Defence

Snapshot

In the news

3 January

The Department of Defence has moved into the New Year with a new look for its website.

The user-friendly site is based around the many areas where Australian Defence Force (ADF) members are deployed across the globe, with up-to-date information, imagery, audio and video available for download.

Its new design is formatted not only for the speedy access to information for media outlets, but also to increase the public awareness of what operations and activities are being conducted.

All aspects of the previous site are incorporated, with additions such as latest news and features providing a greater cross-section of the activities of the Minister, Department and the ADF.

Please take some time to familiarise yourself with the new-look Defence domain at: http://www.defence.gov.au/.

4 January

HMAS Toowoomba, a Royal Australian Navy ANZAC Class Frigate, with her crew of 183 personnel, departed her homeport of Fleet Base West at Garden Island, Western Australia, to commence passage to the Persian Gulf. Toowoomba is taking over duties from HMAS Warramunga in support of Operation Catalyst. Warramunga is expected to return in February.

“We ask a lot from our sailors, and the support to the men and women who deploy today makes a huge difference to the ability of our personnel to get on and do the job that they are tasked with,” said Maritime Commander, Rear Admiral Davyd Thomas, RAN.

This is Toowoomba’s first deployment to the North Persian Gulf and is the 15th rotation of Navy ships as part of coalition operations since 2001.

12 January

The Hon Sir James Killen sadly passed away in Brisbane at age 81. Sir James served in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II, as Minister for the Navy from 1969 to 1971 and as Minister for Defence from 1975 to 1982.

Among his many achievements as one of Australia’s longest serving Defence Ministers was Sir James’ delivery of the 1976 Defence White Paper. This heralded the policy of self-reliance, which has since been a mainstay of Australian strategic policy.

The flexible and robust Australian Defence Force that we have today was created on this strategic basis and is one of Sir James’ most enduring legacies.

Sir James also oversaw what was, at the time, the largest single Defence acquisition in Australian history – the decision to purchase three squadrons of F/A-18 Hornets. To this day these aircraft remain a critical component of our air combat capability.

He was knighted in 1982 and received the Companion of Australia – the highest of Australia’s honours – in 2004 for his distinguished contribution to public life as a parliamentarian, barrister, author, orator and advocate for social justice and the rights of the underprivileged members of the community.

16 January

The Royal Australian Navy will conduct a further survey of the site of the Black Hawk wreckage off Fiji in order to establish the condition of the aircraft on the seafloor. This work is expected to be completed by late March.

This is a very complex and challenging maritime salvage undertaking and the United States Navy Supervisor of Salvage, SUPSALV, has been identified as the preferred organisation for the survey and potential recovery tasking.

SUPSALV personnel and equipment pinpointed the location of the Black Hawk’s Flight Data Recorder beacon in 2900 metres of water from HMAS Melville in mid-December 2006. They are specialists in recovering military aircraft from depths at which the flight data recorder was located.

Equipment and personnel necessary to effect recovery of the aircraft will be in place, however, a decision to attempt the recovery of the aircraft will be based on data collected from the survey.

22 January

The Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, Bruce Billson MP, has issued an invitation to Australian industry to apply to join an innovative Defence program designed to enhance the capabilities of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

The Rapid Prototyping Development and Evaluation Program (RPDE) is a new collaboration between Defence, industry and academia. In September last year Mr Billson announced funding of up to $60 million over the next three years to support it. Already, the program has enlisted the support of 83 industry and academic bodies.

“Participants in Rapid work in a collaborative environment, where commercial interests are put aside to find the best workable solutions to Defence capability issues,” Mr Billson said.

“It provides the opportunity for the best and brightest people in industry and academia to understand Defence’s operational needs and to contribute to enhancing the ADF’s capability.”

A key criterion for joining Rapid is that an organisation must be able to demonstrate that they invest in research and development in Australia.

An invitation to participate in RPDE was advertised in The Weekend Australian newspaper on Saturday, 13 January 2007. Further details are available on the Rapid website www.rpde.org.au.

Australia Day celebrations at Headquarters Joint Task Force 633 in Baghdad (L-R): LCDR Petrus Jonker, LT Timonthy Minion, CPL Krissy Dalton, FLTLT Glenda Preston, LEUT Kristen Leydon, SQNLDR Tharron Kingston-Lee, CPL Peter Herbert and LAC Aaron Beavington.

Australia Day honours for ADF personnel

More than 50 Australia Day honours were awarded to Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel. Among those honoured, two ADF units have been singled out for their outstanding efforts during recent deployments.

The Australian Medical Detachment – Balad and Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Parramatta were honoured with a Meritorious Unit Citation following their outstanding efforts during Operation Catalyst in Iraq.

The Meritorious Unit Citations highlight the ADF’s various roles in support of the Australian Government’s contribution to the rehabilitation and rebuilding of Iraq.

A number of Defence civilians were also awarded honours on Australia Day, including the Public Service Medal and the Medal of the Order of Australia.

A full list of those awarded in the Australia Day Honours List is available from www.itsanhonour.gov.au.

Navy and CA Brumbies join forces

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) anticipates the ACT Brumbies rugby union players having a bit more pride in their stride after announcing a major sponsorship between the two entities for the next three seasons.

L-R: CAPT Adam Grunsell, CPO Kel Bryant, Steve Larkham, CMDR Anne Richards and PO David Connolly.

As part of the partnership the RAN brand will be proudly displayed on the Brumbies players’ shorts.

The CA Brumbies have a long association with the RAN. Prior to being decommissioned in 2006, the Brumbies were patrons of the HMAS Canberra rugby team. The crew of the HMAS Canberra played rugby matches all over the world and proudly wore the Brumbies’ jerseys donated by the ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union.

Director-General Navy Communications and Coordination, Captain (CAPT) Adam Grunsell, RAN, said the partnership recognises the similar values of both organisations.

“The Navy has to look at a variety of ways to tell our story to the Australian community,” said CAPT Grunsell.

“We feel that by using the brand of the most successful of the Australian Super 14 rugby teams is a good way to do that.

“We’ll be looking to work closely with the CA Brumbies to find new and interesting ways to promote our brand.

“Young, fit and committed Australians is what the Navy is looking for, and this partnership gives us the opportunity to communicate with those people and communicate with the Australian community at large.”

The Navy will also have an increased presence during Super 14 matches, with promotional activities planned both on and off the field during the 2007 season, where the Brumbies have already been booked in as favourites.

Upcoming Presidential elections in Timor-Leste

Members of Joint Task Force 631, Operation Astute, recently conducted a site survey of all the regional electoral offices for the upcoming Presidential elections in Timor-Leste.

This was an important opportunity to discuss the combined UN Police and International Security Force support and security arrangements for the conduct of safe and democratic elections.

Captain Julian Thirkill (6^th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment), Lieutenant Commander Larry Cook (Navy Headquarters, South Queensland) and Mr Jao Santos (United Nations Mission In Timor-Leste Electoral Team), pictured, display one of the new voting-identification cards to be used during the upcoming elections.

Photos provided by Public Affairs

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