

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06 NEWS

By LCDR Wayne Gobert

STUDENTS drawn from the top leaders of private and government schools have taken part, with their principals, in the inaugural HMAS Penguin (CMDR Mike Hickey) Youth Leaders forum.

The day’s theme was the challenges faced by student leaders today. The interactive program combined dis-cussion and advice from high-profile leaders, and an interactive simulation exercise.

The speakers included RADM Peter Jones, Head ICT Operations, rugby league’s Wayne Pearce and cricketer Michael Bevan, who said it was great to see the Navy providing a forum for young leaders to see what happens in other fields.

Harvard S t ra tegy Professor Mehrdad Baghai, a classmate of US President Barrack Obama at Harvard

Law School, and key figure at the Prime Minister’s 20/20 Summit, led the interactive session.

The session was styled on his very successful High Resolves pro-gram which is, in many ways, his life’s work. Mehrdad and his wife Roya founded High Resolves together in an attempt to “inoculate” the world’s chil-dren from prejudice and conflict. The program has been an amazing success and there’s far more demand for it than they can deliver.

Feedback was very positive, with critics rating the day as nine-and-a-half out of 10. Several students and princi-pals put their names down to continue to receive information from Penguin and the Navy in general. There is also intense interest in the ADF’s Defence 2020 program.

“What a great day – the guest speakers and staff were fantastic,”

Scott Henry of Cromer High School said.

CMDR Mike Hickey said it was a great chance to host the leading stu-dents from the region’s top schools.

“This is community engagement in action,” he said.

“The students, their principals and some of our most prominent communi-ty leaders from sport, politics, business and the community came together to share experiences and learning.”

The program will now become a regular NCEP feature in north-ern Sydney and will be repeated in September.

For further information contact LCDR Wayne Gobert, Navy Community Engagement Program, Northern Region NSW. Ph: 0449259547 or email [email protected]

By Barry Rollings

NAVY’S ongoing support of Willans Hill School in Wagga Wagga continues to pay divi-dends for both stakeholders.

Fund-raising by Navy last year for specialist playground equip-ment raised $3500. On May 1, the new equipment – recently installed by staff and trainees at RAAFSTT, with an emphasis of strengthening exercises for disa-bled students at the school – was officially passed into service.

The Navy, consisting of 160 staff and students at RAAF Base Wagga Wagga, has been a strong supporter of Willans Hill School since 2001. Apart from fund-rais-ing, Navy has assisted the school when extra hands on deck were required for school events, such as Year 12 graduations, in providing escorts for graduating students.

The school was established in February 1966, when 12 children with moderate intellectual disa-bilities were placed under the care of John Grantley and housed in rented premises.

In 1973, Kurrajong Park was taken over by the Department of Education and Training, with students ranging in age from 4-18 years who had an intellectual disability in the moderate-severe range. In 1994 the name of the

Navy connects with future leaders

Support for special school continues

ENGAGING: CMDR Mike Hickey, CO HMAS Penguin, with some of the students taking part in the forum. Photo: LCDR Wayne Gobert

school was changed to Willans Hill School.

“Willans Hill School is a vibrant learning community with learning programs provided to 60

students enrolled from across the Riverina,” CPO Chris Williams said.

“The school is very much respected as a leader in the field

of special education and the Navy Personnel at RAAF Base Wagga Wagga are privileged in support-ing this worthy cause now and in the future.”

OVERWHELMING GENEROSITY: Supporters of Willans Hill School include (from left) WO Tony Emmett, CPO Chris Williams, LS Jasmine Brown, SMN Bradley Fisher, SGT Derek Keir and SMN James Meredith. INSET: Joy all round as the gear is tried for the first time.Photos: Keith Wheeler/Daily Advertiser

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07NEWSIN BRIEFDNA program slow to startDEFENCE managers of the ADF’s voluntary DNA program are providing military personnel the opportunity to protect their families in times of trauma. To date only a few ADF personnel have volunteered to donate blood samples to aid identification of their bodies in the worst-case scenario of being killed. SO1 Capability Development LTCOL David Thomas said the blood donations were confidential and encouraged any ADF member, particularly those deploying on operations, to take up the offer. Personnel need to sign a consent form and provide two sam-ples of blood in the form of two single blood spots. Each sam-ple is then sealed and stored at the ADF DNA Repository in Melbourne in a tamper-evident plastic envelope with a unique barcode identifying tag. Sailors wishing to donate DNA sam-ples can obtain more information at their local health centre.

– WO2 Graham McBean

HMAS Perth AssociationTHE HMAS Perth Association has been revived in Victoria. In February a meeting was held at Dandenong RSL where the steering committee and those in attendance agreed to proceed with re-establishing a Victorian area committee of the national association. If you wish to join the Victorian Area Association contact Scott ‘Egor’ Smith at [email protected] or phone 0401 107 093.

HMAS Vampire’s 50th anniversaryThe former HMAS Vampire has piped a haunting reminder to former ship mates to help her celebrate her 50th anniver-sary. Vampire will serve as the backdrop for the screening of Blacula (7.30pm June 11), The Lost Boys (7.30pm June 12), and Twilight (7.30pm June 13). The celebrations also include a formal black-tie dinner ‘Toast to the Ship’ by DCN RADM Davyd Thomas on June 19, and a seminar on June 20 featuring Vampire’s former COs. For more information or to book, call (02) 9298 3777, or visit www.anmm.gov.au/specialevents

HMAS Melbourne reunionThe HMAS Melbourne Association is contemplating a reunion in 2010. Nowra will most probably be the location, during a weekend in September or October. The association is look-ing for expressions of interest from anyone who served or had an association with any HMAS Melbourne. If you, or anyone you know may be interested, contact Dean Gedling at [email protected].

By Michael Brooke

IN AN era of joint operations it was only fitting that more than 185 families totalling more than 800 people from the three Services converged on Sydney’s Luna Park to celebrate National Families Week.

More than 60 families each from the Navy, Army and Air Force flocked to Luna Park on May 17 as part of the Defence Community Organisation’s participation in the National Families Week celebration.

The Defence members and their wives and children formed up at the ‘My Clubhouse’ venue for a joint fes-tivity before obtaining discounted family tickets for the rides and amusements.

The Navy Band – Sydney Detachment kept the Defence families thoroughly entertained as they queued up for their tickets from DCO-Sydney, DCO-Liverpool and DCO-Richmond.

CAPT Stephen Woodall, representing the Fleet Commander Australia, RADM Nigel Coates, told the Defence families that the National Families Week cele-bration was an informal event where ADF families could meet and relax in a comfortable atmosphere.

“It provides the opportunity to form relationships and social networks, and gives families the opportunity to seek information regarding the support options that are available to them,” he said.

For more information about how Defence supports ADF fami-lies, visit www.defence.gov.au/people/families

Defence families unite

National Welfare Coordination CentreThe National Welfare Coordination centre provides a 24-hour point of contact and information service for families of personnel deployed or in support of operations and designated exercises.

Phone: 1800 801 026

Email: [email protected]

HAPPY FAMILY: (Above) CPO Peter Berry and his three sons: Jye, 8, Nate, 7, and Macklin, 3, queuing up for their tickets before enjoying the rides at Sydney’s Luna Park to celebrate National Families Week. Photo: Michael Brooke

ROLLING ALONG: (Right) CPO Peter Berry and his son Nate ride on the roller coaster at Luna Park.Photo provided by CPO Peter Berry

A voice for Defence familiesDFA’s website provides you with a family focusedportal on ADF information. It also provides DFAwith the opportunity to inform and update youon our advocacy role in family related policyand entitlements.

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08 BUDGET ’09-10

The Government will fund the 2009 Defence White Paper and deliver Force 2030 through a robust

financial plan, Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon announced on May 12.

Defence will have a new funding model that will provide greater long-term funding certainty and ensure that Defence has the funds it needs when it needs them.

The model will impose disci-pline on Defence spending, while ensuring Defence can purchase the military equipment outlined in the White Paper and properly support Australia’s serving men and women.

The Government will also imple-ment a significant program of reform, aimed at cutting wasteful Defence spending while providing long-term funding certainty so that Defence can run its budget more efficiently in the future.

