BRIEFS

Anzac anniversary

HMAS Anzac (CAPT Richard Menhinick) has recently celebrated her 8th birthday.

Commissioned on May 18, 1996, Anzac’s 8th anniversary coincided with the culmination of a major refit activity at HMAS Stirling.

The first of eight Australian FFH Anzac Class frigates, HMAS Anzac was built by Tenix Shipyards in Williamstown, Melbourne.

The keel was laid on November 5, 1993 with launching taking place on September 16, 1994. Following successful trials, she was home-ported in WA. In her eight years of service, Anzac has steamed 287,677 nautical miles.

She is currently undergoing System Qualification Trials and pre-deployment and workup preparations.

Taxing times ahead

The Australian Taxation Office is producing a guide for members of the ADF to help them claim all their entitlements.

The booklet, Occupational Ruling Summary – Australian Defence Force members, will be available from the Tax Office from the end of the month.

It is not yet available on the internet. The publication will include information on claiming deductions for work-related expenses.

Such deductions include uniform purchase, repair and cleaning and, in the case of categories such as Physical Training Instructors, Clearance Divers and special forces, the costs of fitness programs.

The booklet also includes tips on completing taxation returns.

The Taxation Office also has an on-line tax preparation and lodgement facility, e-tax, to help claim deductions and the baby bonus.

The office says most people who use e-tax will receive their refunds within 14 days of lodgement.

Occupational rulings and tax information can be found on the web at www.ato.gov.au

Solomons mishap

A Senior Sailor from the 316-tonne heavy landing craft, HMAS Tarakan (LEUT A. Willmore), was badly hurt when he fell into a ravine on the Florida Islands north of Honiara earlier this month.

The sailor was conducting a routine village visit when the accident happened on Thursday, June 3.

He was in the Solomons as part of Operation Anode.

A call went out for medical assistance and a Royal New Zealand Air Force Iriquois helicopter was dispatched.

The aircraft encountered hazardous weather conditions, but its crew persisted and reached the accident site. The helicopter wa

Archive calls for volunteers

The Australians at War Film Archive is keen to record interviews with Navy members who have served in operations since 1990.

The interviews will form part of a national collection to be used by bodies including researchers and film-makers. Volunteers should have command approval before registering their interest with the archive, as interviews are expected to last a full day.

To apply, call CMDR Murray Baker, DNMHSC, on (02) 6266 4993.

Terror threat addressed

The Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) meeting in Singapore has taken a significant step forward in addressing the threat of terrorism in the region.

The FPDA is a partnership between Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom that has been in place for more than 30 years, focused primarily on conventional security issues in the region.

Defence Minister Senator Robert Hill welcomed the move by the FPDA to expand the focus of the arrangements to look at cooperating on non-conventional threats in the region, such as terrorism and maritime security.

Essay competition

The Sea Power Centre Australia, on behalf of Chief of Navy, VADM Chris Ritchie, is inviting members of the RAN of commander rank and below to enter the 2004 Peter Mitchell Essay Competition.

Entrants can be full-time members or Reservists who have served at least 20 days in the 12 months prior to November 14, 2004.

The competition is open to all members of British Commonwealth navies and is a memorial and legacy of Peter Stuckey Mitchell.

Mitchell was a successful cattle and racehorse breeder who, at his death in 1921, left an estate valued at 215,000 pounds.

The competition provides for an open section with a $750 prize. All essays are eligible for this prize. There is an officer’s section with a $500 prize and a sailor’s section, also with a $500 prize.

Full rules for the competition, together with the entry declaration form, are available from www.navy.gov.au/spc or by contacting LCDR Glenn Kerr on (02) 6127 6505.

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