ARMY newspaper wants your unit mascot. We're currently collecting photos with biographies of every unit mascot for inclusion in either the paper, or to feature in our magazine.

For your unit mascot to be included, provide the following information:

• Name.
• How old.
• History.
• Where it's housed.
• Least appealing habit.
• Escape attempts.
• Any note-worthy incidents on conduct record.
• Any other amusing or interesting points you think worthy of inclusion.
• Digital photos of it with it's handler (or unit representative), and include the handlers full name and rank.

The article needs only to be written in point form, and is to be submitted via e-mail to the editor at armynews@defencenews.gov.au

ARMY newspaper has a new system in place to deal with photo requests.

If you're after an image seen in our paper, send an e-mail to Photo requests@defencenews.gov.au.

Our image handler, Rachelle, will process your request as soon as possible.

What Rachelle needs from you is:

• A description of the photograph.
• The date of the paper in which the picture appeared.
• The page number.

Army news will not print a copy of the photograph as we have neither the resources, or the time. Rachelle will e-mail printing directions to you.

DEFENCE families in the ACT now have access to the new Duntroon Community Centre opened recently by the former Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence Danna Vale.

Courses and services offered at the Duntroon Community Centre include parenting and adult education, playgroups, social and craft activity groups and exercise classes. Members are also able to access information about postings, health, housing and employment.

The new Community Centre is located on Gymkhana Close, RMC-D.

Membership of the Community Centre is comprised of Navy, Army and Air Force families, Defence civilians and the greater Canberra community.

CLOSE partnership between DSTO, DMO and James Cook University (JCU) in Townsville has sponsored the construction of a heat chamber for research initiatives.

The recently opened, $80,000 heat chamber is expected to be of use to all three organizations, with a load carriage investigation involving soldiers from 1RAR already planned.

Located on JCU grounds, close to Lavarack Barracks, the heat chamber is expected to provide a good opportunity for all sponsoring institutions to conduct detailed research in human performance.

PUCKAPUNYAL Military Area should become more environmentally friendly after a comprehensive Environmental Management Plan (EMP) was launched recently.

The EMP will guide the management and control of Defence activities on the 44,000-hectare base.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence Fran Bailey said some of the issues facing Puckapunyal as a military training area included the impact of training activities on soil stability and water quality, dry land salinity, managing fire risk, pest plans and animals, potential chemical contamination and protection of heritage sites.

Regional and state agencies including the Victorian Department of Primary Industries and the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management authority also contributed to the plan.

DEFENCE has launched a new intranet site to better inform Defence members of the Defence Assisted Study Scheme (DASS).

DASS is designed to support ADF members and reservists who are rendering continuous full-time service of 12 months or more, who wish to further their professional education or development through studies and courses.

The DASS web site is http://defweb.cbr.defence.gov.au/det/dass/

Members considering education and professional development courses are advised to find out more on the web site that includes:

• DASS at a glance - a brief outline of the scheme,
• DASS operating guidelines, application form, contacts,
• DI (G) PERS 05-1 Defence Assisted Study Scheme; and
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

DEFENCE outlined its environmental performance with the recent release of the Public Environment Report.

Minister for Defence Robert Hill said Defence had been the first Government agency to do this under an agreement with the public sector, the Department of the Environment and Heritage's framework for environmental reporting.

In the past year, Defence invested $34 million on environmental management programs to safeguard the land it owns.

MANAGEMENT of occupational health and safety (OHS) in Defence now belongs to a new group - the Occupational Health, Safety and Compensation Branch.

The new branch replaced the Safety, Compensation and People Development Branch.

The OHS committee will meet at least quarterly and monitor and report on OHS performance, compliance, alignment of responsibility, accountability and implementation of recommendations from investigations and audits.

BRISBANE: The first stage of a $6.5m accommodation upgrade for soldiers at Gallipoli barracks was officially opened this month.

The 15 refurbished accommodation blocks are part of a $40 million national commitment to improve Defence accommodation, and focused on providing improved amenities, and telephone and internet connectivity.

ALL serving and non-serving ADFA graduates and partners are invited to the Australian Defence Force Academy Graduates Association (AGA) free cocktail night.

The function will be held in the Wardroom at HMAS Watson at 6 for 6.30pm on Friday December 5, 2003.

• Attendees are asked to RSVP via the Association's website at www.adfagrad.org, or by emailing contact@adfagrad.org

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