Efficiencies and savings generat-ed by the Strategic Reform Program (SRP) and other initiatives will drive deep changes to policy, practices and culture within Defence and deliver around $20 billion in savings across the decade.

These savings will be reinvested into priority Defence programs and capability acquisitions. This reinvest-ment provides an enormous incentive for Defence to achieve the $20 bil-lion worth of savings.

Mr Fitzgibbon said the SRP, announced as part of the White

Robust financial plan to deliver

Paper process, would achieve greater efficiency and implement improved business processes across areas such as non-equipment procurement, improved inventory management and information and communications technology reform.

“Over the decade, Defence will receive about $308 billion under the Government’s new financial plan,” he said.

“The task of delivering on the Government’s new White Paper commitments has already begun.”

ROBUST FORCE: Members of HMAS Sydney’s ship’s company pre-pare for the Replenishment At Sea evolution with USNS Rappahannock. Photo: LSPH Nadia Monteith

By WO2 Graham McBean

THE goal to save $20.6 billion over the next decade to fund White Paper initiatives is achievable, according to Defence’s senior leadership.

CDF ACM Angus Houston and Defence Secretary Nick Warner presented a united front at a round table discussion with media on May 7 to explain how the Strategic Reform Program would work.

Mr Warner said it was an ambitious program but it would succeed.

“We have the right team, the right plan and the full support of the Government and this reform and sav-ings program – unlike some in the past – is going to succeed because of it,” Mr Warner said.

“Because the future of the ADF, indeed the ADF’s future, depends on it being realised.”

He said there would be 15 reform ‘streams’ and highlighted the primary areas for savings over the next decade:➤ Shared services: $1.4 billion by stream-

lining core business processes such as payroll, human resources and financial services.

➤ Workforce reform: $1.9 billion through an integrated and balanced workforce of military and public service. Defence contracts will be minimised and contrac-tors recruited to the public service as a more cost-effective option. While the ADF will have 3000 more staff by the end of the decade, savings also will occur through civilianisation of some ADF support staff.

➤ Non-equipment procurement: $4.4 billion through smarter procurement across 23 different areas. Changes will

be made in areas such as travel allow-ance to contract negotiations.

➤ Smarter maintenance: $4.4 billion in smarter maintenance across more than 100 weapon and other Defence fleets of equipment.

➤ Inventory: $700 million through smarter buying and reducing equipment hold-ings.

➤ ICT: $1.9 billion from the information technology suite by reducing data cen-tres from 200 to less than 10 and other initiatives such as better management of software applications from 4000 to less than 2000.ACM Houston said the senior man-

agement of Defence was fully behind the reform, which would deliver what the ADF needed.

“There is no push back and we want to do these things,” ACM Houston said.

“Fundamentally, the Government has given us this challenge and if we want to create the ADF of the future we have got to find the savings.”

Defence to cut costs to fund capability

EXCITING FUTURE: LS Kristy Bobbin aboard HMAS Warramunga on operations in the Persian Gulf. Photo: LAC Aaron Curran

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09BUDGET ’09-10

Force 2030

• Key capability acquisitions and projects such as artillery systems, replacement of light vehicles, upgraded rifles and enhancements to ADF command and control systems, satellite communications capability and counter-Improvised Explosive Device (IED) initiatives.

• Commencing work on a Cyber Security Operations Centre that will monitor threats and pro-vide response assistance across Government and critical private sector systems and infrastructure.

• Improvements to Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) facilities, including the Missile Simulation Centre.

• Remediation of Defence’s ICT.• Pay improvements for non-com-

missioned sailors, soldiers, airmen and women.

• Recruitment and workforce stabili-sation initiatives for the Navy.

• Improvements to ADF healthcare.• Greater flexibility in ADF housing

and accommodation, enhance-ment to mental health care, remuneration and assistance to families.

• Remediation of ageing power, water and sewerage infrastructure across Defence bases, and refur-bishment of old working and live-in accommodation.

White Paper funding – the year ahead

LOVIN’ THE NAVY: LEUT Ian ‘Pugs’ Holmes was the Tactical Coordination Officer aboard HMAS Arunta’s Seahawk on operations in the Persian Gulf a couple of years ago – he is now a Divisional Officer at the Australian Defence Force Academy. Navy’s Fleet Air Arm has an exciting future ahead with six MRH90 helicopters due to arrive at HMAS Albatross in 2011. Photo: LSPH Paul Berry

Funding for the White Paper initiatives for 2009-10 include:

THERE were no surprises in the Budget for Navy facilities during financial year 2009-2010.

Unlike Army and Air Force establishments, which need to be developed for the relocation of 3RAR from Sydney to Townsville and 7RAR from Darwin to South Australia, and for the arrival of the new Super Hornets, it is steady as she goes for Navy.

Here is where the big money is getting spent.

NSW➤ $21m at HMAS Albatross to

complete the multi-role helicop-ter project in 2010. Involves a mixture of new facilities, refur-bishment and adaptive re-use

of existing facilities at the Fleet Air Arm.

➤ $1.6m for the bridge simulator upgrade at HMAS Watson.

➤ Minor works including ship berths at Garden Island in Sydney and water mains at HMAS Albatross.

ACT➤ $38m to continue upgrades at

HMAS Creswell. Includes engi-neering services and infrastruc-ture, classrooms and accommo-dation. Expected completion in 2011.

➤ $70m for improvements at HMAS Harman and other ACT locations.

VIC➤ $3m for improvements at the

West Head gunnery range at HMAS Cerberus.

WA➤ $2.25m at HMAS Stirling for

the Personnel and Training Centre, and for the School of Survivability and Ship Safety.

➤ A share of $39.7m from estate funds for repairs and modifica-tions to the bulk fuel installa-tion.

NT➤ $6.8m for rectifying fuel instal-

lations at Darwin Naval Base.

Steady as she goes for Navy’s facilities

STEADY DEVELOPMENT: $2.25m will be spent at HMAS Stirling, pictured above, for the Personnel and Training Centre and for the School of Survivability and Ship Safety. Stirling will also get a share of $39.7m from estate funds for repairs and modifications to the bulk fuel installation.Photo: ABPH Lincoln Commane

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DFWA has worked for you since 1959 to campaign for improved conditions of service for ADF members and their families; advocate fair and equitable treatment and retirement benefi ts for former ADF members; and provide help for serving and retired personnel make claims under Commonwealth legislation covering superannuation, compensation and veterans’ entitlements.

DFWA has a small trust fund able to make one-off grants to serving and former ADF members and their families who are “in urgent and necessitous circumstances involving real hardship”.

This does not mean you if you are just a bit short until pay day! It more probably relates to your mate who was invalided out and is now suffering immediate hardship, or to an elderly Defence widow now without family support who needs a washing machine in her rental accommodation.

If you know of someone who might require assistance, please contact your local DFWA Branch

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10 HISTORY

A homegrown hero

EDWARD “Teddy” Sheean was born at Lower Barrington, Tasmania, on December 28, 1923, and was working on farms in his years before joining the Royal Australian Naval Reserve in April 1941.

At 17 he did his initial training in Tasmania until February 1942, when he was sent to the Flinders Naval Depot at Westernport in Victoria to continue his training. The following May he was posted to Sydney.

At the end of May, Teddy was on leave at home in Tasmania when the ship he was posted to, the ferry Kuttabul, was sunk during the Japanese midget submarine attack on Sydney Harbour.

He returned to Sydney 11 days later to begin his service as an Oerlikon anti-aircraft gunner on the newly-commissioned Ballarat class corvette, HMAS Armidale.

Four months later, HMAS Armidale was sent to Darwin and in November the ship was ordered, along

with HMAS Kuru and Castlemaine, to resupply and evacuate troops and civil-ians from Betano Bay, Timor.

Spotted by Japanese reconnaissance aircraft as they left Darwin, Armidale and Castlemaine survived repeated air attacks but reached Betano too late to rendezvous with HMAS Kuru, which had already embarked Portuguese ref-ugees and made for open water.

