More Defence news: 29 October - 04 November 2007
| New Chief Information Officer for Defence | Time-honoured tradition continues in Solomons | Fallen SASR soldier begins journey home | RTF soldiers make connections in Afghanistan | Defence rejects claims regarding Super Hornet purchase | Soldiers raise significant sum for Darwin Hospital | Military honours to Angels rock star | Exercise Pacific Shield 07 | 'Australia' Primary School opens in Iraq | Top honour for Air Force Globemaster team | Sergeant Matthew Locke returns home | Defence tables Annual Report 2006-07 | Next Iraq rotation of soldiers to farewell Brisbane | Entertainers farewell the force in Middle East | RAAF farewells faithful Boeing 707 | Battle of Beersheba remembered | Operation Pink Ribbon | HMAS Perth personnel happy to be back home | Next Iraq Battle Group farewelled in Brisbane | Fitting farewell for Sergeant Matthew Locke | |
Fitting farewell for Sergeant Matthew Locke
Governor-General Major General Michael Jeffery, Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, Chief of Army Lieutenant General Peter Leahy and the Special Operations Commander Australia Major General Mike Hindmarsh paid their respects, along with family, friends and Sergeant Locke's SAS comrades. Prime Minister of Australia John Howard and Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd also paid their respects on behalf of the nation. Sergeant Locke's body arrived back in Australia from Afganistan on 31 October. The highly decorated soldier also received the Medal for Gallantry in December 2006 after his heroic actions saved the lives of fellow Australian soldiers from a Taliban attack. "Matthew has made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation. His loss will be felt by all members of the SAS community and he will never be forgotten," Major General Hindmarsh said in tribute to Sergeant Locke. More: Imagery | VALE: Sergeant Matthew Locke |
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Next Iraq Battle Group farewelled in Brisbane
Soldiers from seven Queensland-based Army units form the bulk of the Battle Group and paraded in front of family and friends at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera. The OBG (W)-4 is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel (LTCOL) Chris Websdane and is mostly drawn from Brisbane’s 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) operating Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAVs); and soldiers from the 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment operating Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicles. “This is an important day for the soldiers of the Battle Group, their families and friends. This parade is the culmination of several months of training and marks the beginning of the operational deployment,” said LTCOL Websdane. “The men and women of the Overwatch Battle Group have worked hard to prepare for the operation and are ready to do their jobs. We’ll all now take a well-earned rest before we begin our move to the Middle East.” More: Imagery | Operation CATALYST website |
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HMAS Perth personnel happy to be back home
HMAS Perth and HMAS Parramatta returned from a goodwill tour throughout North East Asia, conducting important relations with neighbouring countries of Hong Kong, China, South Korea, Japan and Singapore. HMAS Perth departed Fleet Base West in June after completing sea trials, followed by Operation RESOLUTE, Exercise Pacific Shield in Yokosuka Japan and the tour of North East Asia. HMAS Perth was in company with HMAS Parramatta for most of the trip. More: Imagery |
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| Operation Pink Ribbon 02 November - A convoy of Army vehicles decorated with pink bows and pink balloons is making its way to Adelaide’s Rundle Mall tomorrow as part of Operation Pink Ribbon. More than 80 soldiers from Army’s 16th Air Defence Regiment (16AD), based in Woodside, South Australia are taking part to raise needed funds for The Cancer Council. |
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| Battle of Beersheba remembered 02 November - The Battle of Beersheeba will be re-enacted in the heart of Adelaide tomorrow. Light horse soldiers past and present will gather in Adelaide to mark the 90-year anniversary of the Battle of Beersheba and pay homage to those lost in this historic event. Flanked by artillery, spectators will be treated to a mounted squadron parade followed by a dramatic re-enactment of the 3rd and 9th Light Horse Regiments clearing enemy. A memorial service was also held on 31 October, the day of the battle – at the Light Horse Memorial on the corner of East Terrace and Botanic Road in the Adelaide. The memorial was originally dedicated in 1925 to the honour and glory of those Light Horsemen who died bravely in battle during the First World War. |
