Letters to the Editor

Sanity sacrifice
Incurable proof
Many thanks to the ADF family

Fire for Effect

How to write to Army News

Psychs’ help invaluable

Army psychs help marriage and deployments go together Photo by Pte John Wellfare, Army newspaper

AS A member who has been deployed on operation twice, I would like to acknowledge the fine work that Army Psychologists do in order to prepare us for deployment and return. On a deployment to East Timor in 2003, I realised the work of the psychs was very appropriate and the lessons they are trying to impart come from (unfortunately) many case histories, particularly in regard to members who are either married or in a long term relationship. I went to Timor married, and unfortunately my wife left me while I was deployed. Now in hindsight I realise that many of the contributing factors to my marriage breakdown were highlighted by the psychs and also detailed in the pre-deployment packages that are handed out. The tips and traps are well documented and well covered in the briefs.

I cannot emphasise enough to all members preparing to deploy on operations that they pay attention to the briefs from the psychs and ensure, where possible, that their partners also attend the briefing sessions. The little blue books that you are issued with are full of very relevant information that will help you and your partner to prepare for your upcoming separation.

To those members who are preparing to deploy, listen to what the psychs tell you and ensure that you read the booklets that are handed out.

To all the various members of the psych support units, you are doing a great job. Keep up the good work.

Maj A.F. (Des) Scheidl
OC TSC

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Sanity sacrifice

HAVING just done the figures and entered into a lease for a car that I then salary sacrificed, I have a few questions and suggestions:

Why do I have to enter into a lease agreement with a lender before I am permitted to apply to salary sacrifice? After nearly a month of waiting for Smart Salary to advise me of approval certainly felt very exposed should it be refused. In my case Smart Salary have advised that they are ‘waiting’ for a letter from my lender.

I have received confirmation from my lender, but Smart Salary requires a confirmation addressed to them and will not accept a fax or certified true copy.

Similarly, I have been waiting a month (so far) to receive my fuel card, part of my Salary Package arrangement. I can make a retrospective claim, but the fuel card gives discounts that I otherwise do not receive.

On the subject of fuel cards, Smart Salary has advised me that I can only salary sacrifice a fuel card for the leased vehicle. Why can I not salary sacrifice an additional fuel card for my other vehicle? This would be a very simple and useful arrangement that would save ADF members at any salary level a considerable sum. The benifits to all ADF members of being able to pay their fuel bill with pre tax dollars is obvious.

A NSW nurse friend salary sacrifices her mortgage. This is almost doubling her mortgage payments using pre tax dollars – why is this very useful option closed to ADF members?

Maj Bob Gough
ALTC

Response from a spokesperson at CSIG

The issues raised are important ones and I trust the following information will help address your concerns.

Your first question relates to the salary sacrificing/packaging process. If you have entered into a lease with a SmartSalary approved leasing company it would be unlikely that an application to salary sacrifice/package would be refused. The leasing process is as follows:

• ADO member makes arrangements for purchase of vehicle and lease finance through one of the SmartSalary approved novated leasing companies.
• Employee signs Lease Documents provided by the leasing company.
• ADO signs Deed of Novation.
• Employee completes SmartSalary Application and Novated Lease Benefit forms, and submits forms to SmartSalary via fax or mail.
• SmartSalary receives Lease Summary/Schedule from the leasing company. Leasing company provides this information within two business days after lease settlement
• SmartSalary processes salary packaging application form and novated lease application. Forms are processed within two business days of being received.
• SmartSalary orders employees fuel card(s).
• SmartSalary forwards employees their salary packaging confirmation report.
  Fuel cards

A fuel card is ordered on receipt of all required documents from the employee and novated lease provider. Fuel cards usually take 10 business days to be delivered. The Defence contract with SmartSalary sets out performance standards that need to be met. SmartSalary are accountable to Defence and their performance is monitored to ensure that on the whole it is of an appropriate standard.

As you noted, fuel expenses prior to receiving a fuel card and related to the vehicle under novation, can be claimed by submitting a claim and required substantiation.