The two corvettes found Kuru 50 nautical miles off Timor and the refugees were transferred to HMAS Castlemaine, which returned to Darwin and disembarked the refugees.

Kuru and Armidale were ordered to continue the operation in daylight.

During the subsequent operations, HMAS Armidale was struck by two aircraft-launched torpedoes and began to sink.

As the rest of the crew were ordered to abandon ship, Teddy Sheean, carrying two wounds, manned his action station, the aft Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun, strapped himself into the

HERO: The painting shows the figure of a seaman lying on deck at the stern of the ship firing an Oerlikon gun at Japanese bombers; a number of seamen are in the water having abandoned ship. Ordinary seaman Teddy Sheean went down with HMAS Armidale firing his gun to the last. Painting by Dale Marsh courtesy AWM (ID ART28160)

Armidale’s tragic end

SAFE IN HARBOUR: HMAS Armidale in Port Moresby harbour. Photo courtesy AWM (ID 026612)

HMAS Sheean is the only RAN vessel to be named after a junior sailor. For those who don’t know the story of Teddy Sheean, LSPH Paul McCallum has done some research.

gunner’s position and opened fire on the attacking Japanese aircraft.

Sheean was credited with shoot-ing down one bomber and damaging another two aircraft before Armidale succumbed to her damage and slipped below the waves.

Survivors in the life-rafts reported that the gun was still being fired and tracer rounds were seen from below the water as Teddy kept fighting for the lives of his shipmates as he went down with the ship.

Sheean saved countless of his ship-mates’ lives through his selfless act. The Japanese had begun strafing the sailors as they took to the water and this is believed to be what prompted Sheean to take the actions he did that day.

While no sailor has been awar-deed the Victoria Cross, Teddy was Mentioned in Despatches, one of the greatest honors bestowed upon an indi-vidual.

Today, HMAS Sheean proudly car-ries the name of “Teddy” Sheean, the only ordinary seaman to have a ship named after him in the history of the RAN.

OF THE 149 crew that sailed in HMAS Armidale, only 49 survived the Japanese air attacks on December 1, 1942.

Having survived repeated attacks since leaving Darwin, HMAS Armidale was struck by two aircraft-launched torpedoes and began sinking immediately off the coast of Timor.

The survivors, having been strafed by the Japanese, constructed a makeshift raft from the floating debris of their ship. To this was lashed a badly damaged and half sinking whaler that had broken free as the HMAS Armidale sank.

The wounded were put aboard a small motor boat that had also survived the sinking but, when it became clear they would not be rescued, the captain and 21 other men (two of whom died) made for Australian waters in the motor boat.

Two days later, another 29 survivors

began the same precarious journey in the whaler. Repairs had been made but the whaler still required constant bailing to keep it afloat.

The remaining survivors clung to the raft and awaited rescue. After four days, the men in the motor boat were rescued by HMAS Kalgoorlie and a Catalina flying boat spotted the raft. Unfortunately the sea was too rough to land and further searches failed to locate the raft. It was never seen again.

Having spent eight days in the ocean, the whaler crew were rescued by HMAS Kalgoorlie after being located by search aircraft.

12 13CENTRESPREAD


Northern Tr dent ’09Northern Tr dent ’09By LEUT Anna Glover

SOCCER will definitely be the world game during Operation Northern Trident 2009 (NT09) – just ask the

captain and vice captain of HMAS Sydney’s soccer team, LS Aaron Larnach and LEUT Aaron Scott.

“We thought it would be great to try to organise matches, as we will be visiting countries that have a strong soccer history like the UK, Spain and the United States,” LEUT Scott said.

“The Royal Navy is sure to have a good side, but I think we could really give them a run for their money.

“Recently we had members compete in the Inter-Command Challenge and there were a few guys from the ship who really stood out as rising stars, so we are keen to see them in action again.”

The Sydney team is very excited at the prospect of playing against other Navies and to be able to showcase a bit of Aussie spirit and sportsmanship.

While the team is only able to train on the flight deck or in the gym when at sea, LS Larnach believes it will be the team’s atti-tude that will give them the edge over their competitors. And, of course, there is also the ship’s reputation at stake.

HMAS Sydney takes sportsmanship to the...

“Sydney was the first ship-based team in 18 years to win the Albatross-Nirimba Cup a few years ago, so we are keen to maintain the ship’s reputation for fielding a good side,” he said.

“The Navy Football Federation Australia has been extremely sup-portive and even provided us with a strip to wear during the deploy-ment, so we really will look like a force to be reckoned with!

“Seriously though, playing soc-cer with other countries is a great way to meet others and the team always looks forward to catching up with the other side after the match, no matter the result.”

world stage

REPUTATION AT STAKE: RAN Football Federation Australia Secretary, SBLT Scott Callinan, presents the RAN Soccer Strip to HMAS Sydney’s CO CAPT Peter Leavy for use during Northern Trident 2009.Photo: LSPH Nadia Monteith

HMA Ships Sydney and Ballarat are on the first leg of Operation Northern Trident, a worldwide deployment supporting the Government’s diplomatic, international security and defence industry interests around the world.

Here is a photographic snapshot of the trip so far...

EXCITING OPPORTUNITY: (Left) ABSTD Chantell Bianchi acts as part of the flight deck party for HMAS Sydney’s departure from Sydney.Photo: LSPH Nadia Monteith

MARSHALL THIS WAY: (Above) The Tiger 82 Sea Hawk is embarked on board HMAS Sydney for Operation Northern Trident 2009.Photo: LSPH Nadia Monteith

INTENSIVE TRAINING: (This photo and right) HMAS Ballarat’s boarding team exercises with HMAS Sydney.Photos: LSPH Nadia Monteith

ALL IN ORDER: (Left) LSBM(SE) Niomi Wightman inflates the second chamber of the life jackets as part of the 12-month inspection on board HMAS Ballarat.Photo: ABPH Karen Bailey

IN CONTROL: (Above) WO Robert McCann in the Damage Control Centre during a routine damage control exercise on board HMAS Sydney. Photo: LSPH Nadia Monteith

05/09 ISSUE 54

Op STAYSAFEEMAIL: [email protected]

TELEPHONE: 1800 558 555 (confi dentiality assured)Seaworthy is produced by the Directorate of Navy Safety Systems in the interests of promoting

safety in the Navy. The contents do not necessarily refl ect Service policy and, unless stated otherwise, should not be construed as orders, instructions or directives – KEEP NAVY SAFE.

Op STAYSAFE


Each edition of Seaworthy will devote space to unsafe acts caught on camera. Submit caption entries (no later than June 11) and suitable photos to: [email protected]

Caption call

LIVING with hearing loss affects not only the quality of your life but also that of your family.

Think about your favourite sounds; now imagine life without ever hearing them again. Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) from excessive noise exposure is a disease and is irrevers-ible. Correct hearing protection can assist in preventing NIHL. Unlike hearing loss that results from old age, NIHL cannot be improved with hear-ing aids.

The hearing protection devic-es available through Naval stores – Bilsom Viking 2421 and V3 earmuffs, and the E.A.R. classic platinum ear-plugs (yellow roll-ups) – have been deemed suitable if worn correctly and utilised in the appropriate work areas.

Anecdotal evidence suggests how-ever a much greater personal prefer-ence (and therefore compliance) for custom moulded hearing protection.

Custom fitted earplugs are mould-ed to the exact shape of your ear canal

and provide a comfortable acoustic seal preventing harmful noise from reaching your ear drum.

Once fitted, a computer generated sound signal is used to measure the exact performance (in-ear attenuation) of each hearing protector within the ear. A report of this data is generated and can be held on your medical docu-ments.

Of significant importance is that you can hear conversation and pipes, communicate and hear warnings because each protector is calibrated at a specific frequency. The plugs are designed to be compatable with fire-fighting rig and also come with a two-way communication option.

The custom-moulded plugs offer protection for three years. Rationalised against the disposable plugs over that period, they prove to be cost effective.

DNAVSAFE has initiated a trial of the product. Last month 30 sailors from HMAS Diamantina who were identified as working in noise-criti-

cal areas were fitted with the custom-moulded earplugs. The trial will run until the end of June after which the results will be evaluated.

