Photo: LSIS Kieran Dempsey RAPID RESPONSE

Serving Australia with pride

NEWSNAVYVolume 62, No. 10, June 13, 2019

RAPID RESPONSE

Proven ability to sustain strong presence in the regionPages 4-5 HMAS Melbourne fires an SM2

missile during Exercise Pacific Vanguard off the island of Guam. Photo: LSIS Kieran Dempsey

Experience of a life-time for recruits

TRAININGPage 14

IPE19leaves miles of

smiles in its wakePlan Pelorus

Page 2 - plus four-page lift-out

Putting the focus back on our people

Page 3

2 NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS June 13, 2019

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LEUT Tanalee Smith

CN VADM Mike Noonan spent a busy week deployed with Indo-Pacific Endeavour (IPE19).

Apart from meeting foreign dig-nitaries, he also made time to hold Q&A sessions with ships’ personnel, conduct rounds with marine techni-cians and serve dinner to sailors.

“Being at sea on the LHD has been a real treat,” VADM Noonan said of his first time transiting aboard HMAS Canberra, which he joined in Singapore and sailed in to Indonesia.

VADM Noonan met several other Navy chiefs in Singapore, where he participated in discussion panels at the International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference Asia 2019, and was the guest of honour at a welcoming ceremony in Indonesia.

“The key messages I’ve sought to spread with our friends and neigh-bours are the importance of coopera-tion, of building relationships, of trust and ultimately the importance of all us working together for the peace and prosperity of our region,” VADM Noonan said.

“I think it’s extremely important that our friends and neighbours get to see the capabilities of the defence force of Australia; having HMAS Canberra visiting these ports sends a tremendous signal about our com-mitment to the region and also the capabilities of ADF people.”

Navy members appreciated how much time their top officer spent with them.

“CN was very approachable and was always happy to have a conversa-tion with anyone who walked past him,” said ABMT Harley Dodds, who found himself in an impromptu

push-up contest with VADM Noonan during morning rounds in the engine room.

LSMT Luke Lawrence agreed. “It was great to share a laugh with

CN and show him what stokers do day in, day out,” he said.

LEUT Alison Osborne was impressed when CN stayed up until 1 am talking informally to junior officers in Canberra.

“He gave measured, considered answers and it was clear he was

excited for the many opportunities for progress in the Navy during the rest of his tenure,” LEUT Osborne said.

CN said he was pleased with the skill levels and capabilities of the members he had seen at work.

“Australians should be very proud of their Defence Force. What our people did in this deployment is truly at the top end of being ambassadors for our country,” VADM Noonan said.

He said members who served in

Chief brings the personal touch

Four-page IPE19 lift-out inside

IPE19 were given the opportunity to learn about the cultures of the coun-tries they visited, the strength of their militaries, and also to show that the ADF operates as a tri-service.

“It’s absolutely vital that IPE19 remains an expression of how the ADF operates: we operate, we deploy as a joint force. This is business as usual for our defence force,” he said.

CN VADM Mike Noonan with LSMT Luke Lawrence and ABMT Hayden McNicol in HMAS Canberra’s main machinery room during Indo-Pacific Endeavour. Photo: LSIS Kylie Jagiello

VADM Noonan speaks to senior sailors during a visit to HMAS Success. Photo: LSIS Christopher Szumlanski

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3NEWSJune 13, 2019 www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS

A big haul for BallaratTHE crew of HMAS Ballarat brought its tally of illegal narcotics to more than $1 billion.

The frigate recently seized more than 12.9 tonnes of hashish, 1.4 tonnes of heroin and a small amount of methyl amphetamines, with a combined value of $1.073 billion*.

The combined hauls were confiscated in 10 separate seizure operations, with the latest occurring on May 10.

During that seizure, the boarding team took custody of more than three tonnes of hashish with an estimated

street value of $53 million*.Ballarat conducted 31 boardings

since deploying to the Middle East on Operation Manitou in November 2018.

CO Ballarat CMDR Paul Johnson said the ship’s company had contributed to the long history of Australia’s com-mitment to the Combined Maritime Forces in the Middle East.

These calculations are based on the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission Illicit Drug Data Report 2015-16 figures for cannabis resin (hashish) @ $50,000 a kilo and heroin @ $300,000 a kilo.

WHILE all key indicators paint a positive picture of Navy’s strategy to grow and maintain its work-

force, the senior leadership group is not resting on its laurels.

