Defence Magazine

BDR Benny Regan from the Civil Military Co-Operation in Dili, Timor-Leste, serving on Operation ASTUTE, chats with Sister Guilhermina at the Conossian Convent, Balide, during a night patrol through the church grounds that is housing an Internally Displaced Persons camp.
Photo provided by Public Affairs

CPO Diver Buzz-B Tomoana, from the Royal New Zealand Navy, makes a closer inspection on a suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) after detonation of the IED in an IED Demolition exercise at the Gladstone wharves during Exercise Dugong 2006. The RAN's annual mine warfare exercise was held off Gladstone in Queensland. Navy clearance divers and mine warfare specialists participated alongside their counterparts from the Royal New Zealand Navy.
Photo provided by Public Affairs

Main Sections: In the know | In the news | How to contribute |

From the Editorial Team

Hello and welcome to the final edition of the Defence Magazine for 2006. In what has again been an extremely busy year for Defence, we can all look forward to a well deserved break over the Christmas and New Year period or, for those deployed overseas or supporting those deployed, the chance to spend the holiday season in a unique environment may prove an exciting story for your grandchildren in the years to come! Stay safe, wherever you are this Christmas.

We are looking forward to an exciting year in 2007, where a number of new additions to the magazine will add to its appeal as the primary internal communication tool for the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) and Secretary of Defence.

We welcome article submissions from all personnel within Defence, both military and civilian, and strongly encourage you to view this magazine as an extraordinary opportunity to showcase your work area to a wide ranging readership. Should you wish to contribute to the magazine, please do not hesitate to contact us, or visit the guidelines page.

We look forward to providing Defence with an informative and innovative publication on behalf of the CDF and Secretary, and wish everyone a fabulous Christmas and New Year.

Alisha Welch, Editor;
Katharina Chase, Deputy Editor,
Defence magazine

In the know

Defence success at the 2006 Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission (SRCC) Safety Awards

L-R: LEUT Garry Williams (Fleet Intermediate Maintenance Authority - Perth); CAPT Peter Marshall (Director General, Navy Certification and Safety Agency); Barbara Bennett (CEO of Comcare); Kevin Andrews MP; LCDR Rachel Durbin (Commanding Officer, Fleet Intermediate Maintenance Authority - Perth); LCDR Ron Conder (Fleet Intermediate Maintenance Authority - Perth).
Photo provided by EventPix

On 18 October at the Great Hall, Parliament House, the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Kevin Andrews MP, presented awards to Navy for the following:

Highly Commended - Category 2. Best Workplace Health and Safety Management System - Navy FIMA Perth.

Winner - Category 3. Best Solution to an Identified Workplace Health and Safety Issue - Navy HMAS Anzac Portable Pontoon.

Nominations for the 2006 awards were invited from all agencies covered by the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) (CE) Act 1991 and/or the SRCC Act 1998 with a total of 31 applications across five categories. Other competing finalists included Centrelink, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Medicare, Austrade, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australian Sports Commission, Linfox Australia, Australian Taxation Office and Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service.

Minister Andrews said the finalists demonstrated that a cooperative approach to OHS in individual workplaces would lead to improved outcomes.

"They are all examples of best practice in the operation of OHS and in showing national leadership" he said.

The SRCC Safety Awards publicly recognise the efforts that are being made to improve occupational health and safety in the workplace. The Defence Safety Awards provides the gateway to SRCC Safety Awards with the submissions selected from the winners and commendations.

Entries for the 2007 Defence Safety Awards close on 4 December 2006. To find out how to enter and view the Defence Safety Awards 'Hall of Fame' visit: http://ohsc.defence.gov.au/Programs/SafetyAwards/default.htm.

Belconnen Naval Transmitting Station (BNTS) social history project

BNTS, ACT ('Bells'), is being decommissioned following the transfer of Navy HF radio operations to a joint service modernised high frequency communications system. The historical significance of BNTS has been recognised by the Commonwealth Government and the National Trust. BNTS is significant also for its associations with Navy personnel and members of the local community.

Defence is commencing a study for a social history interpretive project on the BNTS. The project will record memorabilia, and capture social and intangible values and stories of life and work at 'Bells' by means of research and oral history.

If you are one of the many Navy, former Navy or contract personnel who maintained, operated or lived at the 'Bells' facility and are able to contribute to a project to record the social heritage of the BNTS, please contact Defence to register your interest.

Interested parties can respond to the below address by email, post or fax providing contact details and a brief description of the connection with BNTS, ACT.

Kate Leane, A/Senior Environmental Adviser,
ACT/ SNSW DS, Department of Defence,
BP9-2-29, Brindabella Park,
Canberra, ACT 2600.
Email: kathleen.leane@defence.gov.au
Fax: (02) 6266 8731

In the news

Photo provided by Public Affairs

The Prime Minister, the Hon John Howard MP, uses a ceremonial spade to 'turn the first sod' at the new construction site for the Defence Headquarters Joint Operations Command near Bungendore, NSW. The Federal Member for Eden-Monaro, Gary Nairn MP, and the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, look on.

Mr Howard said that the new facility "could not arrive at a better time for Defence or the nation".

"This new headquarters will bring together for the first time all the key elements necessary for the planning and command and control of Australian Defence Force operations and other designated activities - at a time of unprecedented military operational activity," Mr Howard said.

9 November

The Defence Highway Rest Stop Program is designed to encourage Defence personnel travelling over the Christmas period to break their trip by stopping and utilising overnight accommodation at Defence bases.

In the past 12 months, seven Defence personnel died on Australian roads as a result of vehicle accidents. The main contributing factors to most fatal accidents are speed, fatigue and alcohol intake, and these have been identified as significant causal factors in vehicle-related deaths.

Further information on the program can be found on the Occupational Health and Safety Intranet and Internet sites at http://ohsc.defence.gov.au/Programs/RoadSafety/default.htm and http://www.defence.gov.au/dpe/ohsc/programs/roadsafety/. Alternatively, email Ms Julie Jennens at: julie.jennens@defence.gov.au for additional information.

6 November

The Australian Government will provide the Submarine Institute of Australia (SIA) with $368 500 in funding for a project aimed to protect, preserve and tell the story of the Australian Submarine HMAS AE2, which played an important role during the Gallipoli campaign of 1915.

The Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, Bruce Billson MP, said he was delighted to confirm that the Government had accepted the SIA's proposal to survey and protect the best interests of the AE2 and to also share the unique story of the submarine with the broader community.

"The SIA has the collective knowledge, expertise and dedication to be entrusted with this important work and I encourage the community to support their endeavours and fundraising efforts," he said.

31 October

The Command of the Joint Task Force operating in Timor-Leste has changed hands. Brigadier (BRIG) Mick Slater, who deployed into Timor-Leste with the lead troops in May this year, returned to Australia on 26 October, after handing command to BRIG Mal Rerden.

The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston praised the efforts of BRIG Slater.

"BRIG Slater is an outstanding officer who uses a no-nonsense command style. Australia can be proud of the contribution that he, and the Joint Task Force that he led, have made."

Defence

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