Spanish ship out to impress us The Alvaro de Bazan, a Spanish Navy F-100 multi-purpose frigate equipped with the state-of-the-art Aegis combat system, berthed at three Australian ports including Sydney’s Fleet Base East as part of a goodwill visit Down Under recently.

Valuable online fact finder An online training initiative to help ADF members find information on their pay and conditions is set to be rolled out later this month.

Soldier’s remains recovered A Defence Maritime Services vessel based at HMAS Kuttabul (CMDR Mark Todd) has recovered the remains of SAS Trooper Joshua Porter and the Army Black Hawk from a depth of almost 3,000 metres off the coast of Fiji.

Nurses visit the original RAN nursing sisters from Balmoral Naval Hospital at HMAS Penguin wound back the hands of time to a by-gone era when they visited one of the Navy’s originals recently.

Award for ‘miracle worker’ HMAS Kuttabul’s “miracle working” physiotherapist who Navy News reported last year had saved the service careers of many seriously injured RAN and ADF personnel has received a well-earned commendation.

High seas rescue HMAS Mermaid (LCDR Mike Pounder) lived up to her motto of “No Task Is Too Arduous” when she defied rough weather to rescue seven people from a sinking fishing boat in the Torres Strait on March 5.

Welcome Bundaberg Hard work paid off as HMAS Bundaberg (LCDR Rod Newbold) commissioned into the Fleet at the marina in the port of Bundaberg.

Future fleet officers graduate SBLT Dave Egan scored a well-earned double at the Junior Warfare Officer Application Course (JWAC) 43 graduation at HMAS Watson on February 28.

Motto matches deed Navy Minehunter HMAS Gascoyne lived up to her motto “Return to the Sea” when the crew released a number of marine animals back into the ocean after discovering them entangled in a three kilometre gillnet.

ADF revs up Clipsal 500 Navy along with its Army and Air Force counterparts was a key attraction at South Australia’s largest annual sports event, the Clipsal 500 motor sport carnival, held recently in Adelaide’s east parklands.

Gascoyne returns to Top End HMAS Gascoyne (LCDR Max Muller) has returned to Op Resolute duties for another round.

Hobart warms to Navy Week Commodore Clinton Thomas officially launched the Navy Week program in Tasmania at an event on the Parliament House lawns where local dignitaries and members of the public were also entertained by a performance by the Royal Australian Navy Band.

Lark Force honoured The crew of HMAS Benalla has restored a monument to 160 men of Lark Force and honoured their memory on the 65th anniversary of their deaths.

Briefs
Cerberus gains $14m upgrade
Full operational capability

Sirius goes back to the future at Norfolk Island HMAS Sirius explored some historic links when she visited Norfolk Island earlier this month.

Billboard
Reunion planned for October
Bataan veterans on notice
Cairns gathers bubblies
Navy apprentices ho!

SEACHANGE - Refit is sailor friendly Here is another example of how the impact of Navy requirements has been reduced to the minimum level possible whilst maintaining the level of capability required.
Also:
- Armidale boats display class of new conditions
- Medal on track to be delivered