Salary sacrificing/packaging of a fuel card outside a novated lease arrangement, can’t be done because fuel expenses outside this kind of lease are not FBT exempt. Therefore, it is not beneficial for an employee to salary package fuel expenses outside of this kind of lease arrangement considering fuel outside the arrangement attracts 48.5 per cent FBT.

In regard to mortgage repayments, under the FBT Assessment Act (FBTAA) certain organisations do receive concessional treatment with a rebate available to the prescribed “rebateable employer”. Most common among these organisations are:

Religious institutions, scientific, charitable or public education institutions, certain schools, and public benevolent institutions (mostly hospitals – this is where your references to nurses comes in).

Unfortunately, the FBTAA specifically excludes Government agencies. For Defence (and other Government agencies) full FBT is payable, and therefore there is no tax advantage to the employee in any packaging arrangement.

• SmartSalary has a customised a website for members. By entering an employer code (ADO), all members have access to information regarding salary packaging policy, benefit profiles, benefit forms, and a salary packaging calculator.
• ADO members who become SmartSalary users also receive a unique username and password, giving them access to the information mentioned above and a suite of reports to assist them in monitoring their salary packaging account.
• SmartSalary has a customer service team dedicated to servicing ADO members. The centre operates from 8.30am - 7.30pm (EST) on 1800 632 496.

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Incurable proof

WHY does Pte Rodway or anyone else have to prove that his wife has an incurable illness more than once?

If DCO is so intent on ensuring that the best care is available to members and their dependents, why does Pte Rodway need to spend $1000+ every two years to prove it?

The reponse from DGDCO merely restated policy, of which I am sure Pte Rodway is painfully aware. It then concluded that DCO would not pick up the costs of implementing that policy.

Rather than simply hiding behind policy, how about admitting that this circumstance is unfair on the soldier and his wife, and take steps to fix it. Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, and perhaps the policy would better reflect the situation, and help the soldier and his family.

Perhaps this would enable DCO to realise it vision as stated on their website: “A proactive organisation with a reputation for professionalism in providing valued family and personal support services to the ADF.”

Maj I. Watt
DMO, Melbourne

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Many thanks to the ADF family

I WOULD like to say thank you to all in the Defence community that came to my family’s aid when my wife died suddenly in April this year.

The tragedy that befell my family was very sudden and we had no warning at all.

Within a very short time, I had members of the community supporting me at the hospital and at home when I had to tell our two beautiful girls that mummy was now an angel.

Families from interstate and from the United Kingdom were collected from the airport at all times of the day and night.

If it were not for the Puckapunyal community, I do not know how we would have made it to where we are today.

Jane’s family and mine are so deeply moved by the amount of support we received and appreciate immensely the support given to us to the present day.

We received support from all around Australia and received messages from overseas which were all appreciated immensely.

Again thank you for your messages of support and comfort at this horrible time in our life.

Capt Douglas Lowson
Puckapunyal, Vic

ON behalf of myself and daughters Renee, Tjana and Bekki, I would like to sincerely thank the following units and personnel who organised and/or volunteered to partake in the military funeral service/ceremony of WO2 Nigel Southam, at the Fremantle Crematorium WA, Friday July 9.

Your professionalism and commitment was admired, respected and greatly appreciated.

Thankyou to the DG and the following staff of DCO, Perth:Tania Gironda, Area Manager; you were such a comfort to me Tania, thankyou.

I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to WO1 Andrew Warner, Military Support Officer, Army. Your task isn’t easy Andrew, thankyou for all you did at the time and continue to do now. You truly are a beacon to families such as ours.

I would like to also thank Kade Rogers, from the Naval Imaging Unit, HMAS Stirling. In his own time Kade videotaped Nigel’s funeral servicel for his daughters to watch when they are older. You did this in your own time Kade, thankyou so much.

Thankyou also to Commander 13 Bde, coordinating Nigel’s military funeral.

Special thanks also RSMs, WO1 Harvey Worboys, 13 Bde and WO1 Ashley Heywood, 16RWAR.

The volunteers from your units, did their units proud. Their dress, bearing and professionalism made me as proud, as I know it would have done for Nigel.

The day will come when Nigel’s little girls will watch the video of his funeral; once again, you all will do us proud.

