Bang on
NO. 75 Squadron has ended the year with a bang.
In its final deployment in a busy 2004, the Squadron took part in Exercise Classic Cannon at RAAF Base Darwin from November 28 to December 9.

Thanks for keeping up impressive standard
IT'S been yet another demanding and successful year for the Air Force.

Outstanding year
THIS has been a busy and challenging year for the ADF. Our performance on operations and on training exercises has been impressive.

A time for families
MESSAGES at this time of the year are usually full of cliches espousing the accelerating pace with which the year has gone by, reflecting on our achievements and looking forward to some time off to revitalise and rejuvenate for next year.

Congrats on job well done
AS COMMANDER-in-Chief, I extend season’s greetings and congratulations to all ADF personnel on a job well done in 2004.

Chaplain’s challenge
RELATIVELY few people will have the chance to drive the latest marques of MG. Even fewer will have the chance to drive one competitively, even in leisurely fashion.

Command changes in Middle East
AIR Commodore Greg Evans has assumed command of the Australian forces in the MEAO.

Graduates flying high
SIX new jet pilots – including one each from the US Air Force and the Royal Air Force – have graduated from No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit’s Exercise High Sierra.

PTIs a top team
THE Physical and Recreational Training section of RAAF Base Williams, Laverton, has won the base’s team award for 2004

Bay brings a bonanza
ONE of the reasons the economy of Central Queensland is healthy is the injection of $52.8 million through Defence-related activities.

Pilot scores an ‘A’ rating
SQUADRON Leader David Smith, of No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, has become the Air Force’s first A Category Operational Flying Instructor (OFI).

Be familiar with new leave instruction
A DEFENCE Instruction (General) has been produced as a result of continued improvements to the administration of civilian and military leave.

Award for 44WG
NO. 44 Wing has received international recognition for its air traffic control work in Baghdad.

700 Year 7 students see seven assets at Townsville
MORE than 700 Townsville children can now look up and identify some of the military aircraft that fly over their schools, thanks to a recent visit to RAAF Base Townsville.

ARDU’s night of knights
THE D.J. Knights Memorial Trophy has been awarded to Squadron Leader Chet Takalkar for his outstanding contributions in support of ADF flight test and Defence Materiel Organisation acquisition programs for modifications of training and heavy aircraft.

Bases offer place to stay on travels
THE Occupation Health Safety and Compensation Branch (OHSC) is offering a safe and cost-effective means of accommodation for Defence members and their families travelling in Australia during the peak posting and holiday period.

Get the right holiday advice
THE Defence Security Authority (DSA) is reminding ADO personnel to be aware of restrictions to personal overseas travel and the need to notify it of any such travel.

High seas at Sale
TWO officers from RAAF Base East Sale have found crossing the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria in kayaks can be like venturing out to sea.

Govt funds to reduce Salt Ash noise
THE Government will fund a new library at Salt Ash Public School as part of its commitment to providing noise attenuation works at the school near RAAF Base Williamtown.

Pearce digs in to plant 10,000 trees
RAAF Base Pearce personnel have planted about 10,000 trees on Defence land in the Swan River’s northern buffer zone.

Helo pilots all aboard
TWO Air Force helicopter pilots – including the Service’s first woman helo pilot – have embarked on their first shipboard postings as Seahawk tactical captains.

Tri-Service Bible on the way
A NEW tri-Service Bible is being printed for distribution early next year.