DCN RADM Mark Hammond said the 2016 White Paper required Navy to grow to a force of about 15,500 in the coming years.

“We’ve grown Navy by about 700 people over the past 15 months – we are currently just under 14,500 peo-ple and continuing to grow,” RADM Hammond said.

“We’ve increased recruiting by 40 per cent in the past 12 months and we are achieving 95 per cent of our recruiting targets, which is great.

“There’s no shortage of young men and women lining up to join the Navy. One in 10 applicants are successful as sailors and about one in 30 are suc-cessful as officers.”

He said Navy had developed a number of initiatives over the past 12 months, which had a positive impact on retention.

“About 18 months ago, our separa-tion rate was about 10.5 per cent – that’s now come down to 8.2 per cent and decreasing, which is wonderful news,” he said.

“So everything is going well in terms of growing the Navy.”

RADM Hammond said the focus now was to get those sailors and offic-ers to stay.

“Upskilling and empowering our junior leaders is one of our most important priorities,” he said.

“For the individuals attending such things as the Navy Emerging Leaders Forums – the first of which we held in Sydney a few weeks ago with CPL Mark Donaldson, VC, as the guest speaker – the engagement has been phenomenal.

“What I sense is an intellectually engaged and motivated workforce that really wants to make a differ-ence. They understand the difference between mate, manager and leader

Focused on our people

and the roles they have to play as they move through our leader-follower system, and they are looking to be empowered.”

RADM Hammond said Navy had always been very good at achieving the mission.

“Frankly though, sometimes when things get busy and things get tough, I think we have been guilty of achieving the mission at the expense of our peo-ple,” he said.

“Our emerging leaders are being sensitised to these risks with a view to helping us get the balance right more often.”

He said the attitude of getting the job done ‘at any cost’ was a cancerous concept.

“Ultimately our platforms are just objects of steel and wire that are animated and brought to life by our people. Our true capability is resident in our people.

“Achieving our mission at the expense of our people undermines that capability. It triggers thoughts of leaving, it triggers actions of leaving, it triggers corrosive attitudes within ships and corrosive cultures, and frankly it hurts our people.

“It’s not how Navy aims to do busi-ness, it’s not what we aspire to, and where we see evidence of that mindset operating within Navy we must col-lectively re-evaluate our environment and change it.”

He said while Navy was getting

smarter and working smarter, there was still room for improvement.

“Inevitably there are some people, when under pressure, who don’t exhib-it the behaviours that we all expect,” he said.

Navy is investing in that space in terms of humanistic and intellectual leadership and mindfulness training.

“We are training our junior officers now, particularly at HMAS Watson – an initiative I am very proud of – start-ed by Training Force, to challenge our junior officers to recognise when they are under stress and when that stress is starting to effect their decision-making process and the way they engage with people,” RADM Hammond said.

“We are encouraging reflection. We

are actually stopping training events to enable people to reflect on how the pressure of a situation was getting to them.

“So I see this as a significant opportunity to make sure we build and empower leaders who are capable of performing under pressure and remain-ing calm, no matter what the context of the situation, because ultimately that leads to additional warfighting capability.”

He said every sailor and officer needed to be a master of their own profession.

“What we bring to the team needs to be our everyday focus – it is our responsibility to be the best at what we do,” RADM Hammond said.

“Focus on ‘how’ we do our jobs. Train, mentor and coach our people, treat each other with dignity and respect at all times, and remain calm – no matter what the context.

“What we do is no ordinary job and we operate in a complex environ-ment that sometimes puts our ships, our platforms and our people in harm’s way – that’s part of our job as mariners in the Royal Australian Navy.”

RADM Hammond said that because of the inherent pressures, training was essential to how person-nel did their jobs.

He said the large influx in recruit-ment of sailors and junior officers posed a significant challenge.

“The people within Training Force who work for me under Outcome 4 are doing an amazing job. We don’t have enough of them – that is we don’t have enough instructors – so we are moving people around to meet the requirement on almost a weekly basis and I must say they are doing a fantastic job .

“So for anyone out there in Training Force, thank you. Keep it up.”

RADM Hammond said the influx presented an opportunity for cultural renewal.

“When you look at the size of our training force (it’s about 2500 people) and you look at the rate in which we are bringing people through our organ-isation, it’s an opportunity – to get it right, or to get it wrong.”

We need to achieve our mission, but not at the expense of our members. CMDR Fenn Kemp talks to DCN RADM Mark Hammond about maintaining a healthy workforce.