Initial feedback has been extreme-ly positive, particularly in relation to the ability of the plugs to block out machinery noise while maintaining the ability to communicate.

DNAVSAFE is progressing in maintaining health, safety and comfort for our members. We are keen to keep up to date with industry-best solutions and best practice.

Similar trials are being conduct-ed with ice vests and electronic heat stress monitors to reduce the risk of heat-related injuries and the mainte-nance of body core temperature.

Further information regarding either the product or trial can be obtained from the trial co-ordinator LCDR Tracey Elliott, Staff Officer, Occupational Health, DNAVSAFE.

Navy Safety Awards call for nominations for 2009

DEFENCE has strict guide-lines in place for the use and management of haz-ardous substances. But

what about your household?Are hazardous substances being

managed appropriately? That is par-ticularly important where children are present.

Toddlers and pre-schoolers are the most likely occupants of your house to be poisoned because they are curi-ous, unpredictable and fearless. They imitate what they see grownups doing, which includes getting things out of cabinets and taking medicines. Please ensure your home complies with the suggestions below:➤ Adults have to make homes safe for

children by storing all chemicals and medicines separately and in a secured cabinet. Putting them on a high shelf is worthless when it comes to kids who can climb.

➤ Don’t leave cosmetics, cleaners, vitamins or cigarettes on a shelf or bench. Never leave a container of hazardous material, even for a brief time. Poisonings often happen when an adult gets interrupted while using a product and leaves to answer the phone or to see who’s at the door.

➤ Don’t assume there is such a thing as a child proof cap. Some are child resistant, but none are child proof – they just take a little longer for an inquisitive and determined child to open.

➤ Know what to do in the case of a poisoning. Don’t wait to see if the child appears sick, ring 000 imme-diately. Have the phone number of the nearest hospital and post it near the phone.

➤ Ipecac syrup and activated charcoal are sometimes used as treatments

Home safety – drugspoisons and pesticides

for poisonings. They can be bought at the chemist without a prescrip-tion. Keep them in your first aid kit but don’t give them to a child unless instructed to do so by the emergen-cy operator or medical practitioner.Pesticides are a leading cause of

household poisonings. Each year many people in Australia have exposures to aerosol insect killers and repellents and other sorts of household pesti-cides. You need to observe the follow-ing precautions to keep safe;➤ Read labels carefully and follow

instructions for how to apply, how often and how much.

➤ If you can, try to substitute with non-toxic insecticides.

➤ If you have to dilute a pesticide, use a special container and mark it with the contents and the word poison.

➤ Never use a bottle that once con-tained food or drink.

➤ If you need mixing spoons, select a special one for use with pesticides and keep it with the pesticides in a secure cabinet.

➤ Don’t mix pesticides in an area that your family or pets use.

➤ Protect your eyes and skin and stay upwind of the area you’re spraying.

➤ Unless the label says differently, don’t store diluted pesticide sprays. They often don’t remain effective. Instead, follow the instructions for disposal.

➤ Don’t contaminate the storage area with spilled pesticide.

➤ Store undiluted pesticides correctly. Ideally, keep them in a cabinet or closet that you can lock. It should be dry and well ventilated.

OOOH PRETTY: Carelessness can have grave consequences in the home. Photo: Tom Perkins iStock

THE annual Navy Safety Awards were introduced as a means of recognising and rewarding personnel and

organisations that make a con-spicuous and positive contribution to “KEEP NAVY SAFE”.

Last year’s awards attracted wide coverage and interest. This year a new category for rehabilitation and return to work has also been intro-duced and entry forms provided for each category.

Nominations for the 2009 Navy Safety Awards are now being sought

There is a lot of commendable work being done to “KEEP NAVY SAFE” and recognition of this effort is important. The Navy Safety Awards consist of:

The Chief of Navy award for safety excellence

This award recognises the achievements of units/ships/estab-lishments and consists of four cat-egories. Each category award winner will receive a trophy and framed certificate.

Category 1 Leadership Award for Injury Prevention and Management

Category 2 Best Workplace Health and Safety Management SystemCategory 3 Best Solution to an Identified Workplace Health and Safety IssueCategory 4 Rehabilitation and Return to Work Award

CMDR Dave Allen award for safety excellence

This award recognises individu-als who have made an outstanding contribution to any aspect of safety in Navy. The award winner will receive a trophy, framed certificate and $1000 prize money.

The closing date for nominations is September 30. Judging will take place during October and the award ceremony will be in November. Details of the award ceremony will be advised separately.

Entry forms and instructions will soon be made available via DEFGRAM and provided on the SMS_N website.

For further information contact Navy Safety on: 1800 558 555 or email [email protected] trials custom fitted hearing protection

EVERYONE’S A WINNER: CMDR Nicholas Stoker HMAS Newcastle, LCDR Rachel Durbin FSU Perth, CMDR Timothy Brown HMAS Arunta, CN VADM Russ Crane, LCDR Michael Slattery HMAS Manoora, Russell Power HMAS Cairns and PO Scott Norbury HMAS Kuttabul. Photo: LSPH Phillip Cullinan

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15RESERVES

THE trial of Reserve manning of heavy landing craft (LCHs) is well underway. Six Reservists have been inducted into the trial and a further six are about to join.

The LCH trial is in preparation for the Amphibious Capability Transition Plan (ACTP) that will see a large number of PN personnel seconded for familiarisa-tion and training to man the new landing helicopter dock amphibious ships (LHDs) due to come on line later this decade, as well as the amphibious strategic sealift ship announced in the Defence White Paper.

The trial will estimate the ability of Reservists to maintain existing amphibi-ous capabilities in the RAN fleet.

Staff Officer Naval Reserve Capability CMDR Glenn Tinsley said the transition plan would see Reservists partially crew-ing LCHs while their PN counterparts were undergoing transition training in preparation for the arrival of the LHDs.

“An initial tranche of six Reservists, ranging from LCDR to LS, have been inducted into the trial and have either been posted to LCHs or are programmed for required training,” he said. “Six more Reservists are about to be introduced to the process.”

CMDR Tinsley said a recent survey showed a strong response from Reservists interested in participating.

“CMDR Jim Huggett is maintaining the database of names of personnel who have expressed an interest in the trial,” he said.

“He is responsible for prioritising the database predicated on the training and currency status of each Reservist and contacting them to establish their avail-ability.

“Once an agreement is reached, the Reservist will be placed under the man-agement of CMDR Graeme Furlonger, who is attached to the AASG FEG. CMDR Furlonger then works with the FEG to develop a program of familiari-

sation and training for the Reservist to undertake.

“Each Reservist coming into the trial will be posted to a Naval Reserve Capabili ty Enhancement Program (NRCEP) position in the AASG FEG. This program provides funding for salary, training, currency and travel and is there-fore ideal for preparing the Reservist for eventual service in an LCH.”

An inaugural participant in the LCH trial, POET Kevin Piechowski, has just completed a three-week posting in HMAS Betano (LEUT W. C. Hooper).

“As the on board ET was absent on a three-month course, POET Piechowski was thrown in at the deep end and put in charge of comms and systems, but with some constructive and helpful advice from Betano’s CIS and Charge, POET Piechowski was able to negotiate his steep learning curve and made a signifi-cant contribution during his three weeks on board,” CMDR Tinsley said.

“He is looking forward to returning to the LCH fleet for a prolonged period and possibly in a continuous full-time service capacity.”

He sa id any Reservis t wish-ing to become involved in the trial should contact CMDR Huggett at [email protected] or [email protected] or phone (02) 6265 3127 (Tuesday and Thursday only).

Trial underwayBy LCDR Antony Underwood

THE Director of Naval Reserve Capability says the heavy land-ing craft (LCH) manning trial has developed “a healthy momentum to grow a pool of reserve seago-ers”.

CAPT Joe Lukaitis told delegates at the RES-N Branch Conference held at HMAS Harman: “The trial has allowed us to uncover all the possible obstacles that may present themselves during the formal transi-tion and has been a very worthwhile exercise.”

He also said there were avenues other than LCH manning by which Reservists might, in future, become involved in the transition program from current amphibious platforms to the new helicopter landing ships (LHDs).

