HOME FOR REGATTA - Department of Defence

NEWSNAVY Volume 64, No. 2, February 18, 2021
HOME FOR REGATTA
Up and running: Sailor’s amazing recovery - Page 3
HMAS Hobart's crew at Procedure Alpha on the upper decks, as she is fallen into her namesake city for the Regatta.
Pages 2-3
LEUT Sarah Rohweder
MORE than 260 ADF personnel provided support in the 183rd Royal Hobart Regatta, one of Tasmania's largest annual events.
The Regatta was held from February 6-8 and the show of support strengthened the ADF's ties with
the state. Navy sailed guided missile destroyer HMAS Hobart to her namesake city to act as a backdrop to the event, the RAAF Roulettes performed three aerobatic displays, a P8-A Poseidon conducted flypasts, and Navy and Army bands performed.
Navy Headquarters - Tasmania (NHQ-Tasmania) CO CMDR Andrew
Wright said spectators were receptive to Defence personnel and the organisation's contribution to the regatta.
“The NHQ-Tasmania team provided personnel to support the Defence Force Recruiting stand, Navy community engagement, as well as other aspects of the Regatta,” CMDR Wright said.
“Despite COVID-19, we are pleased with the number of participants in all Regatta events.”
“We had to adjust the way we did things with crowd restrictions, but I think we had a great mix of participation in events and support for this year's Regatta.”
Royal Hobart Regatta Association
President David Skegg said even with restrictions, the Regatta was a success.
“We had to make some changes, like putting up a lot of extra fencing, but it has all worked out pretty well,” Mr Skegg said
“There were so many sails on the water. It was fantastic.”
2 News February 18, 2021
Keeping with
Band – Tasmania performs
during the Royal
Hobart Regatta.
HMAS Hobart's XO LCDR Michael Rhy- Jones waves to the crowd as a RAAF P8-A Poseidon conducts a fly past over the River Derwent during the 183rd Royal Hobart Regatta.
WO2 Max Bree
THE first synth notes of Europe’s 1986 hit The Final Countdown reso- nated over the River Derwent as the RAN Band Tasmania kicked off their performance at the Royal Hobart Regatta.
AB Nikayla Taskinen-Smith belted out the opening verse at the front of the stage.
A singer from age eight, she joined the band two years ago, successfully auditioning after friends tagged her in a Facebook post about the job.
Inspired early on by ’60s pop singer Dusty Springfield, she later turned to modern artists.
“Being like Adele without the heartbreak would be great, her voice is incredible. If I were going to aim for anything it would be her or Christina Aguilera,” AB Taskinen-Smith said.
The band has about 80 songs – many Australian – to pick from for a show gig.
The group can split off to provide various chamber ensembles, such as a brass quartet, jazz trio and piano and flute duet.
They can also form a drum and bugle corps, but they mainly play as a rock group, to the surprise of some audience members, according to band- master CPO Martyn Hancock.
“Often people come up and say how excited they are, as they had been expecting traditional military marches,
but then we start up with something like AC/DC,” CPO Hancock said.
Eleven reserves and two full-time sailors make up the band that is now returning to live gigs after COVID- imposed restrictions.
Last year, the band turned to recording music and making videos spearheaded by LS Dorian Broomhall, who is a trumpet player, video editor and manages the public relations for the band.
The band formed a classical choir for an Anzac Day video, singing a goosebumps-inducing song based on the poem In Flanders Fields.
They later recorded a contempo- rary arrangement of the naval hymn Eternal Father and recorded a video at Government House to mark the inves- titure of Teddy Sheean’s VC.
Despite the popularity of those videos, LS Broomhall was always looking to improve presentation and editing.
“We don’t want it to be just a song with the guys playing on video. There’s so many of those online. I try and look at what we can do to take that to the next level and make it useful,” LS Broomhall said.
LS Broomhall first picked up the trumpet in year seven, and was inspired by the Army band coming to his school in year 10, but a teacher steered him towards later joining the Navy band.
He went on to play with some of his musical heroes from the Cat
Empire, individually at various events. A return to the stage after almost
a year off revitalised LS Broomhall’s passion for performing.
“I realised I’ve spent a lot of time behind this piece of metal and there’s a reason I really enjoy playing,” LS Broomhall said.
“You see smiles in the crowd and realise just because you’ve played this song 100 times, some of these kids
have never seen a live band before.” CPO Hancock said the band
formed in 1989, primarily as a concert band and wind ensemble.
He said the transition to rock music was driven in part by changing demo- graphics of new musicians interested in modern music.
“We’re always on the lookout for new recruits in order to expand the capability of the band, although I
would never want to change our primary ensemble,” CPO Hancock said.
“Having more sailors in the band would help our parade capability for ceremonial work, such as ship visits and freedom-of entry-parades.”
“The unique primary product we have here in Tasmania is very refined and proves to be extremely successful.”
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TO the delight of his previous Personnel Support Unit Divisional Officer, CPO Matthew Jarvis, ABBM Cooper Blackwood recently walked into HMAS Moreton.
Accompanied by his parents, Karen and Darren Blackwood, being able to make the visit out of his wheelchair and on his feet was no small feat after what he had been through.
AB Blackwood’s life changed in an instant last year while on holiday in Bali during the reduced activity period.
It is incongruous that a former life- guard and competitive swimmer would sustain a paralysing injury from diving into a swimming pool, but that’s what happened.
AB Blackwood said that after diving in, he remembers feeling a strange sensation of ‘vibrations’ and a ‘tin- gling’ from his chest down.
Paralysed with minimal movement in his arms, he managed to surface to take a breath and call for help.
The fast-thinking action of his friends keeping his head and body sta- ble and their constant words of support kept him focused during the hour-long
wait for the ambulance. The nature of the injury – a cervical fracture dislo- cating C5-C6 – required immediate surgery to fuse them.
He also had a plate and four screws placed in the front of his spine, two rods and a further four screws inserted in the back, a wedge to replace a rup- tured disc and the interspinous liga- ment also required suturing.
The enormity of the accident hit home when he woke from surgery to find a tube helping him to breath.
The ADF worked quickly to have his parents flown out to be by their son’s side.
The next hurdle was getting AB Blackwood and his family back to Australia.
With major bushfires at home, it was not an easy task.
With the assistance of Air Ambulance Australasia, they were flown to the Princess Alexandra Hospital’s spinal unit in Brisbane to begin the recovery process.
AB Blackwood said the whole situation is something he had never thought about.
“I had no idea what life with no movement would entail,” AB
ABBM Cooper Blackwood with girlfriend AB Sarah Horn, far left, and at the Princess Alexandra Hospital Spinal Unit, left, in 2020.
NewsFebruary 18, 2021 defence.gov.au/news/navynews 3
Walking proof of resilience
– ABBM Cooper Blackwood
I couldn’t move. I couldn’t brush my teeth, or go to the toilet, I needed help with absolutely everything. “
Blackwood said. “My mum moved down from Rockhampton and was here with me every day and had to learn how to use the hoist to be able to lift me.
