HELPEM FREN OP KICKS IN
HMAS Manoora, (CMDR Martin Brooker) has departed Townsville for the Solomon Islands as part of the ADFs latest operation.

Newcastle off to Gulf
HMAS Newcastle (CAPT Gerry Christian) sailed from Fleet Base East earlier this month for Operation Catalyst in The Gulf.


XWO trialled
For some time now, Navy has been looking at ways to more effectively utilise the skills and experience of Warrant Officers.


Fire quelled aboard Melbourne
Quick action by the ship’s company and the warship’s halon extinguishing system, have quelled a fire in the engine room of HMAS Melbourne, (CMDR Vern Dutschke).


VALE
I just can’t say enough good things about this continent! Pulling into Sydney Harbour was amazing. The Aussies really put out the red carpet for us, and it was a triumphant homecoming for Terry Nealer, our exchange officer.


Kanimbla welcomed home
HMAS Kanimbla (CMDR David McCourt) is safely home. Australia welcomed back the LPA on Thursday, July 17 after a six month absence. What a welcome it was.

Minister releases service conditions for Op Catalyst
Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence Danna Vale said the package of support and benefits recognised the heightened threat situation in Iraq.


Navy launches Charlie into world
Recognition by the ADF that it needs to expand its humanitarian medical capacity in light of Australia’s increased peacekeeping duties has seen the first RAN nurse complete a Defence-financed course in midwifery.


DCN releases new Divisional handbook
DCN’s (RADM Rowman Moffitt) launch of the long-awaited Divisional Staff Handbook 2003 was a highlight of the very successful Canberra area divisional staff seminar on 16 July.

No more red eye special
Many RAN personnel travelled on the “red eye” special, the huge Russian Illyushin 76 transport which lifted them off the RAAF Pearce runway around midnight each week and took them to The Gulf.

New Russian sub to trial mid 2004
Officials expect Saint Petersburg, the first Project 677 Lada-class diesel-electric submarine for the Russian Federation Navy, to begin sea trials in April 2004.


Warrnambool takes biggest catch ever
HMAS Warrnambool (LCDR Mark Sorby) has recently completed a busy patrol schedule in the vicinity of Ashmore Island.

Tassie Devil strikes
On the morning of May 19 while HMAS Launceston (LCDR Michael Gough) was patrolling the waters to the north of Ashmore Island she detected a significant radar contact heading south, inside the “Disputed Zone”.


Cerberus’ DGE 205 graduates
A graduation ceremony is packed with pride, expectation and excitement. and the graduating class of Moran Division General Entry 205 was no exception.


Try before you buy – students get a taste of Navy
On June 16 a new work experience program began at FIMA Perth, HMAS Stirling.


Paluma renews Gilligan’s spirit
“Now, sit right down and hear the tale
The tale of a fateful trip. Taken to a desert isle
Aboard a survey ship”


Security tight as US taskforce visits
Security was tight for the arrival and five day stay of the US Amphbious Task Group One, comprising five capital ships, 6,800 sailors and marines, 30 aircraft and scores of tanks and other vehicles, to Sydney last month.


Coonawarra, Waterhen change command
Two major shore establishments, HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin and HMAS Waterhen in Sydney, as well as the Director of Music and the RAN Band are now under new command.


RN gets first of new tankers
The first of two “double hull” tankers to be used to supply Royal Navy warships with fuel and stores, has gone into service.

Atlas to supply the Royal Malaysian Navy
Cairns-based Atlas Hydrographic has confirmed its receipt of a contract to supply and install its “Hydrosweep” MD-2 30kHz multibeam echo sounder aboard the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) survey vessel, KD Mutiara.

New Catholic Bishop appointed
The ADF has a new Catholic Bishop following the Resignation of Bishop Geoffrey Mayne. He is Monsignor Max Davis, who served in the RAN between 1962 and 1964.

Leadership training takes to the waves
Four instructors have crossed the Indian Ocean to the Middle East to provide vital leadership training to a number of Leading Seamen returning to Australia in HMAS Kanimbla (CMDR David McCourt).

New faces on DHA board
There have been two new appointments to the Board of the Defence Housing Authority.

CR03: Planning finalised
Planning for the ADF’s major training activity for the year, Exercise Crocodile 2003 (CR03), is being finalised at the ADF Warfare Centre, RAAF Base Williamtown.

Aviation training on all time high
The regular presence of Navy personnel at RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria is not normally news.

Kanimbla handover
CMDR David McCourt, who successfully took HMAS Kanimbla and her ship’s company of 350 off to war, and brought them safely home again, has made his final on-board inspection.


Aviators get well at RAAF East Sale
Navy Pilots and Observers are two of the most critical manned categories in the RAN today, but they are on the mend. Elsewhere in this edition you will read that the Navy presence at RAAF East Sale is at an all time high level.

DCN presents prizes at Creswell
Images from the presentation.



Policy Centre provides concentrated focus
On Monday June 30 CDRE Russ Baker on behalf of the RAN and Professor Margret Shiel on behalf of the University of Wollongong signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide ongoing funding for the Centre for Maritime Policy (CMP).


Bill hangs up his spanners
Commander Willem (Bill) Van Boheemen will step ashore from HMAS Kanimbla on September 17 ending a career of 40 years in the Royal Australian Navy.


After 34 yrs Gary pays off
Maritime Commander, RADM Raydon Gates recently presented LCDR Gary Prince with a parting gift.

Do you carry your ID?
Until recently I had fallen into the habit when leaving the workplace of taking off my ID card in its carrier on a neck cord, wrapping it in the cord, and placing it in my tote bag. This usually went into the house when I got home. If I went out at night, and at weekends, the ID remained at home.


Life of type software is implemented
The RAN’s software support for the life of type maintenance management of systems aboard its ships came of age on July 17 with implementation of the new Configuration Management Tool (CMT) at the Anzac Systems Program Office (SPO) at Rockingham, WA.


Fijian apprentices reviewed
Commander Katja Flaherty, Assistant Defence Adviser South Pacific, reviews the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Trade Training School Passing Out Parade 1/2003 which saw thirty RFMF apprentices graduate with a Basic Carpentry and Blocklaying certificate.


Vice Admiral remembers a classmate
As the last notes of the Japanese National Anthem drifted across the tranquil waters of Sydney Harbour last month, white gloved Vice Admiral Kiyosumi Tanigawa stepped forward to place a wreath at the hatch of the conning tower of a World War II Japanese midget submarine.


Band gets standing ovation
“We are the Royal Australian Navy and we are proud to be Australian.”


Shark proves crowd pleaser
The public is always interested in sharks and interest in Shark Zero Two was no different.


Pea soup in top end
Fog is a rarity in the coastal areas of the Northern Territory forming about once every eight to ten years.