How our leaders are achieving Outcome 4 of Plan Pelorus

Upskilling and empowering our junior leaders is one of our most important priorities.

– DCN RADM Mark Hammond

‘‘


LCDR Des Paroz

NAVY proved its ability to sustain multiple task groups from east to west across the Indo-Pacific during May, with three task groups simultaneously operating in the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and South-East Asia.

While the Indo-Pacific Endeavour (IPE19) maritime task group was undertaking the final legs of its deployment, other fleet units were engaged in Exercise La Perouse in the north-east Indian Ocean and Exercise Pacific Vanguard in the Pacific Ocean near Guam.

Director General Maritime Operations CDRE Matt Buckley said the simultaneous international deploy-ment of six major surface ships and two submarines in joint and combined task groups across a wide theatre of operations was a strong demonstra-tion of Navy’s capability to contribute to stability and security across the region.

“The three simultaneous task group activities underscore the range of scenarios that the ADF must be prepared to contribute to in support

of the government’s commitment to a prosperous and stable Indo-Pacific,” CDRE Buckley said.

He said while the IPE19 Task Force was forging stronger links with regional partners Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia (see lift-out), to the west, HMAS Toowoomba and the submarine HMAS Collins partici-pated in a French-led multinational exercise.

Centred on the aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle, the combined task force included ships and aircraft from the United States Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force.

“The task force exercise con-ducted in the north-east Indian Ocean demonstrated the true power of inter-national partnerships and importance of maritime interoperability,” CDRE Buckley said.

“Further to the east in the vicin-ity of Guam, HMA Ships Melbourne and Parramatta, and the submarine HMAS Farncomb participated in the US-led Exercise Pacific Vanguard, together with the navies of Japan and South Korea, working through a range

of complex maritime task group sce-narios.”

CDRE Buckley said the diversity of the activities, distributed across a wide region, demonstrated the Navy’s ability to sustain a maritime task group presence in the region in sup-port of maintaining global rules and norms. The task groups were ready to respond to a range of contingencies across the region, either as part of an ADF joint task force, or as elements in a combined response with key international partners.

“It is very pleasing to see that a long-term Navy plan to generate and sustain multiple maritime task group deployments is being realised,” CDRE Buckley said.

“While all this was happening, Navy continued its operational con-tribution to maritime security in the Middle East with HMAS Ballarat; sustained an increased maritime presence of hydrographic and patrol vessels in support of our Pacific Island partners; and maintained the ongoing commitment to the security of Australia’s domestic maritime domain.”

Capable and ready to respond

HMAS Melbourne launches an SM2 missile while holding formation with Republic of Korea Navy guided-missile destroyer ROKS Wang Geon and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer JS Ariake during a live-fire demonstration as part of Pacific Vanguard. Photo: MC2 Taylor DiMartino


LEUT Anthony Martin

The nations of France, New Zealand and the United States were represented in the crew on board the heli-copter frigate HMAS Toowoomba during Exercise La Perouse in the Indian Ocean.

In what is becoming a common sight across fleet units, serving members from other navies are working closely with their Australian compatriots at sea and ashore.

Toowoomba’s diverse crew was enhanced with the addition of Lieutenant Joseph Pottratz, of the United States Navy, Ensigne Louis-Marie Sejeau, of the French Navy and Sub Lieutenant Stephen Barry, of the Royal New Zealand Navy.

Lieutenant Pottratz is on exchange with the RAN Submarine Force based in HMAS Stirling and was loaned to Toowoomba for the exercise.

“This has been a terrific opportunity managing submarine warfare training from a surface platform and working with the submarine HMAS Collins and HMAS Toowoomba during the exercise,” Lieutenant Pottratz said.

Ensigne Sejeau joined Toowoomba from FNS Latouche-Treville, one of the French Units contribut-ing to Carrier Task Group 473 in the exercise. His language skills and insight to the task group were invaluable to the success of the exercise.

Sub Lieutenant Barry is on exchange with the RAN as part of his warfare officer training. Working towards his platform endorsement, he spent time in HMAS Stuart before his current posting.

“This is a great ship and crew. I am learning so much from this experience,” Sub Lieutenant Barry said.