“I couldn’t move. I couldn’t brush my teeth, or go to the toilet, I needed help with absolutely everything.
“When I finally gained use of my arms I got an electric toothbrush and could use it with both hands.
“Water had to be squirted in my mouth with a tube and then sucked out, as I couldn’t just simply roll my head over to spit the water out. I just didn’t realise any of this.”
When he was able to go outside in his wheelchair to get some sunshine he said it was a painful process.
“It was nice to get out but my head
felt so heavy and the pain from my surgery meant I could only do 30 minutes at a time,” AB Blackwood said.
Intensive physiotherapy was a daily routine for AB Blackwood and it took a month before seeing an encouraging wobble in his knee.
He believes he wouldn’t be where he is now without all the support he received.
“The help I have had throughout has been amazing and things I didn’t even know were available, such as Keeping Watch [the Navy charity] and the mental health support available for all of us,” he said.
“Even just things like paperwork. CPO Jarvis took care of everything for me, he wanted me to just focus on my recovery and I was able to do that with
his support. “My recovery would not be where it was now if it wasn’t for all of this.”
AB Blackwood’s parents said the support from the ADF and Navy had been brilliant.
“I am so grateful Cooper had the foresight to get holiday insurance, otherwise this could look very different financially for our family,” Mr Blackwood said.
The saying “you have to learn to walk before you can run” is something AB Blackwood knows all too well. After one focused step at a time, he is now running again.
“You can’t dwell on the past, it will get you down in the dumps and you won’t get progress from that,” AB Blackwood said.
“I just keep looking ahead and what is the best outcome for the rest of my life.
“I am at the gym most days and still doing rehab. I still have people I don’t know reaching out to me and encouraging me; it’s great.
“I am very lucky, being in the spinal unit at the Princess Alexandra; you see a lot and it has made me realise how lucky I am.”
AB Matthew Samson
DEFENCE Force School of Signals – Maritime Communication and Information Systems Wing students have rolled up their sleeves to help Victorian veterans with their gardening and yard duties.
After a call to Australian veterans’ charity Legacy, 20 inter- mediate course students based at HMAS Cerberus volunteered to help tidy gardens across Frankston, Mornington, Chelsea Heights and Patterson Lakes in Melbourne.
They mowed lawns, helped with weeding and pruning and conducted general cleaning.
LS Danniel Martin said it was great to meet and help veterans who
were unable to tend to their gardens because of disability or age.
“After such an isolating year for many people in the community, especially for our veterans, and with our course slightly delayed due to COVID-19, what better way for us to use this time than by getting out there and providing manual assistance to those who have sac- rificed and given so much in the past,” LS Martin said.
“It was definitely a fulfilling and enjoyable day and something I look forward to doing more often in the future.”
Liz Barr, a widow connected with the Mornington branch of Legacy, said she the help was great- ly appreciated.
“At my age it can be quite dif- ficult to keep up with the gardening and the general upkeep of my front and backyard, so it was a pleasant surprise when these sailors turned up and offered their assistance. I was so grateful for all they did for me,” Mrs Barr said.
“They spent the entire day here and cleaned up my yard and it is lovely knowing there are still people out there that care.”
Legacy is a charity founded in 1923 and supports 48,000 veterans, partners and their children who have given their lives or health serving Australia.
For more information, or to donate to the work of Legacy, visit: legacy.com.au
Practical help for those who served
School of Signals – Maritime Communication and Information Systems Wing students, rolled up their sleeves to provide gardening and yard assistance to veterans in Victoria.
NUSHIP’S crew comes together
NUSHIP Stalwart's crew forms for the first time on the sports field of HMAS
Stirling, Western Australia. Photo: LSIS Richard Cordell
NUSHIP Stalwart’s crew celebrated their formation, marking the occasion by donning their ship’s caps and badg- es and hosting a barbeque for families of the ships’ company.
Stalwart is the second and final Supply-class auxiliary oiler replenishment ship.
After commencing construction in Spain in August 2019, Starlwart will enter service later this year.
CMDR Steve McCracken said it was a privilege to wear the Stalwart hat and patch, visibly identifying as
members of Stalwart – the newest ship in the Navy.
“Coming together as a team, we sew the seed, the acorn, for the ship’s company of Stalwart III and a positive team culture, with strength of char- acter, growth and development at our core,” CMDR McCracken said.
“We are the first to wear the name of Stalwart after nearly 30 years since HMAS Stalwart II decommissioned on March 9, 1990.
“It is our collective duty to honour the name and each other, living and
working by the motto ‘heart of oak’.” “While we are individuals, today
we come together as a special team. We have the skills, knowledge and experience to achieve great things.
As a team we will succeed and write another chapter in the history of the name Stalwart.
As Stalwart’s crew formed for the first time, the excitement of commissioning a ship was hard to contain.
AB Kirsten Roberts said it was her first sea posting and she could not believe how lucky she was to be
part of a commissioning crew. “The crew already seems like they’ve been together for a long time,” AB Roberts said.
“Everyone is so friendly and welcoming.”
Over the coming months, the ship’s company will undertake extensive culture development and training to prepare for the arrival of Stalwart in Australia.
LSMT Joshua Perham said the barbeque was a great opportunity for his young family to meet other crew mem-
bers and it really set the standard for what he felt would be a really family orientated crew.
“The crew formation was a historic day for all of us” LS Perham said.
“I am excited to be part of the Navy’s newest capability,The ship will carry fuel, dry cargo, water, food, ammunition, equipment, and spare parts to provide operational support for the deployed forces operating away from homeports for extended periods.
4 News February 18, 2021
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Navy’s newest arrival
Lighting up the future
HMAS Cerberus’ Robotics Club has built a drone prototype that can provide Navy warships with live video footage during a critical incident, boosting response times to that incident.
Known as a Marine Evolutions Response Vessel (MERV), the drone has the ability to autonomously patrol incident areas, with the video footage fed back to a ship for viewing by command, enabling them to make more informed decisions.
Head of the robotics club, CPOET Allan Winning, said the drone could be used for things like a man overboard incident, patrolling naval waters, inter- cepting and interrogating trespassing vessels and towing targets for live firing.
MERV was developed using lessons learned from the club’s Critical Response Vehicle Project and is a scaled-down version of Navy’s current seaboat.
The land-based prototype is made from plywood and fibreglass and pro- pelled by a 3D-printed water-cooled brushless motor made at the Centre for Innovation at Fleet Base East.
“Being able to produce these compo- nents through these emerging technolo- gies has allowed the robotics club to test designs in conjunction with safety con- siderations and refine the final product,” CPO Winning said.
“This has allowed us to move forward in implementing this system to dis- play at this year’s autonomous warrior event.”
