Clothing
quandaries
I
am wondering what has happened to our clothing stores.
Recently I had a blowout in my almost new, size 10 and a half,
mens uniform black dress shoes. I promptly returned them to the
HMAS Stirling clothing store and insisted on being able to exchange
them for a new pair, as I believe they should have lasted longer
than they did.
The stores people happily agreed but since they did not have any
in-store at the time, said they would have to source them from
civilian suppliers.
Four months later, that’s right four months later, I received
my new shoes. In the meantime I had to wear ordinary black civilian
shoes with my uniform.
Similarly when I was promoted to PO, there were no PO’s caps
available for six months and consequently I had to borrow a hat
from someone else for the entire six months.
Now while I understand if sizes are not in then it is necessary
to order them in but four months and six months seem an excessive
waiting period.
After talking with peers it seems that this is hardly a standout
situation and that many people have had similar experiences.
Why are our uniforms, which are supposed to be worn with pride,
not available when people need them?
I don’t believe this is good enough and reflects an overall
fall in standards of service.
Name and address withheld.
Name
and address withheld.
Optical
drug detection kit
With
the advent of random urinalysis in the ADF this attached article
in the National Safety Council of Australia LTD Magazine December
03 demonstrates a different method of detecting a person who is
either under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
“A new optical detection kit that can show instantly whether
a person is under the influence of drugs or alcohol has created
a furore among civil rights groups in the UK.
The £10,000 (A$24,000) device can determine whether a person
is impaired by drugs or alcohol simply by flashing a green light
into their pupil and measuring the speed of its contraction. The
device can also show whether a person is fatigued.
Consultant Jamie Deas says the device would be attractive to employers
as a replacement for conventional tests, such as urine tests,
which are not appropriate when attempting to find out if someone
is directly under the influence of a drug like cannabis...”
This
optical detection kit is non-invasive and a time saver in its
application and administration and could easily be used at sea
or ashore. Maybe further investigation by the ADF could be warranted
into the acquisition of this equipment for the ADF.
LEUT
Crosby
SNO, HMAS Albatross
Appeal
for Sydney 2000 coin
Were
you a crew member of HMAS Sydney (FFG 03) in May 2000? If you
were, then maybe you can assist me.
I am a keen coin collector and I am specialising in Australian
dollar coins.
To date I am only one issue missing from a complete set of dollar
coins in special issue folders. That issue is the dollar coin
that was released on the above mentioned ship by the Royal Australian
Mint, (RAM), whilst the ship was in Sydney, during the month of
May 2000.
Information received from the RAM indicated that the ship’s
crew and invited guests were given the coin in a specially “overprinted
coloured folder” as a memento of the occasion. Figures indicate
that 2,922 such coins in the folders were presented. It is this
specially overprinted folder and coin that I am interested in.
I appeal to any RAN personnel or invited VIP, who has knowledge
of the said presentation coin and folder in their possession and
would be prepared to allow me to purchase it, to contact me at
the below address.
Bruce
J. Mansfield
elsuprimovmdpa@optusnet.com.au
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