Lasting legacy
Outgoing Chief of Navy VADM Chris Ritchie said that Sea Change would be crucial to enable the Navy to meet it’s future objectives in the years to come.

CDF’s final farewell
In silence at the Australian War Memorial’s tomb of the Unknown Soldier, outgoing CDF GEN Peter Cosgrove ended more than 40 years of service to the nation by honouring those Australians who have paid the supreme sacrifice during their service to Australia.


Cosgrove sings praise of new Navy leaders
The future is bright for the Navy and the other services given the quality and experience of the new leadership that is now in place to guide the ADF, GEN Peter Cosgrove said to the RAN during his last address as CDF at HMAS Kuttabul on June 30.


Sailor receives royal treatment
A Western Australian naval officer was presented a medal for excellence from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in a ceremony held onboard HMS Invincible recently.

New beginnings as Navy Chief bids farewell
As the sun set over HMAS Harman on July 3, WO-N David Turner presented VADM Chris Ritchie with the Chief of Navy’s flag as it was lowered for the last time.

Sailor fire-fighting fit
CDRE Matt Tripovich presented the Bradley Meek Perpetual Shield to POMT John Young at the RAN School of Survivability and Ships’ Safety at HMAS Stirling recently.

STG instructor’s Stirling work
A member of the Royal Australian Navy’s Sea Training Group has won the prestigious Instructor of the Year award in the “on the job training” category.

Piloting pinnacle
“The pinnacle of my career.” That’s how LCDR Paul Bates described his golden opportunity piloting the US Navy’s oldest active warship, the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk, through Sydney Harbour to Garden Island recently.

Talisman reunion a great success
Afloat support group ships HMAS Success and HMAS Westralia came together for the first time in almost two-anda- half years for Exercise Talisman Sabre.

Luck is a lady
Commissioning Ladies farewelled and welcomed patrol boats being decommissioned and commissioned within 24 hours in Darwin on June 23 and 24.

Tobruk’s Oz touchdown
The RAN’s amphibious ship HMAS Tobruk (CMDR Nick Bramwell) has returned to Australia after a successful mission to The Gulf, as part of Operation Catalyst, in support of the Al Muthanna Task Group in Iraq.


Darwin’s sweet return
The scene at Garden Island in Fleet Base West recently was one of joy and relief from the friends and family of HMAS Darwin’s deployed personnel.

New publication delves into past
The second doctrinal publication in the RAN’s history, The Navy Contribution to Australian Maritime Operations, has been formally launched at a ceremony at Maritime Headquarters in Sydney on June 21.

Hard tasks underway
Laying the groundwork for Iraqi forces to take over responsibility for maritime security operations around the oil platforms and within their territorial waters, is one of the main aims of the Australian-led Task Force 58 (TF58).


Waves cease for historic station
After 66 years service to the Royal Australian Navy, the Belconnen Naval Transmitting Station has stopped sailing the radio waves, officially switching off for the last time on June 30.

Talking points