Robotics club’s lifesaving drone prototype
CREWS of navy ships could one day be able to locate dis- tant small aerial targets and threats flying just above the waves by detecting single photons of light.
A single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) is an extremely sensitive sensor that works at the level of the individual particle and has the potential to overcome the challenge of picking out small targets amid the ocean waves, like a small uninhabited aerial vehicle or a missile flying just above the surface of the water.
Dr Dennis Delic, of the Defence Science and Technology Group, is leading the design, development and commercialisation of SPADs within Defence.
“With a normal camera, like your phone’s camera – those sorts of sensors rely on using lots of photons to form an image; in fact, they need millions of photons,” he said.
“With this miniature smart- sensor technology, we’re operating at the fundamental limit, detecting individual photons and registering each particle.
“Using advanced process- ing, we can count them and time them, and that opens up
all sorts of opportunities in terms of what we can do.”
SPADs can be used to build up 3D images in low-light conditions or even when an object of interest is partially obscured.
Another significant advan- tage of this technology for military operators is that using a SPAD as part of an active sensor system – that is, a system which is emitting energy that could be detected by an adversary – would reduce the risk of the user being targeted when they switch it on because of the reduced power required.
Dr Delic said using a SPAD as the detector in a LiDAR system, which measures dis- tances by illuminating objects with light from a laser and then detecting the reflected energy, would considerably reduce the power needed because of the SPAD’s ability to function at very low photon levels.
“Combined with new integrated circuit design tech- niques, this represents the next revolution in quantum imag- ing, allowing us to see things that are normally hidden from view,” he said.
“Ultimately, this will help protect Australian military personnel.”
SGT Sebastian Beurich
FOR the first time, new and expecting Navy parents will be able to find policy and entitle- ments in one place, with the Navy Handbook on Pregnancy and Support to Navy Parents, approved last month.
Part of a new maternity management package, which also includes a guide on breastfeed- ing in the workplace, the handbook covers everything, from when members start thinking about starting a family through to transitioning back to full-time work.
The handbook stemmed from an idea for a return-to- work guide, but when author PO Sharni Koenig started looking at policy and doctrine, she realised just how much information was out there.
“I was baffled going through everything and figuring out where to find information,” she said.
“If I was having trouble find- ing it, I’m sure every other person – divisional officers, preg- nant women and their partners – would be in the same boat.”
PO Koenig said she com-
pared her experience with with someone who had just returned from maternity leave.
Both their experiences fed into the guide before it was sent to the Women’s Diversity Reference Group for feedback.
“We did a Skype meeting with the reference group and they were all asking why we hadn’t done this sooner,” she said.
“We highl ighted through PSU that there was no one in Navy who was actually edu- cated about maternity issues, so it’s now being incorporated into Maritime Human Resources Officer and Maritime Personnel sailor training provided by the Maritime Personnel School.”
When it’s complete, Navy’s senior leadership has indicated they would send the package to partner forces.
“The feedback has been extremely positive. Navy Women has received so many emails thanking us and letting us know how fantastic it all is for support- ing our women,” PO Koenig said.
The handbook is available on the Navy Women’s intranet website, or through the ePort Divisional Support website.
LSCTLJadine Harvey during her second trimester at Watsons Bay, Sydney. Photo: LSIS Tara Byrne
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Comfort is key to PPE LEUT Stephen Nevison
WHEN PO Matthew Teis heard of a 12-month delay in delivering face shields to medical staff at the Royal Darwin Hospital’s emergen- cy department, he was quick to act.
The electronic technician used his experience to design and manu- facture 150 face shields using the 3D printer at Navy’s Fleet Support Unit- North and his personal equipment to ensure staff had additional protection against COVID-19.
A trial by hospital staff reported they were able to wear them for entire shifts within the building’s COVID-19 isolation area – a feat previously not achieved because of
masks being uncomfortable. His proactive thinking and
designs earned PO Teis the 2021 Chief of Navy Excellence in Innovation Award, which recog- nises individuals and groups within Navy who have displayed quality, creativity, leadership, initiative and accountability.
It aims to solidify a culture of innovation and encourage natural talent to deliver practical innovation.
“This was a huge surprise. All I was trying to do was figure out useful ways to use my toys at work,” PO Teis said.
As the senior systems main- tainer for his unit, PO Teis has
designed and developed a number of items on the unit’s 3D plastic printer to improve the storage of sensitive and fragile items.
It has resulted in cost savings and improved productivity for the Fleet Support Unit - North.
Warfare Innovat ion Navy Deputy Director CMDR Steve Thompson said there were a record number of entrants in this year’s awards.
“Competition was as strong as it ever has been and the high level of submissions was extremely encouraging to see,” CMDR Thompson said.
“The quality, creativity and initiative displayed was exceptional.”
Then LSET Matthew Teis performs checks on the 25 millimetre primary weapon system on board HMAS Albany. Photo: ABIS Lee-Anne Mack
ASLT Jack Meadows
THIS year’s annual Fleet Warfare Forum has set a record, with thousands of sailors and officers tuning in to hear what’s in store for Navy operations and capability in the coming year.
Held on the DSN, the aim of the standdown was to open the strategic con- versation about the importance of understanding the current challenges in our region.
Hosted by Fleet Commander RADM Mark Hammond, CDRE Flotillas CDRE Michael Harris said the Forum was a full day of virtual seminars.
A video presentation by Director General Maritime Operations, CDRE Darren Grogan provided valuable insight into the Fleet Activity Schedule (FAS) and future Navy thinking.
Head Navy Capability RADM Pete Quinn delved into future Navy capa- bilities, and Chief of Staff Headquarters Joint Operations Command CDRE Brett Sonter explored strategic and upper-level thinking and the processes behind gen- erating operations and tactical deployments.
A presentation by the Maritime Intelligence Support Centre Director CMDR Simon Kelly was also well received.
Challenges in the Indo-Pacific region were touched on by ANU National Security College Head, Professor Rory Medcalf, who was interviewed on camera about his thoughts on where the
region is heading. The forum was held virtually this year to promote safe social distancing.
Despite concerns this would hamper attendance, the opposite appears to have been the case with more than 4000 ADF members logging on to view the series.
CDRE Harris supported the accessi- ble nature of the videos.
“FWF-21 has made a valuable contribution to the ongoing discussion of the challenges we as warfighters face in the current strategic environment,” he said.
“It is the engagement of our Warfare Teams across all ranks and specialisa- tions that is essential in developing our understanding of the issues.”
The day ended with a group discussion, led by CDRE Harris.
“I was extremely pleased with the level of participation across the day,” CDRE Harris said.
Among the viewers was Legal Officer LEUT Melissa Chen who watched the Forum online from her Fleet Headquarters office.
“The forum was a fascinating insight into the doctrine and major issues informing our work as Navy personnel,” she said.
“Hearing Command speak about such important issues was an excellent way to set the context for our year ahead.