CAPT Lukaitis said the key themes that had emerged from the LCH trial so far included the need

for dedicated management of the large database of volunteers, main-tained by CMDR Jim Huggett for the amphibious FEG, and the requirement for up-to-date informa-tion on a Reservist’s status, avail-ability and whereabouts.

“The need for flexibility can-not be overstated,” he said. “With the management of such a disparate bunch of volunteers, none of whom has the same age, training cur-rency, availability or ambition, it is essential that Navy adopts a flexible approach that allows the Reserve to achieve a best fit.”

CAPT Lukaitis said he was “delighted” with the progress of the trial to date.

“For the way ahead, I see the for-mation of a pool of Reserve volun-teers who are as ready as possible in all respects and who are posted to training and sea at regular intervals to maintain their currency within the LCH fleet,” he said.

“I see the trial morphing into business as normal, the Reserve gradually increasing its footprint in the LCH crews and the process becoming a well-oiled machine so that, when the formal transition starts, the LCH element will already be well underway.”

CAPT Lukaitis said there were two other elements where Reservists could become involved in the amphibious transition.

“The NR might help in operat-ing one of the current amphibious ships, HMAS Kanimbla or HMAS Manoora as the first LHD, HMAS Canberra, is brought into service,” he said.

“This is still an active consid-eration but the requirement will only become evident later in the transi-tion program. If it does become nec-essary, the LCH model will be used to produce the manpower.”

Model to provide manpower

TRAINER: CMDR Graeme Furlonger. Photo: ABPH Quentin Mushins

PRIDE O’ THE FLEET: L133 HMAS Betano leads HMA Ships Albany, Maryborough and Glenelg into Darwin Harbour. Photo: ABPH Brad Darvill

Photograph of HMAS Darwin and Naval formation © www.defenselink.mil. Photographs of Naval comms © Australian Department of Defence.

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DG’s HEADS UP

By CDRE Randford Elsey

New pay structureTHE rollout of the final phase of the new Graded Other Ranks Pay Structure, known as GORPS, meets contemporary industrial standards by better recognising the work value of different military employment groups, market factors and skills shortages.

About half will receive increased pay as a result of a higher pay grade placement. The rest will simply trans-fer to an equivalent pay grade without any significant increase in pay.

A small percentage may find them-selves on a relatively lower pay grade

but their current pay rate will be pro-tected – no sailor will be worse off under the new structure. However, if any issues arise, ADF members and their families have a range of avenues available to resolve any concerns quickly.

The introduction of GORPS has been a major undertaking with the placement of over 37,000 ADF mem-bers into the new structure following the review and validation of their indi-vidual service, training and compe-tency records.

The rollout in stages began in April with Navy the first to receive the new pay. This will be followed closely by Army, Air Force and the Reserves.

It’s important to note that pay

will be backdated to September 4, 2008, in line with the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal determination.

Information about GORPS is avail-able at www.defence.gov.au/dpe/pac

Defence White PaperOn May 2, while on board HMAS Stuart at Garden Island in Sydney, the Prime Minister launched the 2009 Defence White Paper. By now, readers will already have familiarised themselves with the key strategies underpinning an ADF capable of meeting the challenges over the next two decades.

CN has made it very clear that the White Paper lays out a clear path toward the development of a larger and

16 RESERVES

New Navy will be everyone’s challenge

more potent maritime force, better able to produce joint effects in the maritime environment.

Key capability announcements rel-evant to this enhanced maritime force include:➤ Submarines – 12 new submarines to

replace the current six Collins class.➤ Air warfare destroyers (AWD)

– three new Aegis AWDs, with a fourth under consideration for the future.

➤ Frigates – eight new larger frigates, with an emphasis on anti-submarine warfare to replace the current Anzac class frigates.

➤ Helicopters – 24 new naval combat helicopters.

➤ Strategic strike – land attack cruise missiles fitted to the AWD, future frigates and new submarines.

➤ Offshore combatant vessels (OCV) – about 20 new OCVs to replace the capabilities presently provided by the separate patrol boat, hydro-graphic and mine countermeasures fleets.

➤ Strategic sealift ship (SLS) – a large amphibious SLS to complement the capabilities of the new LHDs.

➤ Landing craft heavy (LCH) – six new oceangoing LCHs.

➤ Replenishment ship – a new supply

and logistic support ship to replace HMAS Success.

➤ Funding for a further 700 positions in Navy.

➤ New simulators, emulators and e-learning opportunities to improve Navy’s trainee throughput.CDF, the Secretary and CN stressed

that these capabilities come with a significant cost that can only be met through the savings generated by the Strategic Reform Program (SRP). The White Paper also announced the SRP as providing the deep and enduring reform needed to have a sustainable defence force into the future.

New Generation Navy (NGN) will facilitate the reforms necessary to achieve these outcomes. CN has said three areas will be addressed – lead-ership, structural reform and cultural reform. The Navy Reserve as an inte-gral part of the RAN will play its part in the reform process.

You will hear more about the implications of the White Paper and NGN over the coming months. NGN is not a quick-fix solution. It will take a number of years to reach maturity and is an exciting and challenging pro-gram of reform within Navy. NGN is every Navy member’s responsibility and challenge.

GLENN, what motivated you to join the RANR?

I did my last job in the Royal Navy on exchange in Canberra work-ing in the Strategic Logistics Branch. The RANR was a natural progres-sion once my family had decided we wished to remain in Australia. I did 30 years in the RN and I can’t imag-ine life without some sort of military connection. The RN and the RAN are very similar and it’s good to associ-ate with people who understand what I’m talking about!

So what are your current duties with the NR?

Currently Staff Officer Naval Reserve Capability – in my third year. It’s a great job because the RANR is making a major contribution to Navy capability at the moment. However, in the future, that contribution is des-tined to increase dramatically and my job involves investigating how we can extract the greatest value from our Reservists. The Amphibious Capability Transition Plan is going to present enormous opportunities for the NR and it comprises a major part of my work at present. I mainly work Tuesdays and Thursdays but I invariably do more than my planned two days a week.

Tell us something about your RN experience?

I joined the RN as a writer in 1976 on the recommendation of my two brothers who had both joined as stokers. My younger brother is a warrant officer stoker who retires in July – and I’ll be in UK for his leav-ing party. However, despite me pro-gressing from writer to commander, he still considers he is the senior military member of our family! In all the years we’ve served, I never once managed to get a salute from him! I was a logistics officer from 1978 until 2006. I did sea time in HMS Ariadne, HMS Fearless, HMS Courageous, HMS Bulwark, HMS Bristol and HMS Ambuscade. The RN was a wonderful organisation. It offered me some fabulous opportuni-ties and it saved me from a life down a coal mine.

Where were you born?A coal mining village in South

Yorkshire called Kiveton Park (about 10 miles away from where Michael Parkinson was born for Aussie refer-ence!)

For intrepid NR News reporter cum 60s music buff and aspiring rock guitarist CMDR Steve Dunning, the discovery of a far greater musical talent amongst the ranks of fellow Reservists was too good an opportunity to resist when he caught up with the highly-talented CMDR Glenn Tinsley for a session on the couch.

So how did you get into music?My uncle, who was a relatively

successful musician in the sixties, gave me my first guitar at the age of nine – although I had played piano from age six. The same uncle also gave my wife and I our first wed-ding present – an Acoustic Fender 12 String Guitar – Donna was very unimpressed!

Are you into any particular genre of music and what have you done as a musician?

I play with Canberra-based five piece band “GrooveDotCom”. I play keyboards mainly but do some guitar on the rockier stuff. I also share the singing with our female vocalist. We play anything from the 60s through to current stuff. Our singer is 25, so she keeps us young and there’s always some Pink, Duffy, Gwen Stefani and the like in the set list.

I had a band called “Midnight Express” back in UK for 17 years. We were a function band and played around the country but mainly on the south coast and London. We had a regular gig at the Savoy Hotel in London at which we always used to eat and drink more than the punters.

Glenn, you recently built your own music studio. That sounds pretty serious!

