LUCKY BRAKE
A quick thinking Navy medic has brought a bus travelling at 100kph, its driver unconscious at the wheel and with 54 passengers on board, safely to a halt before it crashed into oncoming traffic near Canberra.


Damage control
Up to to ears in work is CPOCK Kevin Cox. He is pictured taking part in damage control training at the School of Ships, Safety and Survivability at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia.


CDF praises role in Iraq
The Chief of the Defence Force (CDF), General Peter Cosgrove, has become the first armed forces chief from any of the coalition members to visit Iraq since the transfer of authority on June 28.


Briefs
A senior sailor who was seriously injured when he fell into a ravine in the Solomons while serving in Operation Anode has been permanently incapacitated. The Executive Officer of HMAS Tarakan, WOB Ian Chill, was conducting a routine village visit in early June when the accident happened.


Steel Cat slinks to sunny Qld
The sinking of The Steel Cat off the Queensland coast next year will create a “dive magnet” for Australia, bringing 25,000 extra tourists to the region and providing up to 200 new jobs, Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said at the formal hand over of the ship in Sydney.

Esther flys the coop
That Esther Williams gets around - the Esther Williams Trophy, that is.

Briefs
Education departments in NSW and Turkey have drawn up an agreement to encourage the study of the Anzac tradition. Turkish authorities in Ankara came up with the idea.

New tanker slips into Australia
The new 37,000 tonne oil tanker Delos, purchased by Defence for $50 million a few weeks ago to replace HMAS Westralia, is now in Australian waters and already on the job.

Adelaide selected for Gulf duties
The 4100 tonne FFG HMAS Adelaide (CMDR Bruce Victor) will replace HMAS Stuart (CMDR Phil Spedding) in The Gulf next month, the Defence Minister, Senator Robert Hill said.

Busy schedule ahead
Organisers expect several thousand serving and former Navy sailors to parade through the heart of Sydney on Saturday August 7 in the National Naval reunion 2004 march.

Bulletin Board

Forging closer links
Interoperability between the ADF and US armed forces is set to evolve to a higher level, with the Office of Interoperability being established to ensure a concerted effort is made to make it easier for the ADF’s three services to work together, as well as with the military forces of other countries, particularly the US.

Counting fan mail miles from home
For Secret Harbour resident, Chief Petty Officer Rod Shepheard, hot and dusty Baghdad seems a long way from the ocean.

Learning the language
Following the recent withdrawal of Defence personnel from East Timor, some people may think that the ADF no longer has a presence in the small country.

Briefs
Funding for the Cadet Initiated Activities program will be almost doubled from $260,000 to $500,000 this financial year. Under the program, over 27,000 Australian Defence Force Cadets have the opportunity to submit bids for funding on behalf of their unit to undertake activities that further their leadership and team-building skills.

Sub set for scrap heap
The 2070 tonne submarine, laid up for years at HMAS Stirling since she was decommissioned, is set for the scrap heap.

Changes reap rewards for entire ADF
Major initiatives and efficiencies in administration and corporate support have reaped significant benefits for the ADF and Defence civilians, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Fran Bailey, said this month.

Politicians try sea life
The ADF is keen for Members of Parliament to know more about what it does.

Swell time for CO
Commander Stuart Campbell Mayer, departed HMAS Canberra for the last time in traditional naval fashion when he was rowed ashore in a 24-foot wooden-hulled whaler on loan from TS Perth.

Ceremonial change for Manoora
After 19 months in command of HMAS Manoora, CMDR Martin Brooker will be fondly remembered by his crew for leading them through a busy and operationally challenging period.

Gong tolls in Darwin
LCDR Steve Thompson has handed command of HMAS Wollongong to LCDR Iain Jarvie at a ceremony at Darwin Naval Base.

Divers play green card
The Navy’s Men in Black, the divers of Australian Clearance Diving Team One (AUSCDTONE), are going green.

Birds of a feather meet at SCG
A Seahawk got mixed up with some Swans and Crows the other night.

Thunder clap heard in Fiji
The first multi-national maritime exercise to be conducted in South West Pacific was successfully hosted by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) recently.

In event of emergency
Personnel at HMAS Stirling have readied themselves for future emergencies with the conduct of a radiation hazard exercise.

Kids pat squirrels
Although Nowra is a “Navy town” and helicopters flying overhead are a common sight, the locals certainly appreciate it when they can get up close to one of the aircraft.

Anchored down
The students of WA’s Ocean Reef Primary School are anchored down to their studies, thanks to close links with the Navy.