“I found the briefings were easy to access, were of a very high quality and provided for an engaging and informa- tive session, prompting much discussion within our team.”
Warfare forum’s regional focus
Gap year sailor SMN Jordan Parsons watches Fleet Warfare Forum online at Fleet Headquarters, Sydney. Photo ABIS Daniel Goodman
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The Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal (the Tribunal) has been directed to inquire into and report on unit recognition for the Royal Australian Navy Helicopter Flight Vietnam (the RANHFV).
In particular, the Tribunal is to examine relevant evidence and consider whether it is appropriate that the RANHFV be awarded an Australian unit decoration or another form of recognition for its service in South Vietnam from October 1967 to June 1971.
Interested persons and groups are invited to make submissions to this Inquiry. Full terms of reference, and guidance on making a submission, is available on the Tribunal’s website at www.defence-honours-tribunal.gov.au.
Submissions are requested by 16 June 2017. DPSMAY014/17
The Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal (the Tribunal) has been directed to inquire into and report on unit recognition for the Royal Australian Navy Helicopter Flight Vietnam (the RANHFV).
In particular, the Tribunal is to examine relevant evidence and consider whether it is appropriate that the RANHFV be awarded an Australian unit decoration or another form of recognition for its service in South Vietnam from October 1967 to June 1971.
Interested persons and groups are invited to make submissions to this Inquiry. Full terms of reference, and guidance on making a submission, is available on the Tribunal’s website at www.defence-honours-tribunal.gov.au.
Submissions are requested by 16 June 2017. DPSMAY014/17
INQUIRY INTO RECOGNITION FOR MEMBERS AND FAMILIES OF MEMBERS OF THE
AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE WHO ARE INJURED, WOUNDED OR KILLED IN OR AS A
RESULT OF SERVICE The Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal has been directed to inquire into and report on recognition for members and families of members of the Australian Defence Force who are injured, wounded or killed in or as a result of service.
In particular, the Tribunal is to seek and receive submissions and consider whether it is appropriate that members of the Australian Defence Force who are injured, wounded or killed in or as a result of service, or their families, receive an Australian honour or award, or another form of recognition for that service.
Interested persons and organisations are invited to make a submission to the Tribunal, in accordance with the inquiry terms of reference, by Wednesday 31 March 2021.
The inquiry terms of reference and further information on how to make a submission can be obtained by contacting the Tribunal, via:
Telephone: 02 6266 1019 E-mail: [email protected] or Website: www.defence-honours-tribunal.gov.au Submissions can be mailed to:
The Executive Officer Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal Level 1, 5 Tennant Street Fyshwick Locked Bag 7765 CANBERRA BC ACT 2610
Families to be welcomed virtually
Meaningful one word change AB Luke Stanley
The RAN Band has recorded a new rendition of the Australian National Anthem featuring the new lyric, announced earlier this year.
On New Year’s Eve, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced an alteration to one of the lyrics in Advance Australia Fair, from ‘we are young and free’ to ‘we are one and free’.
Mr Morrison said the change to the song, adopted as our national anthem in 1984, was made to recognise our timeless land of ancient First Nations peoples.
Navy Band had the pleasure of recording the new version, which was used at official Australia Day events across the country.
It will also be used for Home Affairs purposes, ADF ceremonial, citizenship ceremonies, school assemblies and other significant occasions.
LSMUSN Tracy Kennedy said she
was proud to have provided vocals on the new recording.
“When I sing the Austral ian National Anthem I always feel a great sense of pride and honour, especially when everyone sings along with me,” LS Kennedy said.
“I think changing the word from young to one makes our anthem more inclusive. It celebrates how culturally diverse our country really is and brings us together as a nation.”
First Nations Foundation chairman and Yorta Yorta man Ian Hamm said the change was an important step in setting expectations for the future.
“This is an important indication to ourselves as a country about what our expectations are going forward,” Mr Hamm said.
“To recognise in our national a n t h e m t h e c o n t i n u e d h u m a n occupation of this continent from 60,000 years plus to January 1, 2021, and beyond, is an important change.”
Navy vocalist Tracy Kennedy
held at Menin Gate Memorial in
Ieper, Belgium. Photo: SGT Christopher
Dickson
DEFENCE Community Organisation and local Command traditionally host a series of welcome events across Australia for families who have recently posted to a new location.
This year our welcome events will look a bit different. For the first time, a national virtual welcome event will be available for Defence members and families to access.
With limited areas holding face- to-face welcome events, all Defence Community Organisation area offices will be taking part in our virtual welcome event—available from 15 February with a ‘live day’ scheduled for Saturday 20 February 2021 from 10:30 to 16:00.
Paul Way, Director General Defence Community Organisation, said the virtual welcome event means more members and their families, regardless of where they reside, can access the range of information at their convenience and from the comfort of home.
“Navy members and their families can attend the Live Day on Saturday 20 February to get information from a range of community stalls and chat live to stallholders.”
Attending the 2021 DCO virtual welcome event has been made easy as it offers all of the benefits of a face- to-face welcome event, but is acces- sible from any location 24/7 using any smart device or computer.
By registering, Navy members will gain access to the event from 15 February, including admission to the Live Day on 20 February 2021.
The virtual welcome platform will
NBN now available NATIONAL Broadband Network is now available at 315 Defence sites with living-in accommodation and married quarters able to be connected. Telephone services can also be connected through the NBN. Further information is available through local base managers or at: drnet/CIOG/Projects/NBN/Pages/default.aspx
On base – how to get connected: Go to the DPN’s ICT services page. Find the “log a job online” link and search for “private NBN/ADSL/
voice – new”. Obtain a location ID by visiting the CIOG intranet site at
drnet/CIOG/Projects/NBN/Pages/default.aspx Contact your preferred internet service provider and use the location ID to order a new connection.
THE 2021 annual review of ADF accommodation assistance and contributions has been finalised.
The new rates will take effect on July 8 and will be reflected in members’ pay from July 22. Although typically reflected in members’ pay in February, the decision has been made to delay any adjustments to member contributions until July, because of the broader economic impact of COVID-19.
Members will be notified of changes to their contributions at least three pay periods before they come into effect, through a range of service notification channels, including service newspapers, Defgram and Signal.
If you have any questions about the annual review of accommodation assistance and contributions, speak to your chain of command or visit the Pay and Conditions Manual (PACMAN) at: defence.gov.au/PayAndConditions
Delay to new rates for ADF accommodation assistance
The new rates for ADF accommodation assistance and contributions will take effect on July 8.
be available throughout 2021. This means that families who
are moving later in the posting cycle, ADF parents who don’t live in a Defence location, families with vulnerable family members, or those who may be uncomfortable attending an in-person event can still access a wide range of information and support.
For details about the virtual
and the limited face-to-face events around Australia, Navy members and their families can visit the events calendar on the Defence Community Organisation website.
