HAWK RETURNS
HMAS HAWKESBURY: life saver, weapons collector, aid giver and village helper back in triumph

Matt's feet are dry
ABCD Mathew Nolan, 25, had dry feet when Navy News photographer LSPH Damian Pawlenko took this image after Mathew and his ship HMAS Hawkesbury (LCDR Paul Mandziy) returned safely from the Solomon Islands earlier this month.

Downed Huey retrieved
Downed Huey retrieved By SBLT Brendan Burchgart Shark 22, the RAN 817 SQN Sea King Helicopter attached to HMAS Manoora (CMDR Martin Brooker) recovered a downed RNZAF Iroquis (Huey) on the Western side of Guadalcanal late last month.


Bell cements a village friendship
The peal of a bronze ship’s bell will now signal the start and end of work, school and church in Toumoa village, thanks to the generosity of the Kerr family and the Coastal Cruising Club of Australia.


WRA pay talks begin
A pay rise of four per cent per annum over two-and-a-half years has been proposed in the next ADF Workplace Remuneration Arrangement (WRA), which is now ready for consultation.


Navy returns Viarsa to Aussie waters
The operation to bring the suspected fishing poaching vessel Viarsa-1 back to Australia ended on October 3 when a
27-man RAN steaming party under the command of CMDR Paul Bartlett brought the ship into Fremantle harbour.

Dig Deep for a Dollar
Each year in October, the Defence Special Needs Support Group asks Defence personnel across Australia and overseas to put their hands in their pockets and Dig Deep.


Manpower reviews
Navy’s people are a crucial element in the delivery of Navy capability providing our strategic ‘edge’.


Surface FEG manning comes under the microscope
The Chief of Navy, VADM Chris Ritchie, has instructed the Surface Combatant FEG Commander CDRE Keith Malpress to examine the manpower requirements of the Surface Combatant Force.

Canberra rotates through Relex II
In September HMAS Canberra (CMDR Stuart Mayer) completed an Op Relex II rotation. In some ways completely unremarkable, it included some notable moments.

Defence best offence
Navy members honed their defensive skills in a new
tri-service Military Self Defence (MSD) course at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) from September 29 to October 3.


Subs in limbo
A fleet of eight diesel-electric submarines for the Republic of China (Taiwan) could be more than a decade away after Taiwanese navy officials told their US counterparts funding is three years away.

Operation Jaywick remembered
On the morning of September 26 some 50 Australian and British military and High Commission staff gathered at Kranji War Cemetery in Singapore to commemorate Op Jaywick, which had taken place in Singapore some 60 years before.


Bubblies a hit at Sydney surf and dive expo
Navy divers went on display at the inaugural Surf, Water Sports and Dive Expo held at Fox Studios from September 12-14.


Youngsters help celebrate 90 years of Navy music
The RAN tuned into Navy Week 2003 with music celebrating 90 years since the commencement of the first permanent RAN Band in 1913.


Grant is learning lots...at a distance
Poring over textbooks or writing university assignments after flying long days or nights on patrol in The Gulf is not for everyone.

MHQ helps vital unit
Maritime Headquarters has helped a new and vital hospital unit in Sydney continue with its work. The unit is the 30 bed Whitlam Joint Replacement Centre at Fairfield Hospital, which was opened a year ago.


Rod calls it quits after 34 years
LCDR Rod Smith, the Staff Officer Navy Surface Warfare Professional Requirements at NHQ has decided that after 34 years it is time to move to greener pastures and appropriately try his hand as a gentleman farmer.


Albatross digs deep for Cancer research
In August 2002 Lieutenant Craig King of HMAS Albatross (CAPT Simon Cullen) lost his battle against leukaemia.

JP 2077 takes off
The ship’s company of HMAS Tarakan recently took time out from their busy schedule to celebrate the ship’s 30th anniversary of commissioning.

Chris top SMWOC
LEUT Chris Williams was awarded a Sword of Excellence and the Centenary Medal at a ceremony at HMAS Stirling recently.

Award up for grabs
The Australasian Hydrographic Society is again offering its annual education award of $2,500 AUD. The award is open to students studying or proposing to study, within a broad range of maritime disciplines including, but not necessarily limited to, the following:

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