Highs
and Lows
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FLTLT
Martyn Silver from 32SQN with his wife Sarah, daughter Natasha
and son Jonathan – none of what Air Force does would
be possible without the support of family.
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Photo
by SGT Gary Dixon
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Christmas Messages -
CAF
AIRMSHL Geoff Shepherd
WOFF-AF Peter Hall
Governor-General MAJGEN Michael Jeffery
CDF ACM Angus Houston
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CAF
AIRMSHL Geoff Shepherd
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WITH
the end of the year and the festive season fast approaching, I
encourage all of us to take pride in what we have achieved this
year.
I know that wherever you are going to be over the Christmas/New
Year period, whether you are deployed on operations or continuing
your duty here in Australia or enjoying some well-earned leave,
you will celebrate the season in the finest of Australian traditions,
and I trust you will do so in a safe and responsible manner.
For those who are away from their families and loved ones over
the break, I want you to know that I understand the sacrifice
that you are making. I thank you for that sacrifice and I encourage
you to keep up the great work. You are making a difference.
In the five months since I stepped into the chair, I have visited
many of our bases and units whether here at home, in Butterworth
or deployed to the MEAO. I would have loved to be able to meet
with you all personally, but we are spread far and wide doing
the great job we do.
To those I have met personally, thanks for your friendship and
openness; it is uplifting for me to see you in your workplace,
out there in the real Air Force.
2005 has asked a lot of us, starting with Operation Sumatra Assist
requiring many of us to be called away from our families during
last year’s Christmas and New Year period.
The outcome of the support we provided to the tsunami devastated
region has assisted in reinforcing our strong relationship with
Indonesia, and indeed the wider region.
Sadly, during Operation Sumatra Assist Phase II, following another
series of devastating earthquakes, we lost nine of our Defence
family, three of whom were from our Air Force family. We remember
their families and friends in the lead up to Christmas.
It is a year that we will all look back on with mixed emotions;
for me, it will be overwhelmingly with pride. It has been a year
of extreme operational highs and a few tragic lows.
I admire what we as a family have achieved and what we continue
to achieve around the world. Let me once again tell you that I
am extremely proud of what you do and what we achieve as an Air
Force, of course, as part of the greater team – the Australian
Defence Force (ADF).
You have brought great credit to yourselves, the Air Force, the
ADF and Australia. I am always keen to make every opportunity
to offer a few words to publicly recognise the vital role that
you all play.
You should all feel proud of what you have done this year and
what you are continuing to do in so many difficult places, such
as: the MEAO including Afghanistan and Pakistan, Sudan, the Solomon
Islands, Butterworth Malaysia, East Timor and the ongoing commitments
we have within our own shores here in Australia such as Relex
II, and during ongoing training and exercises.
In January, we breathed a sigh of relief when the Roulette crash
did not result in any serious injuries. The Air Show at Avalon
was a very successful event with many international visitors and
chiefs from other air forces taking a keen interest in our part
of the world.
The first full activation of RAAF Scherger went very well with
Exercise Kakadu putting our deployment capability to the test
in a different scenario.
The year also included a significant historic achievement when
we had Air Chief Marshal Sir Neville McNamara, along with our
newest four star and Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal
Angus Houston, at the CAF handover Dining-In in the Great Hall
of Parliament House.
This was a memorable event for many of us and particularly for
me as many of you joined Anne, myself and my mum on this happy
occasion for our RAAF family. As a nation we celebrated Victory
in the Pacific – VP60.
Air Force’s contribution was widespread around Australia,
including all bases, culminating in a major activity in Canberra
on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin on August 13.
It was clear that the community has many strong links with the
ADF and such events enable them to interact with us. They also
give us the opportunity to showcase our people and aircraft and
the great work we do.
Overall we are in pretty good shape, we have issues and rub points,
but together we will sort these out.
I know that none of what we do would be possible without the support
of your families and friends. It is important to recognise the
important role that partners, friends and family members play
in the Air Force family.
It is what goes on behind the scenes and at home that makes everything
we do possible. I thank you for your dedication and I thank your
families for their strength and support during the last year.
This holiday season, having fun will be at the top of my Christmas
list (it should be on yours too), and taking a break will be compulsory.
Having said that, I know that there are some of you who will have
to remain on duty for
essential services or for any urgent operational requirements
that may arise.
It is important that we all take the time to recover from the
year past and spend time relaxing with our friends and our families.