For more information, families can call Defence Family Helpline on: 1800 624 608 or email: [email protected] Information can also be found on DCO’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
A Navy member with his daughter
at a previous DCO event.
10 February 18, 2021 defence.gov.au/news/navynews
OUR SHORTEST
WAR
On the 30th anniversary of the Gulf War, SGT Sebastian Beurich reflects on the impact it had on those who served.
JUST 72 hours’ notice to move was given to the first Australian ships that were committed to the Gulf War.
Announced by then Prime Minister Bob Hawke on August 10, 1990, eight days after Iraq invaded and annexed Kuwait, the deployment, known as Operation Damask, committed Australia to the most significant conflict since Vietnam.
HMA Ships Adelaide, Darwin and Success were in the first rotation, which began Navy’s longest ongoing deploy-
ment. They joined 14 other nations in an armada of six aircraft carriers, two battle- ships, 15 cruisers, 67 destroyers and frigates and more than 100 logistic, amphibious and smaller craft, at the height of the war.
The fleet also had more than 800 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft.
Although initial tasks revolved around embargo enforcement against Iraq outside the Arabian Gulf, HMA Ships Brisbane and Sydney, which replaced the first two frigates, experienced a role
change after the UN Security Council passed resolution 678 while they were in transit.
The resolution was the culmination of diplomatic action, authorising the use of force against Iraq should they not with- draw from Kuwait by January 15, 1991.
On January 17, a bar rage of Tomahawk cruise missiles marked the start of the conflict, swiftly followed by a five-week air campaign during which coalition forces flew 100,000 sorties, deploying more than 88,000 munitions.
One-hundred hours after coalition ground forces moved against the Iraqis, then-US President George H. Bush declared a ceasefire and that Kuwait had been liberated.
Also deployed was AUSCDT3, based in Bahrain, providing EOD and underwa- ter inspection support from late January 1991. Mine clearance operations were conducted in Kuwait throughout March and April that year.
Four medical teams were deployed to the Task Group Medical Support Elements
AUSCDT prepares for a dive during Operation Damask. PO Lee-Anne Cooper
OIL fires filled the sky with smoke as Australian Clearance Diving Team 3 (AUSCDT3) arrived in Bahrain on January 23, 1991.
Deploying to the Middle East on Operation Damask, Australia’s support to Operation Desert Storm, the team of 23 operators was involved initially with prepa- rations by the US Marine Corps for a potential amphibious invasion of Iraqi-occupied Kuwait.
The youngest member of the team was ABCD Gavin Stevens, then aged 20.
“I was just a young fella. At that point I had undertaken some deployments, but nothing operational – not many people had back in those days,” CPOCD Stevens said.
As the requirement for an amphibious assault tapered off, the team’s primary focus
shifted to explosive ordnance disposal. The coalition team of 50 divers started
clearing the port of Mina Ash Shuaibah, 30km south of Kuwait.
They first cleared the wharves and ware- houses before moving on to the surrounding waters.
Their search was hindered by a thick covering of crude oil and wreckage in the water throughout the harbour.
“In some areas the oil had saturated the water so much that it blanketed portions of the seabed, leaving a film on the surface and oil in masses mid water,” CPOCD Stevens said.
“Some days you would be moving oil away from the surface so the diver could enter the water and at the end of the dive the diver would have to clear an exit point to come out.”
AUSCDT3 cleared more than 450,000
sqm over seven days, an effort accounting for 70 per cent of the area cleared by coalition forces when the port was reopened to shipping on March 12 of that year.
They then headed south to Ras Al Qualai’ah Naval Base, clearing it and the surrounding beaches, as well as more than 400,000 sqm of the adjacent harbour.
The whole time, they survived on ration packs and bottled water, living in any ware- house they could find that provided shelter.
“The team had a diverse and special- ised skill base, from a high level of tactical skillsets to those with a high level of mine counter measures and explosive ordnance disposal, this was combined with under- water salvage and repair skills,” CPOCD Stevens said.
“The work environment was harsh. The skies at times were so filled with smoke from oil fires that even though it was the
Mates kept each other safe amidst oil fires on the sea
AUSCDT3 members watch after disposing of an unexploded ordnance during Operation Damask.
Gulf War 30th anniversary February 18, 2021 defence.gov.au/news/navynews 11
OUR SHORTEST
WAR
On the 30th anniversary of the Gulf War, SGT Sebastian Beurich reflects on the impact it had on those who served. One-hundred hours after coalition
ground forces moved against the Iraqis, then-US President George H. Bush declared a ceasefire and that Kuwait had been liberated.
Also deployed was AUSCDT3, based in Bahrain, providing EOD and underwa- ter inspection support from late January 1991. Mine clearance operations were conducted in Kuwait throughout March and April that year.
Four medical teams were deployed to the Task Group Medical Support Elements
aboard USS Comfort from September 1990 to March 1991.
Brisbane, Sydney and AUSCDT3 were awarded Meritorious Unit Citations for their service during Operation Damask.
Australia’s naval commitment to the region continued for 30 more years, in a variety of roles, including the continued enforcement of UN sanctions before the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
The commitment ended last year, with HMAS Toowoomba the last ship deployed on Operation Manitou.
SGT Sebastian Beurich
A LITTLE over two weeks after she spent Christmas alongside in Bahrain, HMAS Brisbane was involved in one of the most intense air bombardments of history.
Then-LEUT Ray Leggatt, a junior air intercept controller at the time, recalled his days in Brisbane’s operations room, con- trolling air patrols from the nearby US carriers, or as “tanker king”, coordinating air-to-air refuelling.
They, with HMAS Sydney, had deployed on Operation Damask, Australia’s contribution to Operation Desert Storm, replacing HMA Ships Adelaide and Darwin.
The ships were in company with four US carrier battle groups, which, along with coalition aircraft based in Saudi Arabia and Europe, flew more than 100,000 sorties in the initial 42-day air campaign.
“Technology played a huge role in the conflict – it was the first- time things like cruise missiles were used,” NHQ Chief of Staff, CDRE Leggatt said.
“CNN was broadcasting pic- tures and videos of missiles flying down the streets of Baghdad, and that just hadn’t been seen before.
“It showed the importance of technology and how it had changed the way warfare was being conducted.”
It was also the first time Navy had formed the majority contribution to a conflict, deploying two combat ships, a logistic vessel – HMAS Success, followed by HMAS Westralia – and a clearance diver team at a time.
The largest maritime task force since WWII was also pulled together in a very short period of time, according to CDRE Leggatt, with the first two ships conduct- ing their work-up on the journey
The importance of working in a coalition
to the Middle East. Although many of the junior members of the crew weren’t familiar with the region, having mainly operated in South-East Asia previously, CDRE Leggatt said the ADF had since developed close partnerships.
Navy was at the forefront of that relationship-building, with the Gulf War marking the start of 30 years of near continuous naval deployments, most recently under Operation Manitou.
