Medics rush to injured
Royal Australian Navy members attached to Darwin’s NORCOM played a vital role in the recent evacuation of victims of the Kuta Beach, Bali terrorist bombing attack.


Arunta meets Aussie wheat in Persian Gulf
HMAS Arunta has had a change of beat in The Gulf and in doing so has been called upon to check two ships coming from Australia.


A signal from CDF, GEN Peter Cosgrove
Like all Australians we are all deeply shocked by the recent bomb blasts in Bali. The ADF’s priority has been the evacuation of people injured in the blasts. To date a total of 66 seriously ill evacuees have been transported by the ADF from Denpasar to Darwin.


Day surgery unit opens
A new day surgery unit, with operations on Saturdays and new high-tech surgeons and surgical procedures have been introduced at the Balmoral Naval Hospital to meet the challenge of increased numbers.


Military super books: you can order on line
You can order any Military Super books, leaflets, videos or forms online through the Online Publications Ordering System. This system is available to both scheme members and Pay Centre staff, and can be used to order one copy or bulk amounts.

Veteran torpedo restored in Perth
FIMA/Perth recently restored a 58-year-old torpedo at a naval memorial in Fremantle.


Volunteers backyard blitz Vietnam school
HMAS Adelaide (CMDR David Johnston) recently made an historic visit to Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City which turned out to be a swinging success.

Thais home in on Aussie radar
The RAN has helped the Royal Thai Navy to maintain its operational capability by presenting a surplus SPS52 Radar from the decommissioned HMAS Brisbane.


Guard’s drums on a different beat
Life at Australia’s Federation Guard (AFG) is far from the ‘break’ ashore I expected. Since I joined the Guard just on three months ago, we have been non-stop.


BFA Beijing style
Where to end your BFA? The Forbidden City. After all if you’re in Beijing why not take advantage of the 2.4 kilometre run around it’s perimeter.


UN Day celebrates in Brisbane
The United Nations Association, the Australian Peacekeepers and Peacemakers Association, and the Australian Federal Police will host this year’s United Nations Day Ceremony in Brisbane on October 24. This year’s ceremony will begin at 11am in the Gardens of Anzac Square, between Ann and Adelaide Streets.


COMAST with Melbourne in Gulf
The newly appointed Commander Australian Theatre, RADM Marc Bonser, recently visited HMA Ships Melbourne and Arunta while they conduct Multi-national Interception Operations in the Persian Gulf.

Sydney flies goodwill flag
In recent weeks the RAN’s 4,100-tonne guided missile frigate HMAS Sydney has been involved in friendship visits to the Philippines, China and Japan.


Bilge keels tested
Having recently returned from Op Relex II duties, HMAS Melville (HS BLUE embarked) was slipped at Tropical Reef Shipyard in Cairns on September 2 as part of an extended maintenance period.


Riverina TAFE renews contract
with Defence
The Federal Member for Riverina, Mrs Kay Hull, representing the Minister for Defence Senator Robert Hill, announced the productive partnership between the Defence Force and TAFE NSW Riverina Institute would continue with a renewed contract for technical training at Wagga Wagga.

Joel stars in Freo’s magazine
The First and Finest HMAS Fremantle (LCDR Matt Brown) is now back on the block and in top form after completing a five-month refit, a workup and ORE.


Gladstone celebrates
On September 8, the second last of the RAN’s Fremantle-class patrol boats turned 18.

Exchange gives new insight into sonar Ops
A former member of the submarine squadron’s sea training group is helping put US submariner sonar operators through their paces.


Albatross stage II opens
MC AUST, RADM Raydon Gates officially opened the new $47M state-of-the-art facilities at HMAS Albatross on September 17.


Navy aids Wagga school
Navy personnel based at RAAF Base Wagga recently held a very successful third Annual Ball at the RSL Club. A raffle was held during the evening to raise funds to assist the Willans Hill School in its special projects.


This month dig deep for a dollars
October has been designated as the official Dig Deep month for the year 2002 and right across Australia, the Defence Special Needs Support Group is asking Defence personnel to “Dig Deep for a Dollar” to help their fellow Defence families.


Manoora docked for fast work
In an outstanding Aussie effort, 120 marine workers, supported by the ship’s company, have laboured around the clock for days to get one of the Royal Australian Navy’s most important ships, HMAS Manoora back in the water and operational.


Ships put good taste on the line
Just a few days after CN’s decision to lift the ban on Crossing the Line ceremonies, HMA Ships Diamantina (CMDR M.J. Rothwell) and Norman (LCDR S.R. Hamilton) did just that — they crossed the equator at Longitude 105o 31.00 east heading for Singapore and Exercises Hunter and STARDEX.


Tassie band times out security
Not everything that ticks is a bomb ... far from it but in this present security conscious world, how would you know unless you took a look.


FIMA motors on
A team of 16 FIMA Perth (LCDR Greg Church) helped HMAS Sheean with maintenance after she had completed a successful RIMPAC 2002.


Gascoyne enjoys west’s freedom
Gascoyne's Freedom of Entry Ceremony.


Last diesel kicks over
The Head of Maritime Systems, RADM Kevin Scarce, formally turned over Engine No 22, the final powerplant for the $6 billion Anzac ship program for the Australian and New Zealand navies.


Sirius cadets take a bead on arms skills
Like ducks to water is how supervisors described 16 Australian Naval Cadets’ enhancement of their rifle shooting skills.


Competition intense for drill trophy
“Judges ready?, clipboards ready?...quick march”.


Waller links to Grafton cadets
A link has been forged between the Collins class submarine HMAS Waller and the cadet training ship TS Shropshire based in Grafton.

WA’s new guard turns out for first time
They might carry mock Steyrs but the newly formed Australian Naval Cadet/Western Australia ceremonial guard turns out well.

Nashos at Cerberus
Four hundred ex-National Servicemen (Nashos), along with family and friends, gathered recently in perfect spring weather at HMAS Cerberus for the dedication of the Standards of the ADF.

Additional milsuper counsellor appointeds
In the past ComSuper has had one Counselling Officer Military Superannuation, and this has now been increased to two.

Hydrographers welcomed to the ‘Gong'
The locals halted their larger-than-life kerbside chess game, a crowd of 500 applauded wildly and the beating of drums sent the seagulls high into the air.