Gulf
changes
HMAS Stuart, under the command of CMDR Phil Spedding was due to
take up her Operation Catalyst duties in the Middle East on April
5 after a handover by CMDR Vern Dutschke in HMAS Melbourne.
Melbourne is expected home in Sydney late in April after brief
stops in Darwin and Townsville.
Top level meeting
Defence Minister Senator Robert Hill recently met with his counterpart
Senior General Pham Van Tra, Vietnam’s Minister of Defence.
It is the first time a Vietnamese Minister of Defence has visited
Australia.
The visit was only a few weeks after the commemoration of the
31st anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and
Vietnam.
Senator Hill said the Australian-Vietnamese bilateral relationship
was one of growing political, strategic and economic importance.
Tingira
memorial
Hundreds of serving and former naval personnel, Australian Naval
Cadets, the RAN brass band quintet, family, friends, school students
and local residents crowded into the Rose Bay RSL Club for the
opening of the refurbished HMAS Tingira Memorial Park in Rose
Bay.
The opening, on March 7, had been transferred from the park to
the club auditorium because of rain. The memorial was created
to remember the youth that trained aboard HMAS Tingira, known
to many as the White Lady of Rose Bay, between 1912 and 1927.
Blood needed
The Australian Red Cross Blood Service (ARCBS) - NSW was established
during preparations for World War II to address the need for the
provision of adequate emergency blood supplies and transfusion
services for soldiers involved in the war effort.
Now the call has gone out for more blood. April is historically
a difficult time to collect sufficient blood, due to the Easter
and ANZAC public holidays, which can result in 12,000 fewer collections.
The Australian Red Cross Blood Service requests the assistance
and support of all community members to attract more donors, by
encouraging a friend or family member to donate blood this April.
Giving blood can be a positive act to remember those who lost
their lives for Australia. Donors over the age of 70 require their
doctors approval.
For information about donating blood, locations and to make an
appointment phone 131495 or log on to www.donateblood.com.au.
Clean
sweep
HMAS Gascoyne (LCDR Dean Schopen), recently completed a successful
minesweeping trial as part of Exercise Mulgogger, held at Jervis
Bay.
This was the first time that over 90 per cent of the crew had
been exposed to minesweeping. During the trial, Gascoyne successfully
swept a practice minefield which held three buoyant mines.
Whyalla survivors
Whyalla (LCDR Tim Byles) ship’s company conducted a Survivor Timed
Team Challenge during a recent respite at Cape Fourcroy, Bathurst
Island.
In teams of three, survivors had to negotiate the course around
Whyalla in the ship’s LUB using only the paddles provided.
The winning team was ABBM Kym Hermsen, SMNMT Ben Loftus and LSBM
Adrian Shorrocks coming out on top over ABCIS Max Gardener, CPOMT
Andrew Jocumsen and ABMT Adam Lutovac.
Early training
Six young people from the Western Australian area spent a day
onboard HMAS Adelaide to find out what life is like at sea.
The six were the first to try a new defence recruiting initiative
that allows potential recruits to spend a day at sea before deciding
on whether they want to join up.
The program is an initiative of Perth Defence Recruiting. The
group were interested in a variety of specialisations although
many were keen in working below decks as a Marine Technical sailor.
Spire
back
In August of 2003 a fierce windstorm swept across much of Sydney.
South Head and HMAS Watson were badly hit by the 80-knot wind
gusts.
Buildings were damaged including the landmark Watson Chapel. Its
roof was damaged and its copper clad spire knocked to the ground.
Quick repairs saw the chapel back in use, however, much work was
needed to repair the spire.
On February 16 a large mobile crane was brought in and the spire
returned.