“We’ve become known as valuable, professional coalition partners – not just Navy, the whole of the ADF,” CDRE Leggatt said.
“I think as a whole, the Gulf War helped to generate a much more professional ADF, a range of different relationships and really enhanced our reputation.
“I think we saw how important working in a coalition environment was.
“Understanding how they work and the importance of building trust within them was a huge part of our deployment back then.”
CDRE Leggatt returned to the Middle East last year as Commander CTF150, “book- ending” Navy’s commitments in the region, as Australian strategic focus shifts back to South-East Asia.
Throughout those years of deployment, CDRE Leggatt said relationships, particularly with the US, were built upon and Navy learned many lessons.
Chief among them were how ships prepare for deployment and how they work in concert with other nations.
While he might have been focused on his job at the time, CDRE Leggatt said he could now also see the wider value in Australia joining the coalition.
“We took an important role of saying Iraq’s actions were unacceptable from an international rule- of-law point of view,” he said.
“It was important to show that sort of behaviour was unacceptable.”
sqm over seven days, an effort accounting for 70 per cent of the area cleared by coalition forces when the port was reopened to shipping on March 12 of that year.
They then headed south to Ras Al Qualai’ah Naval Base, clearing it and the surrounding beaches, as well as more than 400,000 sqm of the adjacent harbour.
The whole time, they survived on ration packs and bottled water, living in any ware- house they could find that provided shelter.
“The team had a diverse and special- ised skill base, from a high level of tactical skillsets to those with a high level of mine counter measures and explosive ordnance disposal, this was combined with under- water salvage and repair skills,” CPOCD Stevens said.
“The work environment was harsh. The skies at times were so filled with smoke from oil fires that even though it was the
middle of the day, you didn’t know it. “I was fortunate to be part of a great
group of professionals. I felt as safe as I did because of the level of trust we had in each other.”
During 100 days of deployment, the team searched more than 2,157,200 sqm of seabed and cleared a total of 234,986 pieces of ordnance.
They recovered, made safe or disposed of everything from Iraqi LUGM 145 sea mines to Chinese-made Silkworm anti-ship missiles.
AUSCDT3’s operations ended on April 22, 1991 and the team returned to Bahrain to conduct essential maintenance on the more than 50 tonnes of equipment they had deployed into theatre with.
They returned to Australia on May 11 and were awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation on November 4 that year.
Mates kept each other safe amidst oil fires on the sea AUSCDT3 - US unit commedation presentation, in 2018.
HMAS Brisbane alongside Dubai in 1991,
during her deployment on Operation Damask . Photo: Supplied by the Australian
War Memorial
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13FeaturesFebruary 18, 2021 defence.gov.au/news/navynews
DRIVE over the causeway to Western Australia’s Garden Island and a number of Navy vessels sheltered along the
island’s eastern side come into view, contrasting the pristine beaches on the west.
These beaches wouldn’t have been too different from what Dutch explor- ers saw in the late 1600s or what the French witnessed when they named the island "Ile Buache" about 100 years later.
Royal Navy Captain James Stirling arrived in 1827, renaming the island and returning two years later to found Western Australia’s first European set- tlement.
Captain Stirling argued to establish a city and Navy base in Perth, with access to the Indian Ocean trade routes and a moderate climate for support naval operations.
The island hosted a town, anchor- age and cargo disembarkation until Fremantle’s inner harbour was complete in 1897.
It became a holiday resort after World War I before having coastal- defence batteries mounted in World War II and hosted training for soldiers of Z Special Unit.
After the war, Garden Island again became a holiday resort and the home of the RAN Reserve Fleet.
It was earmarked as a major naval base in the late 1960s and the causeway was built in 1973.
Base construction finished in 1978 and the site commissioned HMAS Stirling in the Royal Navy captain’s honour with a crest based in his family coat of arms.
Also referred to as Fleet Base West and incorporating all of Garden Island, Stirling is the Indian Ocean fleet base, under Australia’s 1987 two-ocean bas- ing policy.
Today, this 10 by 1.5km sliver of land is a home to 12 major fleet units, including five Anzac-class frigates, six Collins-class submarines, an auxiliary oiler and clearance diving team.
The base provides such things as ship repairs, logistics, research facilities and training.
More than 70 other units and func-
As major upgrades are on-the-way, WO2 Max Bree reports on the history behind HMAS Stirling.
tions are based at the island, including the Submarine Training and Systems Centre, a helicopter support facility, Defence Communications Station – Perth and Joint Logistic Units – West.
CO HMAS Stirling CAPT Ainsley Morthorpe said the base’s proximity to Perth made it the ideal location.
“A key strategic benefit for sup- porting the fleet here and hosting a workforce of over 3600 staff and their families, is our ready access to a modern and thriving city; with its associated heavy industry, shipyards, schools and other sophisticated facili-
ties needed for modern ships and families,” CAPT Morthorpe said.
Navy’s second and final Supply- class “Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment” Stirling will replace HMAS Sirius at Garden Island.
The first Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels, HMAS Arafura, will also call the base home, along with Navy’s new Hunter-class frigates.
This works to support these new ships have begun, including at a 156m extension to the existing armaments wharf to support explosive ordnance loading of ships and due for comple-
tion in mid-2021. New accommodation, logistics,
maintenance and training facilities are also being built to support the Arafura- class.
Works to support Hunter-class frigates should start in middle of the decade, comprising upgrades and extensions to existing wharves and structures, along with additional accommodation and training facilities.
“From an environmental perspec- tive, I am also pleased to say that all our development plans will be focused on the already built environment as we
fill in work space,” CAPT Morthorpe said.
“This will allow Defence and Navy to not only develop a modern and exciting 21st century naval base, but also protect the stunning natural environment which is a jewel of Cockburn Sound, of which I am constantly amazed and proud to be a steward of.
“While I am unlikely to personally enjoy the combined benefits of the final outcome, it will be a dynamic, inspiring and modern workplace for someone like my daughter, who is also in the Navy, to serve in.”
A Stirling upgrade
around HMAS Stirling and Fleet Base West, in 2020.
Photo: CPOIS Damian Pawlenko
Aerial photograph of HMAS Stirling in the early 1990’s. Photo: Navy Heritage
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15PersonnelFebruary 18, 2021 defence.gov.au/news/navynews
Sleep is more important than you think LCDR Kate Meyer
SLEEP disorders are common among people in the military and can have significant negative impacts on health and the ability to function during the day, according to Director of Navy Psychology Jennifer Wheeler.
Ms Wheeler said insomnia, which is a condition where a person finds it hard to get to sleep or stay asleep, was the most common sleep disorder among military personnel.
“Sleep is a basic human need, much like eating and drinking, and is crucial to our overall health and wellbeing,” Ms Wheeler said.
“But for many reasons, a lot of people don’t get enough sleep, or don’t get good quality sleep – especially in the military.”
