A hat’s tale: out to sea and back When ABSN Amanda McGrath lost her hat overboard from HMAS Ballarat she gave up hope of ever seeing it again. But that was just the start of the story.

Special visit The Commander Australian Fleet, Rear-Admiral Davyd Thomas, made a special visit to a NSW central coast hospital to honour Grahame Thomson, a seriously ill WWII veteran.

Waller wows PM Prime Minister John Howard and Defence Minister Brendan Nelson were treated to a simulated attack on a ‘hostile warship’ during a visit to the revamped Collins class submarine, HMAS Waller, on April 3.

Retirement age boost Sweeping changes announced by the Minister for Defence, Dr Brendan Nelson, earlier this month mean that fit, capable and keen members of the Navy will be allowed to serve well beyond the old retirement age.

Yarra joins Resolute HMAS Yarra (LCDR S.A.G. Andrews) has steamed north to join her sister ships HMA Ships Hawkesbury and Gascoyne in the fight against the armada of foreign fishing vessels poaching Australia’s fish stocks.

Jolly day for captain Jordan An escape to Navy life was just what the doctor ordered for one young man when he was granted a very special wish last month.

Do you want to be an Engineer? To assist in making the decision to become an engineering officer it is best to engage the deputy or engineering HOD.

Scram spam The ADF is calling on all email users to help deliver this simple message and keep its computer networks free of unsolicited traffic and viruses – “Tell spam to scram”.

Sydney happy with search The ship’s company of HMAS Sydney (CMDR Guy Holthouse) say they strongly support plans by an ocean surveying company to use an advanced multi-beam echo-sounder system to search for Sydney II.

Investigators merge The investigative knowledge and powers of the Army, Air Force and Navy have merged to form a new capability – the ADF Investigative Service (ADFIS).

Pay boost for instructors An allowance for Navy members filling an instructor’s position is being finalised to reflect the extra experience and responsibilities entailed with the role.

Focus on ADF single living Potentially one of the largest private public partnership social infrastructure projects in Australia, the Single Living Environment and Accommodation Precinct (Single LEAP) Phase 2 has been referred to the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Public Works, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Mr Peter Lindsay, announced.

Melbourne races off with a bang HMAS Melbourne (CMDR Stephen Hughes) returned to her namesake city to take part in the Melbourne to Osaka yacht race and associated activities.

SEACHANGE - Careers opening up The RAN has become aligned to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) system of professional qualifications through the implementation of the Navigation Watch Certificate (NWC) and Limited Navigation Watch Certificate (LNWC). This has opened up a career path for Senior Sailors holding these qualifications to pursue higher duties.
A unique example of this is LEUT Trevor Stecum, who attained the LNWC. LEUT Stecum gives an intriguing insight into the value of the LNWC and NWC system...
Also:
- Do you hear there!

What you need to know about super In previous editions of Navy News we alerted members to upcoming changes in superannuation laws that will take effect on July 1 2007.

Sacrifice honoured Nearly 50 family and friends of the nine victims of the 2005 Sea King helicopter accident bowed their heads on a grassy knoll near Defence Headquarters as the Last Post sounded in a memorial service on April 2 to mark the second anniversary of the accident.