I built the studio on retirement from the RN (courtesy of a generous terminal grant). It took 18 months to convert a previously inhabited Colorbond shed into a professional studio. I’ve started recording this year and have done a few projects for local musicians. I’m current-

ly recording two singles and an album for a local Canberra band who are due to tour Australia in the future. The studio is called “Rudesounds Recording Studio” and I’m the jack-of-all-trades – engineer, MD, session muso and Flag Officer, Heads and Bathrooms.

So what have been some of the major influences on you as a per-son and why join the Navy?

My Dad who was a coal delivery man. He carried 16 tonnes of coal on his back most days of his life and never complained. Although I know he was proud of my brothers and I, he rarely let it show and appeared ambivalent when hearing I’d been promoted to commander. In Yorkshire it’s called keeping your feet on the ground! I’ve always been greatly impressed by the naval people with whom I’ve served. Regardless of the conditions, the danger or challenge, they have always found the energy, ingenuity and humour to get through and do a good job. If you could bot-tle it, you would make a fortune in civvy street.

Finally, how did you and DGRES-N come to perform together?

The DG popped in to see the stu-dio when he dropped me off after a trip to HMAS Creswell. We had a brief jam and we decided we’d stage some entertainment for the DRES-N conference last year. We repeated the deed this year and so far we’ve got away unscathed. CDRE Elsey is a fine guitarist and singer – and I’m not just saying that to get promoted!

In profile

TUNED UP: CMDR Glenn Tinsley joins DGRES-N CDRE Ranford Elsey for a casual entertainment session during the RES-N Branch conference at HMAS Harman. Photo: LS Chris Andrews

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17RESERVES

AT LEAST two RAN Reservists represented the Service at this year’s dawn service at Hell Fire Pass in Thailand and full service at the Kenchanaburi Commonwealth War Graves cemetery.

LCDR Bruce Bird first visited this memorable and beautiful loca-tion in 2008 and again this year where there are more than 1100 peo-ple gathered from all over Australia and overseas. The number grows every year and Bruce and Frank are already booked into Hell Fire Pass for 2010.

This year Bruce was joined by LCDR Frank Owstrowski who is working in Townsville on the Pacific Patrol Boat refit program.

For this year’s service LCDR Bird offered to assist the ADF at the Embassy in Thailand if they needed it: he manned the New Zealand flag at the Hell Fire Pass dawn service and the Kenchanaburi major memo-rial service.

Bruce said his love affair with Singapore began in 1968 when he was a midshipman under training. The island nation had only been a country in its own right for three years.

During his SEATO and ANZUK service days, he served in many RAN ships that regularly visited Singapore and many parts of Asia. One of these was the destroyer-escort HMAS Parramatta.

“I still lunch with three of my four original Singapore classmates who were in my SLEX 1/68 intake, at places like Raffles, the Tanglin Club, the Singapore Cricket Club and Fatties in Albert Street,” he said.

Since 2007 Bruce has made his home in Singapore and is living near Holland Village where he works as a business and property consultant.

“This keeps me fairly busy find-ing short and long-term residential accommodation for expatriates in Singapore.”

Marching down memory lane

REMEMBERING THE FALLEN: Naval Reservists LCDRs Frank

Owstrowski and Bruce Bird at the Kenchanaburi War Cemetery

Anzac Day service.

By LEUT Peter Velterop ANC

ONE of the more obvious chang-es in the Australian Navy Cadets lately has been Navy’s support of a training framework to improve the professionalism and competence of cadet staff.

While the most important per-son in the Australian Navy Cadets has always been the cadet, the organisation could not function without the dedication and com-munity spirit of its volunteer staff.

Navy has supported the devel-opment of a national training strategy that includes core skills training for all staff as well as pro-fessional development training for staff in leadership roles.

Reservist LCDR Kathy Ford from the Australian Navy Cadet Systems Centre (CSC) at HMAS Cerberus, with other Reserves, recently delivered conflict reso-

lution and incident management training to a group of cadet unit commanding officers at Leeuwin Barracks in WA.

Training ANC leaders

GREAT LEADERSHIP: LCDR Karen van Geelen, CMDR Viv

Russell, LCDR Kathy Ford and CPO Paul Taylor at front.

Turned out in Adelaide

FULL RIG: SA Reservist LCDR Trish Matthews leads the NHQ-SA RAN contingent at the 2009 Anzac Day march through Adelaide streets. Photo: AC David Cotton

In his private moments Bruce puts his knowledge of Singapore’s military past to good use: he is often seen walking, driving and guiding interested people around some of the more unusual local spots.

He travels widely throughout the SE Asian region and is soon to be President of the Rotary Club of Marina City.

“Anyone coming to Singapore who is interested is welcome to join in on the Monday night Singapore Hash House Harriers (the second oldest Hash in the world after Kuala Lumpur) and perhaps share a drink and a roti prata somewhere nice,” he said.


18 RESERVES

The Matthew Davey Award 2010By CAPT Richard PhillipsNOW is the time to apply for the 2010 Matthew Davey Award (MDA) Overseas Studies Grant Scheme. This award provides a member of the Naval Reserve with a grant to travel overseas for relevant study.

The study tour must be completed by December 31 in the year the award is made.

The funding covers travel, accom-modation and other costs associated with the study tour, up to a maximum of 14 days.

The study may focus on, but is not limited to the NR applicant’s involve-ment in:➤ Maritime defence.➤ Financial and corporate manage-

ment.➤ Operations and logistics.➤ Human resources and training.➤ Military health.➤ Public relations.➤ Information systems and manage-

ment.And it must be linked to Navy

capability.As part of the selection process,

Reservists need to develop a positive and meaningful project that will ben-efit the Navy. If the area of intend-ed study involves a professional or specialist area, then the application

Grants available for overseas study travel for Reservists

must be accompanied by a letter of support from the relevant ‘Head of Community’ (normally at a one-star level) or appropriate Director-General or Director.

Representational and personal attributes also form an integral part of the selection process, as successful candidates will represent the NR as a component of the RAN internationally.

Eligibility for the award is open to all NR members regardless of rank or specialisation/category who meet the following criteria:

➤ As the scheme seeks to encourage employer support for the NR, appli-cants for the award must be in for-mal civilian employment (includes full-time, permanent part-time and permanent casual).

➤ NR members serving on CFTS may be eligible, provided they are on leave from their civilian employ-ment during their service on CFTS. Further, an award recipient who then decides to undertake CFTS will be able to retain the award, providing they can still complete their study tour by December 31 in the year of the award. However, the application of a Reservist who then transfers to the PN will be cancelled. If an award has been granted and a transfer then occurs, the award will be withdrawn and the entitlement transferred to the next highest ranking candidate.

➤ Applicants must have undertaken at least 20 days of service in the financial year before application for an award.

➤ Unemployed, self-employed and Reservists who are full-time stu-dents are ineligible for an award.Entries for the 2010 award close on

October 31, 2009. The scheme is managed by the

Office of Director-General Reserves-Navy and established under the author-ity of DI(N) ADMIN 6-4.

Further information is at http://www.navy.gov.au/reserves/

Log into the ‘Members Area’, select ‘News and Information’, select ‘Professional Studies Program’, then select ‘Matthew Davey Award’.

Or contact DRES-N at [email protected] or on (02) 6265 6678.

Tasman Scheme The Tasman Scheme allows select-

ed non-commissioned Reservists to travel to New Zealand for a two-week attachment to a military unit of simi-lar capability to the one to which the Reservist is posted in Australia.

The Defence Reserves’ Association (DRA) and the DRSC jointly spon-sor the activity. The Directorate of Reserve Support in Canberra conducts and administers all DRSC aspects of the scheme.

The Tasman Scheme is designed to promote Reserve service within the junior non-commissioned ranks and to promote interoperability between the New Zealand and Australian defence forces.

Any Navy, Army or Air Force Reservist of the rank of able seaman (E) and leading seaman (E), with a minimum of three years service is eli-gible to apply for the Tasman Scheme.

The scheme began in Tasmania but has been expanded to become a nation-al scheme.

Application forms can be obtained from the Defence Reserves Support Office in each state and territory.

STUDY TOURS: DNRS-N CAPT Richard Phillips.