She said there were a number of possible causes of insomnia, including some medications and substances such as caffeine, alcohol and nico- tine.
Chronic pain, poor mental health, including stress, anxiety, depression and grief, and environmental factors like noise and temperature also can affect sleep.
Ms Wheeler said regardless of the cause, poor quality sleep was a
problem that required attention. “Most disorders are preventable
or treatable,” she said. She said different people had dif-
ferent sleep needs, but the Australian Sleep Health Foundation recommended the amount of good quality sleep for adults aged between 18 and 64 was between seven to nine hours a day.
The US-based National Sleep Foundation reports the key deter- minants of quality sleep include sleeping at least 85 per cent of the total time spent in bed; falling asleep within 30 minutes or less; waking up no more than once a night; and being awake for 20 minutes or less after initially falling asleep.
Ms Wheeler said concerns about your sleep should be raised with a medical officer or mental health professional for support and advice.
In the lead-up to World Sleep Day on March 19, Ms Wheeler is urging those who find it hard to sleep to attend presentations on sleep health to be conducted by Navy psy- chologists next month.
Contact your local Navy Psychology Section for more information or to register for a sleep presentation.
ARE YOU GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP? 1. Do you fall asleep in less than five minutes after going to bed? 2. Do you often feel like you could do with a nap? 3. Do you become drowsy after eating a large meal? 4. Do you fall asleep when watching
TV or sitting in meetings and presentations? 5. Do boring activities make you sleepy? 6. Do you sleep an hour or two longer than usual on days when off duty? 7. Do you find that you can hardly
make it through the working day without caffeine in some form? If you answered ‘yes’ to one or more questions, you’re probably not getting enough sleep and are sleep-deprived. Quiz adapted from Fatigue in Aviation: A guide to staying awake at the stick.
PO Lee-Anne Cooper
While WOML-S Natasha McRoe was sailing the high seas, her little sister WOML-S Amy Gale was waiting at home for the postman.
“We would get letters from Tash, it’s not like now; a phone call was once in a blue moon,” Amy said.
The pair grew up in New Norfolk, on the River Derwent in north of Hobart, where Natasha dreamed of voyages around the world and meeting new people in far off lands.
First in the family to join, Natasha enlisted in 2000 with Amy following in 2001.
The experiences they have had range from Middle East deployments to Operation Sumatra Assist.
Both sisters said the engrained work ethic and empathy instilled in them by mum Vicki led to their success.
“A single mother of three, mum is an extraordinary strong, independent woman,
who has always supported us, including from time to time providing a reality check,” Natasha said.
“Nothing was ever handed to us, we were taught you have to work for what you want.”
On promotion, Amy took over as Hospitality and Catering Manager at HMAS Watson, a positon acting as Divisional Officer for more than 60 ML-S and ML-C, and one held by Natasha three years previously.
Amy said she was prepared for the role heading in, thanks to being able to draw on her sister’s experience.
With their collective 41 years of service the sisters, who talk most days, draw upon the support of one another’s experience.
As WO PSU Australia, Natasha provides support to case managers and divisional officers within PSU regional centres across the country.
Through Amy’s extensive knowledge of SharePoint from her posting at FHQ, she has been able to help Tash update and
improve PSU’s intranet. “We bounce ideas off each other on a daily basis,” Amy said.
Amy and Natasha also share the bond of motherhood, both having two boys each.
As successful women who are passion- ate about their jobs, the sisters hope to be the inspiration to others that want to be a parent and have a rewarding career.
“Navy is supportive and has flexible options, especially for mums,” Amy said.
“I work in Sydney but my family have remained in Canberra and I am able to work remotely once a week.
“Tash is able to also work remotely for Navy HQ at Anglesea Barracks in Hobart.
“We are very fortunate, we get to go to work every day loving what we do and we get to be a mum, which is the most important thing.”
Natasha and Amy said their accomplish- ments were a result of hard work, dedica- tion and the support of their family.
“There is no prouder moment than standing side by side with my sister,” Natasha said.
WOML-S Natasha McRoe and sister WOML-S Amy Gale, in Tasmania.
Sisters on same path
WO Amy Gale with sons Tyler and Carter at HMAS Harman, Canberra. Photo: LSIS Craig Walton
WO Natasha McRoe with her sons Flynn and Riley in the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, Hobart. Photo: WO2 Max Bree
For many reasons,
sleep.
16 Personnel February 18, 2021
Embracing opportunities PO Lee-Anne Cooper
IN A PREVIOUS life, SBLT Nancy Cotton walked the beat as a met- ropolitan police officer in London, one of the busiest cities in the world.
She travelled extensively through Europe and the world to satisfy an adventurous spirit, including her first trip to Australia in 1995.
Expansive blue skies and the smell of eucalyptus overwhelmed the senses of the then-17-year-old the first time she stepped off the plane in Perth.
“I loved how open it felt. It was
nothing like London,” SBLT Cotton said.
“I wanted to move here but thought it could never happen.”
Serendipity tipped its hat a decade later when SBLT Cotton found out the South Australian police were recruiting lateral transfers from the UK.
Embracing the opportunity, she made the move and in 2007 declared Australia her home, becoming a citizen and moving around between Victoria and Queensland, before settling in Canberra.
Fast forward 17 years and SBLT Cotton landed in the Navy
after seeing an advertisement on the television. In an off-the-cuff comment to her ex-Navy husband, she said 'I wish I had done that in my younger years'.
“He looked at me and said, ‘go on then, give it a go’,” she said.
She took the plunge and joined the RAN as a reserve public relations officer in October 2019.
She’s now undertaking a master’s degree in communications and public relations, something SBLT Cotton said shows she’s in the for long-haul.
“I have done this journey and I see myself staying on until retirement,” she said.
It was time for a sea change
Returning to trade for Fiji assist
SBLT Nancy Cotton at Russell Offices in Canberra, ACT. Photo: POIS Lee-Anne Cooper
PO Lee-Anne Cooper
BIZARRE animals like a t-rex crossed with a deer and white sand beaches con- sumed the daydreams of AB Brittany Alexander during freezing Canadian winters.
“During my time posted to Her Majes ty ’s Canad ian Submar ine Chicoutimi, we had a RAN exchange officer with us,” AB Alexander said.
“Everyone who had been to Australia talked about the warm weather and weird animals.”
Born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, AB Alexander said she always longed for adventure.
Her first step was joining the Canadian Navy in 2006, before transferring to the submarine fleet five years later.
When she heard Navy was looking at expanding its submarine fleet, AB Alexander said she was keen to be part of cutting-edge technology.
“I thought ‘I want to be a part of that’,” she said.
“My dad was all for it. He knew I
always wanted an adventure and was like, ‘go for it’.”
In 2014, AB Alexander started her 12-month journey to laterally transfer, making it official when she became an Australian citizen in January 2015.
