More Defence news: 15 October - 21 October 2007
| Entertainers to perform in Solomon Islands | Army Chief to open Land Warfare Conference | Sword winner a cut above | Overlander project to enhance mobilty | Defence to benefit from emerging technologies | Potential identification of Australian WWI soldiers |Defence rejects Fretilin claims | Soldier wounded in Iraq | Fallen soldier laid to rest | Defence rejects Bulletin's Sea King claims | Touring artists to feel the Force | Improvised Explosive Devices an ever-present danger | Maximum push for Gunner Bear | |
| ENTERTAINERS TO PERFORM IN SOLOMON ISLANDS 19 October - Some enthusiastic Aussie entertainers are heading to the Solomon Islands to put on a show to boost the morale of Australian troops and police serving in the Solomon Islands. Russell Morris and Darryl Cotton – both are well known for their solo careers and for performing with Somebody’s Image and Zoot respectively – and now have joined forces to perform a combination of their own and other classic hits. They will be joined by comedian Chris Radburn; magician Adam Dean; didgeridoo artist Adrian Ross; MCs rock guru Glenn A Baker and model Anneliisa Tonisson; and the Royal Australian Navy band. The performers join a long list of stars, including Kylie Minogue and John Farnham, who have volunteered their time free of charge to entertain Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel deployed on operations. More: Operation ANODE website | Forces Entertainment |
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| ARMY CHIEF TO OPEN LAND WARFARE CONFERENCE 19 October - Australia’s Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy, will officially launch the annual Land Warfare Conference at the Adelaide Convention Centre on October 24. The annual Land Warfare Conference, sponsored by Army and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), brings together Australian and international defence scientists, Army officers, defence industry and academia to discuss issues facing modern land forces. The accompanying trade exhibition will display a vast range of military equipment and technologies from nearly 150 exhibitors. More: Conference details |
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SWORD WINNER A CUT ABOVE
Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Nigel Coates presented the award to Commander McDonald (the Fleet Executive Officer), who also received a citation certificate, equivalent to receiving a Chief of Navy Gold Award Commendation. Commander McDonald’s rank, name and year of award will be engraved on the blade of the sword, which will then be permanently displayed in the Wardroom of HMAS Stirling. The Lord Nelson Sword of Excellence is awarded annually and seeks to recognise and encourage the qualities of leadership excellence in Officers of the Royal Australian Navy commemorating the life and achievements of Admiral Horatio Nelson. The award honours the traditions of leadership to which he made such an exceptional contribution, and which continues to influence the Navy to this day. More: Image gallery |
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OVERLANDER PROJECT TO ENHANCE MOBILITY
The project, which is valued at around $3 billion, received Second Pass approval from Government on 5 October 2007. Second Pass approval allows Defence to enter into contract negotiations with the preferred tenderers to deliver the capability. Haulmark Trailers Australia has been named as the preferred tenderer for trailers, DaimlerChrysler Australia/Pacific the preferred tenderer for unprotected lightweight vehicles and BAE Systems Australia for medium and heavy vehicles. Additionally, Defence will purchase an extra 250 Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicles from Thales Australia, to be built in Bendigo, Victoria. Project Overlander includes light four-wheel-drive vehicles, medium and heavy trucks, as well as semi-trailer prime movers. The vehicles will be used to transport personnel and supplies, carry and deploy weapon systems, deliver humanitarian assistance and evacuate casualties. They will also provide superior protection to ADF members from hostile threats. Future phases of Project Overlander will consider options for specialised protected light vehicles and commercial vehicles to augment the ADF’s training fleet. More: Read media release | Defence Materiel Organisation website |
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| DEFENCE TO BENEFIT FROM EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES 19 October - The Defence Capability and Technology Demonstrator (CTD) Program’s announcement of eight new proposals is set to enhance Defence’s capabilities currently and in the future. Potential equipment includes new wearable body armour, soldier-powered battery packs and land vehicle small arms protection. The CTD Program provides Defence and industry with the opportunity to work together to research emerging technology developments. Their potential to enhance Defence’s capability is then measured against the technical risks associated with obtaining the technology. More than $160 million has been invested into the program over the past nine years. More: Read release |
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| POTENTIAL IDENTIFICATION OF AUSTRALIAN WWI SOLDIERS 18 October - There is hope that the remains of three Australian WWI soldiers re-interred in Belgium this month may be identified, after a Belgian laboratory successfully extracted Y chromosome materials from the unidentified soldiers. Unlike the initial DNA search, scientists will now include male descendants as a means of identifying the three unknown soldiers. Historical research has narrowed the search down to several possible matches, including PTE Williams, PTE Storey and PTE Gibbens. The Army previously contacted the surviving relatives of PTE Williams and PTE Storey and will re-establish contact with them. The Army will continue to try to locate the relatives of PTE Gibbens. A re-interment ceremony was held in Belgium on 4 October to acknowledge and honour the five soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917. More: view website |
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| DEFENCE REJECTS FRETILIN CLAIMS 18 October - The Australian Defence Force has rejected claims that six Australian soldiers beat a Timor-Leste security guard in Dili over the weekend. Speaking to ABC Radio, Defence spokesperson, Brigadier Andrew Nikolic said: “Australian soldiers did intervene in a fight between two of men. At no time did the ISF (International Stabilisation Force) soldiers touch the men or indeed at no stage did they assault anyone. And after the men left the ISF continued on its patrol”. Brigadier Andrew Nikolic described the allegations as disappointing, saying: “I can tell you the allegations are totally false and misleading and we reject them”. The Australian Defence Force’s mission in Timor-Leste is to work with the Government and the United Nations to bring stability, security and confidence to the Timorese to allow them to resolve their differences democratically and peacefully. More: Operation ASTUTE website |
