IN BRIEF
Volume 11, No. 55, November 02, 2006

MRH 90 funding
A $20 MILLION project to provide new facilities to accommodate the MRH 90 at RAAF Base Townsville has received parliamentary approval. Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said the facilities would support the operation, training and maintenance requirements for the troop-lift helicopters.

They will include a state-of-the-art mission planning and computer-based training facility and a composites material workshop. The project will also upgrade some existing facilities used by Black Hawks and build a new Army Aviation Training Facility to provide transition training on the MRH 90. Construction is expected to begin later this year for completion by early 2008.

Motorcycle training
TRAINING under the Defence Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Campaign will be available from November 2. This follows the evaluation of course provider tenders and the completion of contracts. DI(G) 55-3 sets out the policy, guidelines and procedures for those wishing to enhance their on-road or off-road riding skills by attending a training course.

Meanwhile, the ADF Motorcycle Association (ADFMA) has negotiated insurance discounts for its members through Arista Underwriting Agency and New England Insurance. For more details on training courses and the insurance discount, visit the ADFMA site at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/armyweb/sites/adfma

CA offline
SOLDIERS are advised that the ‘Speak to the CA’ website will go offline for the stand down period from December 7 to January 28.

LEAP step
DEFENCE has taken a significant step forward in the improvement of permanent living accommodation for single members at Holsworthy, Enoggera and RAAF Base Amberley. Plenary Living has been selected as the preferred partner in a public-private partnership under Project Single Living Environment and Accommodation Precinct (LEAP) Phase 1.

The new accommodation – a total of 1295 rooms – will offer independent living styles for long-term living-in ADF personnel. It will feature self-contained apartments with telephone and internet access, secure storage for personal possessions and undercover parking for motor vehicles.

Centre’s day
THE Defence Groups in Gallipoli (DeGIG) Community Centre, about to celebrate its first birthday, invites more military spouses to enjoy the facility. The centre was opened on November 12 last year and now has almost 200 military partners who regularly use the facility, situated in the old Henry Dalziel Club.

DeGIG spokeswoman Tammi de Goede said the centre had day and evening activities open to all military spouses, and it welcomed ideas for new activities. Inquiries to Mrs de Goede on 0431 738 248..