“It took me about two years to qual- ify after transferring to the RAN. I did the lateral training and then had to re-do seamanship and weapons before getting to HMAS Stirling to commence at Submarine Training School,” she said.
“My training for submarines took me about eight months and I qualified while posted to HMAS Waller.”
Only a 20-minute drive from the white sand beaches she dreamed of, AB Alexander is posted to HMAS Albatross on the NSW South Coast.
Now as a mum to one-year-old Conner, she said she was loving life in Australia and the Navy.
“The number one thing about the Australian Navy is we focus on our members as people and not just a number,” AB Alexander said
“Navy is doing it right.”
AB Brittany Alexander transferred from the Canadian Navy to the RAN in 2015. Photo: POIS Cameron Martin
CPL Dustin Anderson
AFTER more than 10 years in Navy, LS Leigh Gough dusted off his tool belt to return to his former trade during Operation Fiji Assist.
Originally from St Clair in Sydney, LS Gough was an apprentice carpenter before he joined the Navy.
Now a combat systems operator in HMAS Adelaide, LS Gough worked with sappers from the 6th Engineer Support Regiment in Fiji repairing buildings damaged by Tropical Cyclone Yasa.
LS Gough said returning to the skills from his former trade was a relatively easy thing to do.
“Carpentry is the type of skill that you don’t forget,” he said.
“Having the guys on the ground [sappers] helped me get straight back on the tools.
“I gained a lot of experience working with the team.
“I’ve made great friendships that will continue after this operation.”
Operation Fiji Assist was LS Gough’s first overseas deployment, and his work included repairing damaged schools, wash stations and roofs.
“I am very proud that I left a lasting impact on the ground,” he said.
“Being there and seeing how happy we made the Fijian children is a memory that will last forever.”
He deployed in December, which meant he was unable to spend Christmas at home with wife, Sarah, and their daughters, Charlotte and Evelyn.
“This was the first time I was away from my family over Christmas; not being able to see my wife and kids was hard,” LS Gough said.
LS Leigh Gough on
during Op Fiji Assist.
Photo: CPL Dustin Anderson
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1. Majorca is the largest of which island group? 2. What is the common name for the fruit Citrus grandis? 3. What is the plastic piece at the end of a shoelace called? 4. What country has the largest tar pit? 5. How many daily tides are there? 6. Bauxite ore is mined so it can be processed into what metal? 7. What are the two main ingredients of mayonnaise? 8. What is a baby swan called? 9. What is the largest human organ? 10. What does a cartographer do?
Quick-fire questions What is a baby swan called? (Q8) Photo: Phil Botha on Unsplash
17GangwayFebruary 18, 2021 defence.gov.au/news/navynews
AB Chelsea De Angeli gives a thumbs up on the flight deck of HMAS Adelaide as the ship returns to Sydney after Op Fiji Assist. Photo: CPL Dustin Anderson
LS Caleb Wilson plays drums with the RAN Band Tasmania during the Royal Hobart Regatta. Photo: WO2 Max Bree
LSMT Jackson Cashion hands sunglasses to Isabella,2, and Benjamin Devenish, 6, in front of the Defence Force Recruiting tent, at the Royal Hobart Regatta. Photo: WO2 Max Bree
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SGT Janine Fabre
ABOUT 25 ADF women took to the waters of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra to try out their sailing skills.
The ADF Sailing Association’s ‘She Sails’ Discover Sailing Day was held in conjunction with the Canberra Yacht Club on February 7.
Alice Burgess, an instructor at the Canberra Yacht Club, said the events were a great way for participants to see if it was something they’d enjoy.
“It was really good to see so many other ladies getting out there sailing,” Ms Burgess said.
“We taught them some theory and how to rig up the boats, how to capsize and retrieve the boat.
“They all seemed to pick up the rigging pretty well and, although there was not much wind, they were keeping it upright.
“I saw a lot of smiles and laughs so I think they enjoyed themselves.”
President of the ADF Sailing
Association WGCDR Sean Ahern said sailing was great because it was not gender specific.
“When we sail, we don’t have men’s or women’s divisions, we have class divisions. What boat you have depends on what race you are in,” WGCDR Ahern said.
“The boat is the differentiation, not the gender.
“The event is about giving people the basic skills and to give them a little bit of confidence so they can start their journey.”
RAAF CPL Cheyenne Patena- Edmonds has been sailing for a while and first started with the Newcastle ‘She Sails’.
“We are a group of ladies who get together and want to learn sailing,” CPL Patena-Edmonds said.
“It is a great introduction into sailing. Just learning the basics such as looking at the weather, the wind, how to rig a boat.
“I think it is an amazing environ-
ment to learn in because you go back to the basics. It is just a good atmos- phere as well.”
LS Holly Bird said it was the first time she’d tried sailing a yacht since she was a teenager.
“We got in the sailboats and tried to catch as much wind as we could to have a go at sailing and to get some speed,” LS Bird said.
“I definitely intend to come back and hire out the boats and do it again when there is a bit more wind.
“It was really good to be back on the water.”
The ADF Sailing Association holds a number of inter-service and combined sailing events throughout the year, culminating in the ADF Sailing carnival on Sydney Harbour in December.
The ADF Sailing Association is a joint Association, comprising members from all three services, many of whom are also members of the single Service Sailing Associations.
Women on the water
ADF women enjoy a morning of sailing at the Canberra Yacht
Club, Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra.
Photo: SGT Janine Fabre
Funding comes from the ADF Sports Cell, which is part of JCG and also supports the 28 other endorsed ADF Sports Associations.
The ADF Sports Cell aims to enhance members’ physical and mental
wellbeing by connecting people of all ranks and services.
There are active ADF Sailing communities throughout Australia. For information contact: [email protected]
UPCOMING EVENTS 21 Feb ADF Triathlon Geelong, Vic 21 Feb ADF Triathlon, Noosa Triathlon Festival Noosa, Qld 26 Feb ADF Triathlon, CPL Renee Nicholls Memorial Triathlon Canungra, Qld 26-28 Feb ADF Triathlon, Big Husky Huskisson, NSW 27-1 Mar ADF Triathlon, Ultra355 Hervey Bay, Qld 5-7 Mar ADF Sailing, Sydney Harbour Regatta Sydney, NSW 5-8 Mar ADF Running, Australian Masters Athletics Championships Canberra, ACT 6-14 Mar ADF Parachuting, National Championships Nagambie,NSW 14 Mar ADF Triathlon Victor Harbour, SA 21 Mar ADF Triathlon Mooloolaba, Qld 27 Mar ADF Triathlon Forster, NSW 28 Mar ADF Triathlon Kingscliff, Qld
For more information, email: [email protected]
18 Sport February 18, 2021
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ADF women take to the waters of Lake Burley Griffin
in Canberra for the ADF Sailing Association’s ‘She
Sails’ Discover Sailing Day. Photo: SGTJanine Fabre
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