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| RAAF farewells faithful Boeing 707 01 November - After 24 years of faithful service, the Royal Australian Air Force has bid farewell to Boeing 707 ‘City of Sydney’, which was retired on 31 October. The final task for ‘City of Sydney’ saw it fly from RAAF Base Richmond to RAAF Base East Sale and Hobart for a series of ‘touch-and-go’ landings, aiding training for 33 Squadron crews. ‘City of Sydney’ was one of two remaining B707s in service with 33 Squadron at RAAF Base Richmond. The other B707, ‘Richmond Town’, is due to be retired in June 2008. The aircraft’s history of service includes a deployment to Kyrgyzstan in 2002 to support Coalition Forces in Afghanistan, as well as support of ADF deployments and exercises across the globe. Now retired from RAAF service, ‘City of Sydney’ will be kept at RAAF Base Richmond and used to support the continued operation of ‘Richmond Town’. A decision will be made by Defence on the final disposal of its B707 fleet and associated equipment during 2008. More: Read media release | Imagery of final flight |
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Entertainers farewell the force in Middle East
Called the Tour de Force, the lineup is lead by Doc Neeson and his Angels and includes singer Alexis Fishman, comedian Gary Bradbury and the Sydney Army band. The group combined to play nine concerts in 12 days for Australian personnel working alongside coalition forces at bases in Afghanistan and Iraq. “You can’t help but feel patriotic when you see these blokes come back filthy and dirty from a patrol," Doc Neeson said. “We didn’t know what to expect before we got here. What we found was a very harsh environment, where soldiers are living rough. Back home people forget how easy it is to go to a hotel and watch live music or meet for a few beers. These guys and girls don’t get that chance so music is often their release,” the Aria Hall of Fame recipient said. “So many of the soldiers knew all the words to every artist's songs it was really very flattering, when we were the ones who were there to pay tribute. They even had me on their shoulders crowd surfing,” Doc said. During the Tour de Force through Afghanistan the group visited Kandahar, Tarin Kowt and were the first Australian entertainers to play a concert in Kabul. More: Imagery | Forces Entertainment | Operation CATALYST | Operation SLIPPER |
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| Next Iraq rotation of soldiers to farewell Brisbane 01 November - The soldiers of Overwatch Battle Group (West)-4, under the command of Brisbane-based Lieutenant Colonel Chris Websdane, are heading to southern Iraq. The soldiers will be farewelled at a parade at Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane tomorrow. “The battle group is proud of the deep historic and current links with South-East Queensland. The patch worn on the soldier’s right arm to identify OBG (W)-4 has the background colour of maroon to demonstrate these links,” LTCOL Websdane said. Overwatch Battle Group-West is based at Tallil Air Base in southern Iraq from where it undertakes a security overwatch role for Al Muthanna and Dhi Qar Provinces as part of a larger Coalition Force. More: Operation CATALYST website |
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Sergeant Matthew Locke returns home
Recipient of the Medal for Gallantry, Sergeant Locke was carried from the C-130 Hercules that brought him home by his mates currently serving with the SASR. On hand to receive him was a small gathering including his family, colleagues, the Commander of Special Forces Major General Mike Hindmarsh and the Chief of Army Lieutenant General Peter Leahy. "Matthew has made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation. His loss will be felt by all members of the SAS community and he will never be forgotten," Major General Hindmarsh said. More: Read media release | Imagery | Audio tribute | VALE: Sergeant Matthew Locke |
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| Defence tables Annual Report 2006-07 31 October - Secretary of Defence Mr Nick Warner has described the tabling of the Annual Report 2006-07 to the Senate as proof that Defence reforms are moving in the right direction. The Department of Defence presented the Annual Report to the Senate in accordance with the caretaker conventions. “This is a significant achievement and is proof that the reforms we are making in Defence’s financial management are working and moving in the right direction,” said Secretary of Defence, Mr Nick Warner. “The Chief Finance Officer has done an outstanding job in getting the statements to this position, particularly in eliminating uncertainty around $2.2 billion worth of repairable items.” For many, the image of the Australian Defence Force is soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq, peacekeeping in Timor-Leste, and the spectacular power of our platforms — billions of dollars worth of tanks, planes and ships. These are some of the issues that are reported in the Defence Annual report for 2006/07. The report highlights the success of the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) recruitment initiative. The ADF recruitment figures show that 8,924 Australians joined the ADF as either full-time or reserve members over 2006-07, which is an improvement of 1,125 over the figures from the previous year. The report also states the number of Australian Defence Force members, civilian staff and professional service providers: 51,504 ADF members, 19,562 reservists and 14,516 civilians and 810 professional service providers. More: Defence Annual Report 2006-07 | Read media release |