By LEUT Val Bookless ANC

TWENTY cadets and four staff from TS Tingira made the long jour-ney from their home unit at HMAS Cerberus to Canberra last month in a bid to increase their knowledge about Defence and the Navy.

The activity was raised by PO Kirsty Reaks for the cadets to visit ADFA and increase their knowledge of opportunities for Year 10 students considering future careers.

They also visited the National Zoo and Aquarium, the old and new Parliament Houses, the Australian War Memorial, Black Mountain tower, Mount Ainslie at night and the Deep Space Centre.

The very challenging obstacle course above the pool at AFDA was a highlight, thanks to the visits liaison staff, WO2 Jim Nicholson and PO Shane Nesbitt.

Cadets take in Canberra

ADVENTURE: At Telstra Tower ABs Ramona Moore, Caitlyn Tessier and James Richards.


19GANGWAY

ALL SMILES: LSCIS Jimmy Galletly on the bridge of

HMAS Sydney. Photo: LSPH Nadia MonteithALL SMILES:HMAS

PRAYERFUL: Aboard HMAS Albany

her crew, Attack One, conduct a Dawn

Service to mark Anzac Day.

Photo: LSCIS Jason Heath

HI DADDY: CPO Martin Garrett, Task Force 152, greets his daughter with a kiss on arrival in Sydney. Photo: ABPH Evan MurphyPhoto: LSCIS Jason Heath

POWERED UP: LSET Syed Hamdan conducts power check on a circuit board in HMAS Sydney. Photo: LSPH Nadia MonteithPhoto: LSPH Nadia Monteith

SERVICE: ABET Craig Osborne main-

tains the close in weapons system aboard

HMAS Sydney. Photo: LSPH Nadia MonteithHMAS Sydney

FULL DRESS: LSMUSN Martyn Hancock takes a break during the commemora-tion ceremony for HMAS AE2 at Garden Island, Sydney. Photo: ABPH Peter Thompson

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20 LIFESTYLE

Stretching across the lower back, in a rough diamond shape, is a piece of connective tissue called the lum-bodorsal fascia, also called thoracolumbar fascia.

Connected to the top portion of lumbodorsal fascia is the latis-simus dorsi.

Connected to the bottom portion of the lumbodorsal fascia is the gluteus maximus.

The best method to prevent lower-back injury is to avoid exercises that target the lower back. LT Rob Orr explains why and describes the techniques for a strong lower back.

THERE are many arti-cles describing the causes and symptoms of lower back pain,

but very few address the exer-cises that may reduce injury and pain to this vital area.

A common mistake is the belief that training the back muscles will strengthen the lower back and therefore pre-vent problems.

The exercises to train the lower back in gymnasiums, like the back extension, are those that focus specifically on the global muscles of the lower back.

Unfortunately these exercises are more likely to increase back problems. The reason has to do with muscle balance.

Often lower back problems are caused by over-tight and strong lower back global mus-cles and weak abdominal mus-cles.

Picture a radio mast secured on two sides by guide wires. If one set of guide wires is notably tighter than the other, the mast will bend in the direction of the tighter wires, placing pressure on the structure.

With this in mind, perform-ing more lower back exercises will in fact exacerbate rather

than relieve the problem. In this instance, strength-

ening all four muscles in the abdominal system is required.

If you have suffered a lower- back injury, research has shown that the local muscle system may cease to function correctly following an incidence of back pain.

Research has shown that these muscles not only shrink following disuse but are infused with fatty deposits that impact on muscle quality.

These vital muscles control movement of the individual spi-nal vertebrae and, if they fail to work, future back problems are virtually a certainty.

You can perform the typical weight training exercises with perfect posture for years follow-ing a back injury, but when you bend over, the local muscles that contract to stop the vertebrae slipping off each other, fail to contract and that can aggravate an injury.

Ensure that following any back injury, regardless of how minor, you see a physiothera-pist.

So, which exercises are good for back health? Here are some simple exercises and their ben-efits:

Squats and Lunges Great for not only strength-

ening the gluteal muscles but, when the exercises are per-formed correctly, the lower back muscles activate to maintain a dynamically-neutral spinal posi-tion.

Rowing actionsThe seated row without a

chest support trains dynamic spinal stabilisation against a strong external force.

The exercise also trains the latissimus muscles and, if cor-rectly positioned with the knees slightly bent, activate the glu-teals and lumbodorsal fascia – great for teaching the system to work together as a whole unit.

Abdominal exercise Basic sit-up and crunch exer-

cises are good for dynamic sta-bilisation, eg; crunches while catching a ball over your head.

Just as importantly though, transverse or core muscles are needed to develop intra-abdom-inal pressure and stabilise the spine.

For the ultimate back training ses-sion see a physiotherapist or a PTI for back exercises in sitting and standing positions.

Get muscle backBACK INTO EXERCISE: A strong lower back will help improve your posture. Photo: Cpl Corinne Boer


21SPORT

By SBLT Keiran Bitossi

THE Navy Titans Rugby League team has continued on its barnstorm-ing run to premiership glory by crushing the Bathurst Mungos 32-8 at North Sydney Oval.

The victory over the team from Charles Sturt University has given the Titans three wins from as many matches to earn promotion from second to first division in the NSW Tertiary Rugby League Competition.

T h e e x p e r i e n c e g a i n e d from the NSW Tertiary Rugby League competition is enabling Navy to develop a hard core of regular expe-rienced A Grade players to contest international and combined services matches later this year

Navy dominated the game with LS Dan Capilli scoring two tries to be named man of the match, while the Titans captain LS Shane Robson showed his ability to make line breaks with hard running and skilful off-loads to support players.

In defence winger AB Edward Smith put on

some courageous hits close to the tryline to save certain four

pointers. It was a thrill for the players to

have their first home game at North

Sydney Oval under the control of NRL referee Sean Hampstead, and North Sydney’s football manager, former international Bradley Clyde, who was impressed with Navy’s style of rugged football.

The President of the Navy Rugby League, CMDR Glenn Ker, said the Navy Titans were starting to gel as a team under the guidance of coach Dave Kemp.

“Training opportunities with the Gold Coast Titans when they play in Sydney are also helping the Titans enhance their playing skills in prepa-ration for the international and com-bined services matches,” he said.

First up, Navy will tackle the touring Royal Air Force representa-tive rugby league team at Randwick Barracks at 2pm on Wednesday, June 10.

On completion of the NSW Tertiary League finals in September, Navy will tackle Army and Air Force in the Combined Australian Services national competition in Sydney from September 14-18.

Visit the Navy Titan’s website at www.ranrl.com.au and the NSWTRL website at www.tertiaryleague.com.au/ for further information, season program and Navy points of contact. All are welcome to make this a great year of Navy footy in what is recognised as one of the higher quality A-Grade competitions in the country.

Titans on track to premiership glory

ON FIRE: Mark Zaiter, APS, takes the ball up for the Navy Titans as AB Jarrod Preece in support during the crushing game against the Bathurst Mungos that the Titans won 32-8.Photo provided by CMDR Glenn Ker

By CPOCIS4 Sarah Cannon

HMAS Cerberus (CAPT Sheldon Williams) hosted and partici-pated in the Victorian Rugby Union (VRU) Centenary Year 10s Championships on March 21.

Thirty one teams representing 17 of the 19 metropolitan clubs com-peted. Men contested the Cup, Bowl and Plate sections, with the women and under-18s also playing in tour-naments of their own.

The Cerberus Rugby Union Football Club fronted a team that had been training together for a short time and consisted of many rugby league converts.

The team gave 100 per cent but was unable to stem the tide against teams that fielded former Wallabies and a good sprinkling of A-grade players.

Despite being unable to register a win, it provided solid training prepa-ration for the new season and was a baptism of fire for the former league players.

Moorabbin won the Cup and under 18s, Powerhouse claimed the Bowl and Geelong took the Plate. The women’s competition was won by Box Hill.

It was a great opportunity to showcase the RAN and HMAS Cerberus to the Victorian rugby community and a fitting way for the VRU to begin celebrations for its 100th birthday.

