Lip-synch
The RAN’s coastal minehunter HMAS Diamantina
(LCDR Paul Scott) has helped recover an 18-year-old Solomon Islands girl abducted six months ago.

Breathing Buddies
Operational honours for divers in Arabian Gulf.


Major changes unsurpassed in history
The recent announcement of key outcomes from the Defence Capability Review have highlighted significant improvements for Navy.


Floating new technology
They are about two metres long, painted bright orange and are called Argo floats.


Missile packs some punch
The SM2 missile, which has been earmarked for the Navy’s FFGs under the Defence Capability Review, has been described as the world’s premier surface-to-air defence weapon.


Moving services for Newcastle
HMAS Newcastle (CAPT Gerry Christian) had the opportunity to be involved in two Remembrance Day celebrations this year while participating in Operation Catalyst in the Arabian Gulf.

Top job in Baghdad passes to Navy
Commodore Campbell Darby has taken up his appointment as commander of the Australian forces in the Middle East Area of Operations.


Aerospace position has Bell ringing
The Royal Australian Navy can lay claim to a coup within Aerospace hierarchy following the recent appointment of CMDR Graham Bell to the position of Director Aerospace Combat Development.


Navy snags new museum display
The Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) at Darling Harbour Sydney will open a new exhibition on the history of the RAN on December 10.

Survey conference plumbs new depth
It is called Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) and it is something Defence managers planning a troop landing or littoral operations need.

Operational honours
Twenty-six RAN personnel, two ships and a clearance diving unit were acknowledged in a list of Operation Falconer honours, announced on November 27.


Tax ruling a win for Navy
The Tax Office has recently released a Class Ruling
(CR 2003/94) which provides members with confirmation of the taxation treatment of their earnings while serving in the Solomon Islands as part of operation ANODE.

Farewell follows fine tradition
The traditions of rowing the departing Commanding Officer ashore took place at HMAS Cerberus late last month.

Pea soup greets Calgary
The Canadian warship HMCS Calgary, with warning siren sounding, trotted out of a rare pea soup fog swirling across Sydney Harbour on November 20.


DCN gives to worthy appeal
Deputy Chief of Navy RADM Rowan Moffitt has presented Peter Cooke-Russell, Secretary of the Naval Association of Australia (NAA) over $1,700 for the George Cross Appeal.


Lucky escape for fishermen
HMAS Fremantle (LCDR Matt Brown) went to the aid of an Indonesian fishing vessel in distress approximately 300 nautical miles north-west of Darwin on November 12.

Cooks satiate hungry fans
There were thousands of mouths to feed in the past two months at Telstra Stadium.


SA turns out in force
Navy Week in South Australia was a great success with the Adelaide community turning out in large numbers to support the week and in particular tour HMAS Darwin
(CMDR Aaron Ingram) and HMNZS Te Kaha.


Vics show true colours
Navy Week in Victoria from October 26 to November 5 attracted large crowds to a variety of colourful activities.

Flying visit by former pupils
The one teacher, 30 pupil, Tanja Public School on the far south coast of NSW prepared the brothers Hissink, Joel, Paul and Ben, well for careers in the Royal Australian Navy.

Portrait proves valuable
Petty Officer clearance diver Gavin Stevens, a veteran of two Gulf Wars, has a $9,600 price on his head in the nicest sense of the term.

Trust explains changes
The Vietnam Veterans Trust has just had a change of name, a change of chairman and an expanded role.

Sad farewell for RADM Hammond
A Naval commemorative service for the late RADM Nick Hammond AO RAN Rtd, was held at Keswick Officers’ Mess, Adelaide, South Australia.

Young life mourned
LEUT Celene Harris died suddenly on September 29 of complications caused by epilepsy.

Pay arrangements under scrutiny
Federation back with first instalment in monthly column for Navy News

Cadets adjust their sights
Twenty-five Naval Cadets from TS Sirius and five St George area Air Cadets have undertaken rifle shooting training at the Anzac Rifle Range in Sydney.


Web nets new set of recruits
More than 27,000 Navy, Army and Air Force cadets from across Australia will learn how to build their own CadetNet unit website in an initiative which will revolutionise cadet communication.

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