ADMIRATION
Prime Minister’s collective message to the men and women of the ADF:
I admire you all greatly. I have worked very hard in the time I have been Prime Minister to give strong support to the men and women of the ADF. You are held in very high esteem in the Australian community.

Terrorism can be beaten
If the ADF does not fight terror overseas then it’s likely to become a menace in Australia, according to Prime Minister John Howard.


Safety awards
Does your organisation deserve recognition for the work being done or can you think of someone who is making a significant personal contribution to safety?


Sea Change looking at the year in review
It is almost a year since Sea Change began and Navy News looks at some of the changes that have occurred.

Police patrol GI roads
The boys in blue will be out and about on Western Australia’s Garden Island enforcing the rules of the road.

Respect the ADF way
On the first day of my appointment as CDF I drew a line in the sand. I publicly stated that neither I nor my chiefs would tolerate harassment or bullying of any sort.

Benefits pack not so remote
More than 11,000 Australian Defence Force members, including approximately 1,200 Navy members, will benefit from new Service allowances and conditions in Northern Australia.

Whyalla’s White Ensign retired
What’s the wet weather routine, I asked. “We get wet” was the reply and while Cairns had had periodic rain over the days preceding the decommissioning of HMAS Whyalla, the rain held off on the day.

Sydney set to sail
Cheered on by a large crowd of sailors and ADI technicians, HMAS Sydney undocked from Captain Cook Graving Dock last month, ready to set sail.

Briefs

Anzac class on the radar
A world-class anti-ship missile capability is a step closer for the Anzac class ships with the announcement of a new radar system. CEA Technologies in Canberra will provide a lightweight Active Phased Array Radar system designed to give the Navy significant capability boost.

A taste of Thai
RAN officers got a ‘birds-eye view’ of a foreign warship when the Royal Thai Navy’s Naresuan class missile frigate HTMS Taksin visited Sydney last month.


WWII sailors reunite
Former Royal Navy sailors of the WW2 British Pacific and East Indies Fleets visited Sydney and reunited with their RAN mates in a reunion ceremony held at Garden Island on August 31.

Bulletin board

Not so old salt
In a 21st birthday celebration of a different kind, HMAS Gladstone passed her milestone in style this month, with more than 570,000nm on the clock.


Flag signals start of something special
When flag Alpha flew at the Clearance Diving Team Four headquarters last month it was not to indicate divers in the water, but rather it was for a very special reason.

Meals on the run
Their work is critical to Iraq’s future, but to be honest it could easily send you around the twist.

Sailor commended
CPO Stephen Thorbjonsen from HMAS Anzac was presented with a commendation from the Maritime Commander, RADM Davyd Thomas on Anzac’s arrival into Australia at FBW.

Ship’s home run
It had to happen eventually. HMAS Anzac’s Northern Trident deployment ended last month with the frigate’s return to Fleet Base West.

Talking points