Forces join in Malaysia
HMA Ships Yarra (LCDR M. Treeby) and Norman (LCDR T. WATSON), and AUSCDTONE last month took part in the Western Pacific MCMEX/DIVEX 2006, an exercise in the idyllic waters of Malaysia’s east coast.

Spearhead on fishing
The RAN will help spearhead Operation Resolute that was launched on July 17 to enhance the security of Australia’s offshore maritime areas.


Top flight awards
Three HMAS Albatross personnel who topped their respective courses, LEUT Chris Clyde, CPO Matthew Hyam and LS Bradley Mills, received the Fleet Air Arm Association annual Medallions of Merit last month.


Names for new patrol boats
Two additional Armidale Class Patrol Boats (ACPBs), announced as part of the Government’s Securing Australia’s North West Shelf policy, will be named Glenelg and Maryborough.


Boats all tied up
LCDRs Gavin Baker and Matthew Doornbos and their crews have farewelled their patrol boats Gawler and Geelong from service in the RAN.


Here’s cheers to HMAS Albany
A small pod of whales breached and began playing in Princess Royal Harbour at Albany, WA shortly after HMAS Albany commissioned on July 15.

NSW managers now on the job
The doors have opened for DSCM-FBE, marking the end of the major Sea Change initiative to establish local career management centres in waterfront locations around Australia

Operational relief rules tested
A three-month trial of the Operational Relief (OR) business rules are underway as part of the Sea Change program.

Visitors manage to curry favour
The Indian Navy Talwar Class missile frigate, INS Tabar, managed to curry favour with the RAN through a range of delicious food served at the official receptions she hosted during port visits to Fremantle and Sydney recently.

Anzac makes a comeback
With the completion of a systems upgrade that provides for enhanced lethality and survivability in the maritime battlespace, HMAS Anzac (CAPT Ian Middleton) has taken aim at the challenge of completing her work-up program and supporting the RAN’s high operational tempo.

Melb gets wet again
The RAN’s FFG Upgrade Project is continuing to mark progress, with the second guided missile frigate HMAS Melbourne (CMDR Tony Raeside) undocking ahead of schedule at FBE.

Hydro safety award
Safer sailing on the Great Barrier Reef – the result of collaboration by Navy’s Laser Airborne Depth Sounder Flight and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority – has won them the Australasian Hydro graphic Society Maritime Safety Achievement Group Award.

Instructors on receiving end
LEUT Desmond Woods was recently acknowledged as the 2005 RAN Instructor of the Year in a formal instructional billet, in recognition of his performance in the TA-ITLM.

Walking for a cause
The Diabetes Unit at Sydney Children’s Hospital will benefit by $18,000 as a result of the Navy Walk for Diabetes in Canberra on June 16.

Gulf actions subject of new book
Australia’s Navy in the Gulf, a 100-page book detailing the Australian Navy’s ongoing activities in the Middle East region has just been released by the Sea Power Centre – Australia.

Navy farewells a loyal leader
The Chief of Navy, VADM Russ Shalders, AO, CSC, RAN, has expressed his sadness and sympathies at the passing of CAPT Christopher Percival whose distinguished naval career included two deployments to the Middle East.

Scrap Iron Flotilla story told
The courage of the sailors who crewed the Scrap Iron Flotilla which for nine months defied the Desert Fox, Erwin Rommel and swarms of German dive-bombers to keep the Rats of Tobruk supplied with vital war supplies was recounted by war veterans recently.