More than 2000 players, support-ers, spectators and coaching staff made the most of the good weather and fantastic facilities.

Cerberus stages rugby celebration

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22 SPORT

By Michael Weaver

THE ADF All-Stars Australian Rules team suffered its first loss in the histo-ry of the Anzac Day Challenge, after the Australian Combined Emergency Services (ACES) team halted the ADF’s unbeaten run.

The ADF team had won the previ-ous five encounters, however the ACES side was meticulously hand-picked this year to notch its first victory against the ADF.

The match was played on Anzac Day at Adelaide Oval as a curtain-raiser to the South Australian National Football League’s (SANFL) grand final replay between Central Districts and Glenelg and provided a memorable opportunity for the players to be part of a big Anzac Day occasion.

Adelaide football hero and Vietnam veteran Graham Cornes gave a pre-match pep talk to the ADF players, however driving rain throughout the

ADF aced in Anzac Day challengematch hampered the true spectacle of the action.

The ACES were able to break through for the first two goals after early pressure on the ADF backline. The ADF soon made its first charge on the back of three penalties but was not rewarded on the famous Adelaide Oval scoreboard.

The ACES then added a further two goals in quick succession and another right on quarter-time to take a very handy 43-point lead, while keeping the ADF scoreless.

The ADF responded in the second term with the first two goals and made its intentions clear of getting back into the game by getting to the ball first in the slippery conditions.

The ACES responded with two goals against the run of play, with the conditions making it almost impossible to tackle the ball carrier.

At half-time, AB Leon Noel came in for some running repairs to a head

wound, while the ADF side regathered its composure for the second half.

In a lack lustre third quarter, the ACES added two goals to take a seem-ingly unassailable lead in the final term.

ADF forward AB Patrick Wilson made one of the goals of the game when he held a strong mark in the third minute of the final quarter but that was the end of the ADF’s scoring.

With players still going very hard for the ball, a bad head clash with less than 10 minutes to go saw an ACES and ADF player take away some physi-cal mementos of a hard-fought game.

The ASAFA will now gear itself to match the ACES’ effort at next year’s Anzac Day Challenge. Interested players should take note of update to the ASAFA website on the Defence Intranet for further information.Final scores:ADF 0.0 / 2.1 / 2.1 / 3.4 (22)ACES 6.7 / 8.8 / 10.11 / 11.12 (78)

GOOD ATTEMPT: AB Scott Belford leaps high to spoil the marking attempt of a Combined Emergency Services player during the Anzac Challenge match at Adelaide Oval. Photo: Michael Weaver

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23SPORT

IN BRIEFTHE Navy nordic skiing and biathlon team is conduct-ing a training weekend in Canberra on July 4-5. On July 4 the training will involve shooting practice at the WTSS facility Duntroon and on July 5 the group will travel to Perisher Valley for a day of cross-country ski instruction. The National Inter-Service and Cross Country championships will be conducted at Mt Hotham from August 2-14. Navy’s team will also compete in the Snowy Mountains Classic on August 15, the Kangaroo Hoppet on August 29 and the Kosciusko Tour on September 6. For more information on Navy’s biath-lon and cross-country skiing activities visit www.ski-navy.com or contact LCDR Wendy Hughes at [email protected]

Fun at Arafura

TWO convincing wins to follow an opening round draw qualified the ADF women’s soccer team to play-off for the gold medal at the Arafura Games.

ADF opened with a 1-1 draw against PNG before a strong per-formance to beat the host side (NT) 4-2 at the Marrara Sports Complex.

The ADF women were far too strong for the FICA side from Alice Springs winning 8-0, but found PNG a much tougher proposition in the gold medal decider and lost 5-1.

C e n t r e - b a c k A B A m a n d a Aldridge said the competition was tough but that the standard was good.

“All teams fought it out really hard,” she said.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to gain exposure playing against differ-ent countries and for the three forces to come together and play as one.”

Team manager WO2 Wendy Maxwell said all players brought credit to the ADF during the compe-tition but were unlucky to be defeat-ed by PNG in the grand final.

“This is the fourth time the ADF women have participated in the games and all players now are looking forward to representing the ADF again in 2011,” she said.

“The silver medal is an excellent result for Defence football and this will only encourage new players to participate in the national carnival in October/November.

Soccer women settle for silver

TOP EFFORT: PO Kylie Terry was a stand out player

against PNG. Photo: NT News, Darwin

POET Murray Piggott was one of the standout players as Defence lawn bowl-ers dominated at this year’s Arafura Games, bagging four gold medals from five events to record their most success-ful Games yet.

Two teams of five players arrived in Darwin hoping to continue a trend that has resulted in each Games producing more lawn bowls medals for the ADO than the previous.

This year the two teams produced a gold-silver finish in the overall teams event and, in total, a staggering eight out of 10 possible medals.

ADO1 and ADO2 shared two gold medals apiece in the games at Nightcliff and Palmerston clubs, winning best over-all team, singles, pairs and triples. They missed out in the fours and had to settle for silver.

Navy was represented by three bowl-ers who played major roles in three of the gold medal-winning performances.

POET Piggott led superbly in the pairs with the RAAF’s CPL Tony Tapper and the duo proved the ADO’s strongest com-bination in any of the four disciplines. Almost unbeatable, their only loss was a marathon battle against New Zealand that required a ‘bomb’ from the opposi-tion skipper with his last bowl of the tie-breaker to snatch the game.

The Kiwis tasted silver again, this time in the triples and the Navy was in the thick of things once again, with ABCK Justin Bell and LS Jason Smith com-bining with RAAF’s LAC Phil Brown.

STRONG LEADER: POET Murray Piggot led superbly to help ADO win gold in the pairs.Photo: SQNLDR Warren Schmitt

Piggott stands out atArafura lawn bowls

THE GAMESDEFENCE finished with a respectable 48 medals in 11 sports at the Arafura Games in Darwin from May 9 to 17.

That consisted of 15 gold medals, 18 silver and 15 bronze out of the 1366 med-als awarded (488 gold, 443 silver and 435 gold).

This colourful biennial event, which incorporated the Oceania Open Paralympic Championships, swelled Darwin’s popula-tion for 10 days by an estimated 3500 com-petitors.

At least 62 flags flew proudly at the 26

sports, representing a diverse sporting community with nations, provinces, states and other entities on show.

Apart from the more predictable repre-sentation of near neighbours from Oceania and South-East Asia, surprisingly the event drew competitors from wider Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Australia finished with the lion’s share of the medals with 753 (285 gold, 245 silver and 223 bronze).

Sports Editor Barry Rollings reports from Darwin.➤ Check out the June 11 edition for more Arafura coverage.

“This is a good developmental tool for women’s soccer in Defence. They get to play nationals once a year and the Arafura Games every two years, where they have the opportunity to come back and play as an ADF team.”

The only hiccup was in the penultimate round, when the ADO2 trio’s only defeat in the tournament came in the final match against a struggling PNG. LS Bell played his best game, drawing consistently to the kitty with LS Smith drawing and convert-ing when required.

– Scotty Tobias

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Spirited effort

By Barry RollingsA DOUR opening-day struggle against Air Force finally took its toll as Navy succumbed 33-8 to Army in its final match of the Australian Services Rugby Union Championships at Canberra’s Viking Park on May 20.

On May 17 Navy overcame a spirited Air Force in a come-from-behind 28-14 victory.

Air Force gained the early ascendancy to lead 14-6 before Navy forged to a 16-14 half-time lead. In the second half it was all Navy, as it

ran in two tries, one of them converted.

The first half proved Navy’s downfall against Army, trailing 26-3 at the interval, but it competed on much more even terms with Army in the second half.

Army’s win and the losses by Navy and Air Force left titleholder Army with one hand on the WGCDR John Caldwell Cup it was defending and in the box seat to retain it.

Army’s final game was on May 23 against Air Force. (At the time Navy News went to press, the result was unknown.)

STRUGGLE TAKES ITS TOLL

TRY!: AB Dominic Whittingham, HMAS Albatross, scores a try against Air Force in Navy’s come-from-behind victory on the open-ing day of the ASRU Championships.Photo: LSPH Phillip Cullinan

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