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| SOLDIER WOUNDED IN IRAQ 17 October - An Australian soldier on patrol in southern Iraq suffered a single gun-shot wound in an incident last night. He is assessed as being in a serious condition but the wound is not considered life threatening. Spokesman for Defence, Brigadier Andrew Nikolic said his fellow soldiers immediately administered emergency first aid and he was evacuated by US helicopter to a nearby hospital at Tallil. More: Read media release | Audio grabs | Operation CATALYST |
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FALLEN SOLDIER LAID TO REST
Trooper “Poppy” Pearce was described as a “dedicated, dependable, loyal soldier… who was committed to serving his country and his regiment,” said Lieutenant Colonel Chris Websdane in his eulogy. Chief of Defence Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, Chief of Army Lieutenant General Peter Leahy, Commander 7th Brigade Brigadier Andrew Smith, Prime Minister John Howard, Minister for Defence The Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson and Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd were some of the dignitaries who attended the service at St Stephen’s Cathedral, Brisbane. Trooper Pearce’s medals will be replicated and given to each of his daughters, as a memento of his service to the Australian Defence Force. The family of Trooper David Pearce has requested that donations to Legacy be made in lieu of floral tributes. To make a donation, please view the Legacy website for further details. More: Read media release | Imagery of funeral | Imagery of deploying soldiers holding memorial service | Hear audio on "The Last Post" | VALE: Trooper David Pearce |
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DEFENCE REJECTS BULLETIN'S SEA KING CLAIMS
Speaking to ABC Illawarra, Commander of the Australian Naval Aviation Group, Commodore Tim Barrett said: “I have spoken to the commanding officer of the squadron who in turn has spoken to his air crew, and there is no view being represented at all that the air crew are not satisfied with the aircraft itself. It's a safe and reliable aircraft”. In a media release issued on 16 October 2007, Commodore Barrett said: “Any safety or maintenance-related concerns expressed by our people are treated seriously. All credible claims will be investigated and should be reported to commanding officers or supervisors”. Defence’s recent grounding of the Sea Kings is proof of their stringent maintenance and safety requirements (media release 3 October | media release 28 September). Commodore Barrett said the incident was reported to the appropriate authorities and is currently being investigated. “We’re working through that issue, but the air crew themselves are preparing to put their training program together to get back in the air,” Commodore Barrett said. More: Read media release |
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TOURING ARTISTS TO FEEL THE FORCE
Special guests include Doc Neeson from the iconic Australian rock band The Angels, singer Alexis Fishman and comedian Gary Bradbury, himself a former soldier. “The reward in knowing you are giving something back to the men and women who are living hard and in constant danger on behalf of our country is the best use we could ever make of our talents," said Doc Neeson prior to departure. The morale-boosting tour comes at a pivotal time, when Australian service personnel are mourning the tragic death of their friend and colleague, Trooper David Pearce. The Tour de Force will perform approximately 13 concerts at a range of venues in the Middle East, including a number of open air concerts at Coalition bases. In 1966, the Minister of Defence established The Forces Advisory Committee on Entertainment (FACE) as a joint venture involving Defence, the Returned Services League of Australia and the Australian Broadcasting Commission. The original FACE was disbanded in 1985, but was re-established in 1999 in response to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) operations in East Timor. More: FACE website | Imagery from most recent FACE tour of Middle East |
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| IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES AN EVER-PRESENT DANGER 15 October - Recently there has been extensive media coverage about the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) by insurgents and terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan against Australian and Coalition forces. A media release issued on 12 October regarding an IED attack on an Australian Bushmaster Infantry Mobile Vehicle highlights the ever-present danger. So what are IEDs and what threats do they pose to our Australian forces? Described simply, an IED is a makeshift or improvised bomb. Although they come in various forms, they commonly contain destructive, lethal, noxious, pyrotechnic, or incendiary chemicals or explosives. IEDs are designed to destroy, incapacitate, harass, or distract. They may incorporate military stores, but are normally devised from non military components. They pose a very dangerous threat to our troops. IEDs alone have killed more American and Coalition forces than any other weapon in the Iraqi conflict. Recognising the risks associated with IEDs, Chief of Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston created an IED task group. Based in Canberra, the group is responsible for analysing IEDs and the threats they pose to our Australian forces. More: IED fact sheet |
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MAXIMUM PUSH FOR GUNNER BEAR
The annual Gunner Bear fundraising appeal is back and this year the Army’s 8/12 Medium Regiment will be collecting donations throughout Darwin to raise money for sick kids in the Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH). The appeal will raise much needed funds for the provision of intensive care cots and specialist monitoring equipment for the Special Care Nursery at RDH. Last year with the help of the public, Gunner Bear raised in excess of $50,000. This year, the regiment are set to break that record with plans to raise $75,000 likely, with corporate sponsors already making generous donations. The highlight of the appeal is the 22km “Gun Push”, where teams of soldiers take turns to push a 105mm Hamel Gun around Darwin on 27 October. Come along and support the soldiers, whilst doing your bit for the local community and supporting a very worthy cause. More: View related imagery |