However I know that if we need to we will be ready to assist,
in keeping with the finest traditions of our great Air Force.
On that note, I trust that all of you are aware of the Find Our
People Program and have the contact phone numbers recorded somewhere
safe. I hope that we will get through the Christmas period without
interruption and without the loss on the roads of any of our family.
Be sure to take care of yourselves and your families and stay
safe.
My wife Anne and I wish you and your family all the best for the
festive season and 2006.
Enjoy the break – drive safe and “cooee”.
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WOFF-AF
Peter Hall
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AS
I contemplate writing this Christmas message, I can’t believe
it’s that time of the year again and very soon the silly
season will be upon us. 2005, where has it gone?
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.
For me, cliche or not, Christmas is about family and peace on
earth. In working towards peace on the larger scale, some members
of our Air Force family will be away from home over Christmas
this year.
Narelle’s and my thoughts will be with you and your families
as, I am sure, are the thoughts of those of us at home. Rest assured
the Australian community at large deeply appreciates your commitment
and sacrifices.
As my time as the Warrant Officer of the Air Force draws to a
close, I would like to acknowledge and thank all those who have
helped, supported and guided me over the past three-and-a-half
years.
Throughout this time I have been constantly amazed at the dedication,
commitment and work ethic of Air Force people generally in units
around Australia, despite the current operational tempo and increasing
workload. This selfless enthusiasm and loyalty to the Air Force
mission and goals is testament to our values and the culture within
our organisation.
I would also like to wish my successor, Warrant Officer Ray Woolnough,
all the very best as the next Warrant Officer of the Air Force
and hope you will provide him with all the support and guidance
which you have afforded me.
Christmas, for most of us, is the time we should be taking stock
of our lives, spending time with our families and doing the things
that matter most. From an Air Force perspective, thank you for
your continued efforts throughout 2005 in what has been a difficult,
demanding and challenging year.
Have a happy and peaceful Christmas, be careful and I hope next
year is all you want it to be.
Recognition
from the highest
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Governor-General
MAJGEN Michael Jeffery
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AS
Commander-in-Chief of the ADF, I extend season’s greetings
and congratulations to all Royal Australian Air Force personnel
on a job well done during 2005.
You have consistently demonstrated very high levels of dedication,
professionalism and skill whilst carrying out your zduties in
the finest traditions of the RAAF. Your involvement in defending
our national interests at home and abroad has been recognised
at the highest level.
This year was operationally demanding for the Air Force, commencing
with “Operation Sumatra Assist”.
You have made a substantial and important contribution to humanitarian
activities in Sumatra following the South East Asian tsunami.
C-130, P-3 Orion and Expeditionary Combat Support Elements in
the Middle East have continued to provide specialist skills to
the International Coalition Against Terrorism.
And Air Force’s reputation for first class aero-medical evacuation,
surveillance, reconnaissance and support to deployed elements
is second to none. Indeed it is internationally renowned.
Whether you may be deployed during this festive season, on duty
at home or on leave spending time with loved ones, you can look
back on this year with tremendous pride on your many achievements.
Marlena and I take this opportunity to express our great admiration
to all Air Force servicemen and women, and particularly the wives
and husbands, partners, friends and family members who provide
invaluable support to the Air Force family.
Keep up the good work. Have a safe and joyous Christmas and a
very happy New Year.
Magnificent
contribution by all
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CDF
ACM Angus Houston
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I
CONGRATULATE the men and women of the ADF for the magnificent
contribution that everyone has made during this challenging year.
For the past 12 months, we have been involved in many diverse
military operations, provided humanitarian assistance to other
nations and participated in various joint and combined exercises
and training activities.
There is no doubt in my mind that the ADF continues to be one
of the very best military forces in the world. Our personnel are
seasoned, the leadership is experienced and we have repeatedly
demonstrated our ability to conduct and support our operations.
I am very proud of the work you have done this year and the high
degree of professionalism you have displayed on operations, on
exercises and at home. Your performance has been impressive and
you are recognised world-wide for your courage, dedication and
compassion.
For those personnel who have some leave over the Christmas period,
I hope you enjoy time with your friends and family. For those
of you who will be working over the Festive Season, I thank you
for your dedication and commitment. I hope the day proves to be
an enjoyable one none-the-less.
To all ADF members, thank you for your hard work and efforts this
year. I wish you and your families a safe and Merry Christmas.
I look forward to working with you again in the New Year.
Santa's
hot to trot on bases