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| Top honour for Air Force Globemaster team 31 October - The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has received a top national aviation award for its rapid and successful introduction of the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III into service. The Australian regional division of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators (GAPAN) has awarded its prestigious GAPAN Grand Master’s Australian Medal to the RAAF’s C-17 Transition Team and Amberley-based 36 Squadron. The Master of GAPAN, Group Captain Roger Gault (retired), commended the RAAF for having brought the aircraft into service rapidly and efficiently. “The RAAF C-17 Globemaster III Transition Team achieved what many considered impossible - the successful research, compilation, and presentation in less than two months of documentation and data to support what was, at the time, the largest financial acquisition in RAAF history,” GPCAPT Gault said. The Globemaster carries up to 70 tonnes of cargo including a Chinook helicopter or three Black Hawk helicopters and sets an unprecedented benchmark in RAAF airlift. More: Read media release | C-17 Globemaster fact sheet |
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'Australia' Primary School opens in Iraq
Commanding Officer of the Overwatch Battle Group (West)-Three, Lieutenant Colonel Jake Ellwood cut the ribbon to open the school that was refurbished to provide the children with access to quality education and a brighter future. Soldiers also presented essential school supplies such as text books, writing pads and pens. Refurbishment work included replacement of the roof, re-plastering of walls, tiling of floors and a complete electrical rewiring. Soldiers also installed a generator, air-conditioners and essential furniture such as a blackboard, chairs and desks. Soldiers also visited an orphanage in the village of Al Chabayish where a similar refurbishment project is currently under way. "Investing in the welfare and the education of the children is one of the many ways that Australia is contributing to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq," LTCOL Ellwood said. More: Imagery | Operation CATALYST website |
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| HMAS Perth flies flag at Exercise Pacific Shield 07 30 October - HMAS Perth and an Australian Customs Service specialist boarding and search team have taken part in this year’s Pacific Shield 07, a maritime exercise hosted by Japan. Pacific Shield 07 included Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Police Agency, Customs and the Coast Guard, along with the United States, France, United Kingdom, Singapore and New Zealand. Other countries, including Asia-Pacific countries attended as observers. Pacific Shield 07 is part of a series of exercises being conducted by countries that support the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). This is the second PSI-related exercise hosted by Japan. More: Imagery |
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Military honours to Angels rock star
Called to National Service in 1968 and posted to the 3rd Battalion The Royal Australia Regiment, Doc later left the Army to pursue a career as a professional musician. "This has been really overwhelming. As Major General Evans pinned the medals on I was surrounded by the current generation of soldiers and they are not only brave and highly intelligent but they are good human beings. "For me singing is more than getting the notes out, it's about releasing emotions and right now I feel like I could burst with patriotic pride," Doc said. The ARIA Hall of Fame winner is now touring across the Middle East as part of the Tour De Force concerts for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. More: Full story and imagery | Forces Entertainment |
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Soldiers raise significant sum for Darwin Hospital
Fundraising efforts over the past two weeks by gunners from the Army’s 8/12 Medium Regiment culminated on Saturday with a 22-kilometre ‘Gun Push’ through the streets of Darwin. Under police escort, teams of soldiers pushed a 2-tonne 105mm Howitzer gun for six hours in hot and humid conditions, receiving donations and plenty of support from passing motorists and residents. Commander 1 Brigade, Brigadier Craig Orme, lent the gunners a hand, joining in the push. The auction of Gunner Bear at the end of the push raised a further $2000. More: Imagery |
