ADML Barrie

By any standards 2000 has been a momentous year for the Australian Defence Force across a wide range of activities and operations.

I continue to be very impressed with the enthusiasm and dedication with which you meet our commitments.

While I would prefer to do this personally, let me begin this Christmas message by congratulating all the men and women of the Navy, Army and Airforce and the department for the magnificent contribution that everyone has made to another very successful year.

I have received numerous letters of congratulations from across Australia and from Government about our performance during this past year. These letters have been very complimentary about our professionalism and the dedication all our personnel have shown while carrying out various tasks throughout this year.

With our ongoing commitment to East Timor, Bougainville, the Middle East and now the Solomons, our operation tempo continues to grow

I am also very well aware that for some elements of the ADF your commitment has been non-stop for nearly two years. The service chiefs and I recognise this; we will make every effort over the coming year to ensure that people are able to take their recreational leave and, in some cases, have an appropriate operational pause.

We never quite know what is around the corner; it is this unexpectedness that makes Defence such an extraordinary and interesting place to work. This is also why working in our organisation is so much more than just a job. The Government and people of Australia have told us in no uncertain terms that they understand this and they have reinforced the uniqueness of the Profession of Arms. Your outstanding performance has been the key to this recognition and I have no doubt that your continuing performance will reinforce this level of support from the Australian community.

The release of the White Paper gives us a clear mandate and a budgetary foundation on which to base our future and sets the direction for our future. It will put us in pretty good shape.

So, although demands have increased and more is expected from us by the Government and the community and, in many cases ourselves, we should be better placed than at any other time in recent history to respond.

Finally, I want to pay tribute to your families and loved ones for their perseverance and "hanging in there" over recent times. As our operational tempo has risen we have placed increased demands on them to support us. They have risen in so many ways to this challenge so I encourage you all to make as much special time for your best supporters over this coming holiday period as you can.

I know that 2001 will be yet another exciting and challenging year. We will have much valuable work to do. In the meantime, may I wish you and your families a very safe, happy and enjoyable Christmas break.

ADML. C. A. Barrie, Chief of the Defence Force.