By Corporal Simone Liebelt
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New
VCDF LTGEN Ken Gillespie greets new CDF ACM Angus Houston
at the ceremonial parade to mark the change of command for
the ADF.
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Photo by SGT Mark Dowling
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DESPITE
being a freezing Canberra morning, the words of the new Chief
of the Defence Force (CDF) said it all: “thank you all for
a very warm welcome”.
Sub-zero temperatures weren’t going to stop people witnessing
Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston assume command of the ADF in true
military style.
The ceremonial parade on July 4 marked the start of a new era
of leadership.
It began with a loud tune as the Royal Military College Band marched
into Blamey Square with Australia’s Federation Guard in tow.
After taking position, the parade welcomed VCDF Lieutenant General
Ken Gillespie as the hosting officer.
Next, the CDF arrived in his “ADF1”-plated car and took
to the stand for the traditional general salute.
After inspecting the Federation Guard and band members on parade,
he returned to the stand for a final salute before leaving the
parade to applause from the crowd.
Then, in an age-old tradition, the new CDF and VCDF walked over
to the front of the R1 building – home of the CDF –
to be greeted by the three Service Chiefs.
Following close behind was a contingent of media, ready to throw
questions at the Air Chief Marshal in his first doorstop interview
as CDF.
Surrounded by microphones and cameras, he said he hadn’t
even got his feet under the desk yet.
“I took over [as CDF] at one minute past midnight last night,
but thankfully Peter Cosgrove didn’t do what he had threatened
to do, which was to turn up with a bottle of champagne and a mobile
phone,” he said.
“He let me sleep peacefully.”
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