The
Defence Department’s Director of Housing and Removals Policy,
Adrian Wellspring, says ADF home buyers need to be alert to
Defence policies regarding housing assistance, but should not
be alarmed by points raised in an article from the Armed Forces
Federation of Australia (Navy News, June 3).
Mobility is a fact of life for ADF members and it is unreasonable
for members to leave their own houses vacant in their losing
localities, he says.
While there is a reasonably predictable posting cycle, a variety
of factors can drive the need to post members and impact upon
their personal arrangements. Housing Assistance is provided
to ADF members on the basis of need.
If a member has a suitable own home in the posting locality
he or she is generally not entitled to housing assistance.
There is flexibility to provide housing assistance where a member
is posted back to a locality where they have a suitable own
home and, having taken all reasonable steps to obtain vacant
possession of the home, the member is unable to occupy that
home.
This situation is very different from a member who purchases
a home in a current posting locality, knowing that an existing
lease would prevent them from occupying that home.
The two situations are treated quite differently because of
the free choice of the member in the latter situation.
A member may view purchase of a home in the locality of posting
as more desirable than other forms of housing assistance.
If this is the case, the reasonable step to take is to avoid
purchasing a property that would preclude the member taking
vacant possession in the time limit specified in the ADF Pay
and Conditions Manual.
If members choose not to occupy a suitable own home, they are
not eligible for housing assistance. Members who purchase a
suitable own home but are unable to occupy it in the specified
time frame can negotiate with DHA to remain in the Service Residence
and pay market rent beyond the date when their entitlement to
housing assistance ceases.
Approval would be subject to whether the house is required for
another member.
Defence policy also provides for a removal from a service residence
or rent allowance property to the member’s own home or for a
removal to store while obtaining vacant possession of their
home.
The Approving Authority can approve storage at public expense
if satisfied that storage is required for reasons beyond the
member’s control.
Bell
tolls for band members
By
Graham Davis
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Award
recipients, from left, LSMUSN Meredith Reeves, LSMUSN
Chris Palamountain and ABMUSN Sonya Henderson with LEUT
Andrew Stokes.
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Photo
ABPH Nina Nikolin
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Presentations
of naval medals and badges usually take place on flight decks
of ships, quarterdecks of bases or in auditoriums.
It is not often, then, that awards are presented in a cathedral.
Late last month the Return from Active Service Badge was presented
to three RAN musicians who had served in HMAS Kanimbla during
Operation Falconer.
While on board the 8,450 tonne amphibious transport ship they
had taken on duties as medical attendants and members of the
flight deck landing party.
Their aviation duties saw them land and depart 15 different
types of Coalition helicopters.
The trio is now back in Australia and continuing duties with
the Sydney detachment of the Navy Band.
They are ABMUSN Sonya Henderson, 26, from Sydney, LSMUSN Meredith
Reeves, 29, of Newcastle and LSMUSN Chris Palamountain, 26,
from Adelaide. Last month the trio was part of the wind section
of the detachment which provided a lunchtime recital at St Andrew’s
Cathedral in Sydney.
RAN members and more than 150 members of the public attended
the one-hour concert.
The trio are just three of a number of musicians who have recently
been put in harm’s way.
In December and January, 17 musicians led by the RAN’s director
of music, LCDR Phil Anderson, went to Baghdad to provide Christmas
entertainment for Coalition personnel based there.