Another special thankyou also goes out to Lt-Col Cheryl Pearce, CO 1 MP Bn who accepted my invitation as official mourner.

Your time, professionalism and kind words were a source of strength, thankyou so much.

A very special thankyou also to Nigel’s pall bearers and accompanying staff from 1 MP Bn, who I know volunteered, out of deep respect for Nigel.

This was an emotionally hard time for you, as all knew Nigel both professionally and personally, sharing many laughs and good times together.

Last, I would like to thank all who sent cards of condolences, e-mails and well wishes to myself and the girls. They were a great source of comfort.

Thanks to Cpl Timothy McNamara at Kapooka. The place of Nigel’s fondest memories.

Your e-mail made me proud and so accurately sums up Nigel as both a soldier and father. Thankyou.

Nigel was the proudest of soldiers, the funniest of men, the most special Daddy in the world and my very best friend.
We all miss him dearly.

Gilda Southam, Qld

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One uniform to another
I MAKE a habit of reading all three Service newspapers when they are available and enjoy the articles within.
I do have an issue with rank abbreviations in the Army paper. Your paper does not habitually use the recognised rank abbreviation.

A fine example is the article on the awarding of a Chief of Army commendation to LCDR Sharkey (note the correct abbreviation for Lieutenant Commander). You also incorrectly abbreviated the rank for CA, LTGEN (is the correct abbreviation for Lieutenant General) Leahy.

I expect a Service newspaper to reflect and uphold the high standards of the Service men and women who defend Australia. I am certain your readers expect to see the application of the correct Service terminology and rank abbreviations. Just a minor mistake but one that is important to those of us who actually wear the uniform.

CPO Lindsay Hock
HQ Defence Force Recruiting

ADF rank is abbreviated in upper-case because it is the style of the ADF. Army uses common English abbreviation style of lower-casing letters that are lower-case when spelled in full. This is our style and it makes sense – Editor.

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A colourful read
NOW that Army can afford colour in the Army paper, it seems we don’t know when to stop; a little like a PowerPoint presentation where every word spoken is there for all to read.

I find the current presentation in style and layout far from reader friendly and wonder if the use of colour achieves the aim.

Maj Werner Voss

Use of colour in Army is as per our style manual – Editor

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Know your Hercs
JUST a minor correction to a caption placed under a photo of the C130 hercules on page 25 – People, July 29.

The Herc in question is a C130J, evidenced by the lack of external fuel tanks between the two sets of engines and the six-bladed propellers.

Flt-Sgt Christopher Hunter
Strategic Lift Co-ordination Cell, NSW

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Tidy barracks award to...
IN reply to Pte M Turner’s letter [Army 1102] reference rubbish.

Put your money on Anglesea Barracks, mate. It is THE cleanest and tidiest barracks in Australia. (Well done to gardener “Perry” Mason!)

I recommend that any member that takes holidays to Tasmania visit the Barracks, as it is the longest-occupied military barracks in Australia and has a lot of great history, as well as an immaculate front lawn.

Cpl J.M.A. de Quincey-Weir
Anglesea Barracks Medical Centre, Tasmania

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Fire your well-aimed shots at a deserving target through the Fire For Effect column.
Keep them short and snappy.

Longer letters will be edited.

HOW TO WRITE TO ARMY NEWS

It is the right of all soldiers to correspond with Army. Soldiers wishing to air their views through letters to the editor have access to the newspaper without using the chain of command.

Letters will be edited for spelling and grammatical errors and newspaper style, and may be edited for space.

Preference is given to typed letters of fewer than 300 words. Letters will be rejected where they are too long, abusive, cover a subject that has been exhausted or can be answered in the author’s unit.

They will be published only when they include the author’s name, unit (where applicable), location and contact number.

Send letters to: The Editor, Army Newspaper, R8-LG-029, Russell Offices, Dept of Defence, Canberra, ACT 2600. Phone (02) 6266 7612, fax (02) 6265 6690 or e-mail : armynews@defencenews.gov.au (Please note this is not an internal e-mail address and therefore requires Sec: Unclassified in the subject line when sending from a DRN terminal)

The opinions expressed in letters to the editor do not represent the views of the editor or the Army.