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| Defence rejects claims regarding Super Hornet purchase 30 October - Defence rejects claims aired by the Four Corners program that suggest Australia is conceding its crucial air superiority in the region by purchasing the F-18F Super Hornet. “Defence rejects any assertion that our air superiority would be compromised. The Super Hornet is a true multi-role aircraft that spans the air combat spectrum, including maritime strike that is so vital for Australia," Defence Spokesman Brigadier Andrew Nikolic said. “The acquisition of 24 Super Hornets will ensure Australia’s air combat superiority well into the future and will enable us to maintain our edge in all aspects of air combat as the Air Force goes through the transition from the F-111 and Hornet to JSF.” Head of the Defence Air Combat Transition Office and one of Australia's most experienced fighter pilots, Group Captain Steve Roberton, reinforced the capability edge offered by the Super Hornet. “If a Super Hornet was to meet a Su-30 in the next 5-8 years and I had to bet my life on the outcome, I'll sit in the Super Hornet F-18F cockpit every time. Any pilot who has flown the new Block II F-18F with AESA radar would do the same," Group Captain Roberton said. More: Read media release | Super Hornet website |
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RTF soldiers make connections with Afghan leaders
The emphasis on dialogue saw the troops involved in impromptu sit-down meetings, known locally as Shuras. Liaison officer with the Provincial Reconstruction Team, Lieutenant Andrew Wegner said that the message coming strongly out of the Shuras was that the population wanted coalition forces to bring stability to the area. "Concrete results and ongoing security is what the people of this province respond to; and that's our opportunity to supplant and degrade influence of the Taliban," Lieutenant Wegner said. Combat team engineer Captain Rob Haertsch sees consultation as important every stage of development for success with such projects. "Where the people have a stake and a sense of security, then the project outcomes are not as easily undermined or destroyed by the Taliban. It's a two-way communication process where we consult and gain feedback on the actual needs of the end user," Captain Haertsch said. "Working together like this, we will make a difference." More: Image gallery | Operation SLIPPER website |
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Fallen SASR soldier begins journey home
They were joined by SGT Locke's mates from the Special Operations Task Group who formed the Bearer Party to farewell their comrade on his journey home from the operational theatre of Uruzgan Province in southern Afghanistan. "On behalf of all members of the Joint Task Force throughout the Middle East, I express our sadness at the tragic loss of Sergeant Locke. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and his mates in the Special Forces community, all of whom are touched by his death," Commander of Australian operations in the Middle East Major General Mark Evans said. "Those who gathered to farewell him from the operational theatre will always remember what he sacrificed in serving the nation. He is an inspiration to us all." More: Imagery of Ramp Ceremony | VALE: Sergeant Matthew Locke | Read media release | Operation SLIPPER website |
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Time-honoured tradition continues in Solomons
The entertainers included successful solo artists Russell Morris and Darryl Cotton – also known for performing with Somebody’s Image and Zoot respectively; 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 volunteered their time free of charge to entertain Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and police who are serving in the Solomon Islands. The ADF’s contribution to the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) is known as Operation ANODE. ADF personnel deployed to the Solomon Islands are predominately drawn from Army Reserve units from across Australia. More: Imagery | Operation ANODE website | Forces Entertainment |
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| New Chief Information Officer for Defence 29 October - Mr Greg Farr has been announced as the new Chief Information Officer for Defence. Mr Farr brings extensive experience to Defence where he has overseen production management areas covering almost all processing of taxpayer information in his role as Second Commissioner in the Australian Taxation Office. “We are delighted to welcome Mr Farr to the Defence Organisation and look forward to working with him on what is an increasingly vital part of our activities including in support of ADF operations,” said the Secretary of Defence, Nick Warner. The Defence Management Review recommended a heightened priority to reform business systems and this appointment is a step forward in fulfilling the recommendation. Mr Farr will begin his new role in late November. More: Read media release | Chief Information Officer Group website |
