Water Rats
Navy welcoms large number of water rats
The Royal Australian Navy’s Diving School has entered an unprecedented high level of training.


High response rate to study
The first information gathering phase of the Behavioural Baseline Reserach (BBR) study which will measure Occupational Health and safety (OHS) behaviours and attitudes across the organisation, is now complete with organisers pleased with the high response rates.


Nottingham back
Looking much better these days is HMS Nottingham. The British ship is back at sea after repairs costing more than 50 million pounds.


Shark Shield clarification
Navy was considering a trial of the Shark Shield divers’ safety device, but no decision had yet been taken, the acting Chief of Staff, Maritime Headquarters, CDRE Kevin Taylor, said last week.


Sharpen safety edge
Remain vigilant. That’s the message from HMAS Stirling’s acting CO LCDR Tony Young who has urged all Navy personnel to be aware after security was breached at Fleet Base West last month.

Handover in Baghdad
Brigadier Peter Hutchinson has replaced Commodore Campbell Darby as the Australian commander in the Middle East Area of Operations.

BRIEFS

Budget lays firm foundation
Defence’s share of the Budget is part of a longer-than-usual-term plan to keep developing a small highlycapable force, superbly trained and equipped with the best platforms on the sea, land and air.

Navies descend on Garden Island
In times of war or periods of tension it is vital for navies to know where civilian ships are going and what cargoes they are carrying.

Training role honoured by NSW Governor
Commander Warren Bairstow was one of a number of personnel to formally receive awards under the Australian Honours and Awards program from the Governor of NSW, Professor Marie Bashir recently.

Fishing blitz nets nine new boats
The patrol boat HMAS Whyalla (LCDR Tim Byles) along with Customs boats and planes and Defence aircraft, has been involved in Operation Sharkfin, a blitz on illegal fishermen in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Endeavour impresses in Cairns
If you happened to be at HMAS Cairns recently you may have noticed a ship that looked rather out of place berthed at the wharf.

Melville’s mercy dash
A “PAN” emergency message saw the hydrographic ship HMAS Melville dash to the assistance of a 14-metre catamaran with three men and two women aboard near Cairns late last month.

Fire fighting all part of the job
Putting out a restaurant fire, doing a Freedom of Entry, conducting “open house” and taking 30 Australian Naval Cadets on a sea ride were all part of a busy four-day visit to Melbourne for LCDR Bryan Parker and his ship’s company in patrol boat HMAS Bendigo.

Black Knight targets busy schedule
HMAS Rankin (LCDR Steve Hussey), recently commenced six-month deployment that will cover 18,000 nautical miles with visits to four ports and a road trip to Cobar for Freedom Of Entry.

Tantalising taste buds
A chef from HMAS Dechaineux (LCDR Simon Rusiti) is set to become a television identity after taking a starring role in the latest filming of a South Australian-based cooking show.

Five powers converge
The 3,400 tonne frigate HMAS Arunta (CMDR Brad Wheeler) has taken part in an important exercise in support of the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FDPA).

Patrol boats link in Fiji
HMAS Bunbury (LCDR Andy Schroder) in company with HMAS Warrnambool (LCDR John Navin) recently conducted a successful port visit, to Lautoka in Fiji.

Freedom for Tarakan
Bowen residents saw pomp and ceremony on Friday, April 23, when the officers and crew of landing craft HMAS Tarakan received Freedom of Entry to the city.

Pedalling plenty of memories
Twenty five punctures, replacement saddles all around and one new pedal just memories for 11 members of the ship’s company of HMAS Parramatta who last month “raced” their ship 2050 kilometres down the east coast Australia.

Successful NZ trip
Earlier this year sailors from the 17,933 tonne fleet oiler, HMAS Success, raised $4982 during an 886km charity cycle ride through the north island of New Zealand.

Mine the warning signs
The laying of mines across major sea lane choke points such as the Singapore Straits would bring major economic disruption to the world economy, the Singapore Defence Minister, RADM (NS) Teo Chee Hean warned recently.

Yarra helps explode ordnance
Unexploded ordnance left over from World War is one of the scourges of life on many of the Pacific Islands. The Solomon Islands are an example.

Day to remember
For SMN Harley Ahearn who joined the Navy straight from school, life at sea on board HMAS Labuan has been an occasion to remember.

BULLETIN BOARD