Decked out with diversity

From left, Enseigne Louis-Marie Sejeau, SBLT Jay Crutch, Sub Lieutenant Stephen Barry from the New Zealand Navy, SBLT Andrew Stuart and Lieutenant Joseph Pottratz on the bridge wing of HMAS Toowoomba during Exercise La Perouse. Photo: LSIS Tara Byrne

CPOET Scott Miller and fellow HMAS Melbourne crew members

wait for their ship to come alongside USNS Guadalupe in

preparation for a replenishment at sea during Exercise Pacific

Vanguard off the island of Guam. Photo: LSIS Kieran Dempsey

SBLT Bradley Chivers takes a fix on the bridge of HMAS Parramatta during officer-of-the-watch manoeuvres on Exercise Pacific Vanguard. Photo: LSIS Ronnie Baltoft

Charles de Gaulle sails in company with HMAS Collins during Exercise La Perouse.

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LEUT Steve Cropper

THE officers and sailors of HMAS Watson reaffirmed their bond with the municipality of Woollahra by exercising their right to Freedom of Entry to the eastern Sydney suburb.

More than 200 Navy members in ceremonial uniforms marched up Bay Street towards the corner of Guilfoyle Avenue on May 25, where CO HMAS Watson CAPT John Stavridis answered a traditional challenge from Eastern Suburbs Police Command Superintendant John Duncan, before the ship’s com-pany was welcomed into the city.

Once granted entry, the ship’s company marched around Guilfoyle Park back towards Double Bay Beach to the beat of the RAN Band.

Exercising Freedom of Entry is a long-standing custom for naval ves-sels wishing to proudly enter a city with swords drawn, colours flying and drums beating.

CAPT Stavridis said it was only the third Freedom of Entry of his career and his first as CO of a shore establishment.

“Sailing into a city and being granted Freedom of Entry is special but to represent Watson, a fixture in the local community since the 1940s, is truly unique,” CAPT Stavridis said.

It marked the fourth parade by representatives of Watson, with the first held in Double Bay in 2001.

“This was the first time Watson has exercised the privilege of Freedom of Entry since 2005 and I am honoured to lead our Navy peo-ple into Woollahra,” CAPT Stavridis said.

A proud day for Watson

– CO HMAS Watson CAPT John Stavridis

I am honoured to lead our Navy people into Woollahra.

‘‘

“I hope Woollahra is as proud of Watson’s contribution to serving Australia as we are to be linked to their community.”

Mayor of Woollahra Councillor Peter Cavanagh highlighted the important relationship between Watson and the community in which her ship’s company works.

“We are so grateful for the excel-

lent working relationship we have with HMAS Watson, and proud of its role in defence, peacekeep-ing missions and in local activities and events, including its annual Christmas carols,” Mr Cavanagh said.

“Thanks to all who joined with us in appreciation for the service men and women based there, and we honour their dedication, commit-ment and loyalty.”

Located at South Head on Sydney Harbour and first commis-sioned in 1942 as HMAS Radar, Watson has since become Navy’s main maritime warfare training establishment.

Officers and sailors at Watson train in navigation, ship-handling, warfighting tactics and electronic warfare. Watson also supports Navy people studying at local universities.

Police Command Superintendant John Duncan halts CO HMAS Watson CAPT John Stavridis and his ship’s company.

Electronic Warfare Systems Operator LS Emily Pyke smiles at the crowd during the Freedom of Entry parade.Photos: LSIS Tom Gibson

dha.gov.au/online 139 342

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LEUT Harley Slatter

AS part of her deployment in Asia and the Pacific, HMAS Melbourne recently visited the Japanese ports of Sasebo and Yokosuka.

Port visits are an important part of RAN activities, allowing logistics fulfil-ment and providing a variety of oppor-tunities to engage with host nations.

XO Melbourne LCDR Adrian Scott said the port visits were a great opportunity.

“These visits have given us the opportune chance to communicate face-to-face with senior naval personnel of one of our closest regional partners,” LCDR Scott said.

“We’ve also been able to share with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force insights into the day-to-day way we each live and work by conduct-ing reciprocal ships’ tours and official receptions on different ships.”

The Japanese visits have also pro-vided a unique encounter for many aboard Melbourne who have never been to Japan.

“The crew has been working hard while we’ve been away so these visits have allowed some respite and the chance for many to experience Japan and its culture for the first time,” LCDR Scott said.

SMNML-P Britni Martin experi-enced several highlights during her first visit to Japan.

“In Yokosuka there was an offi-cial reception on the Japanese Ship Takanami,” SMN Martin said.

“The Japanese hospitality, attention to detail in their food presentation and ceremonial displays were amazing.”

Melbourne crew members got to interact further with their Japanese counterparts at the event through the time-honoured traditions of trading coins, patches and other items.

The reciprocal ships’ tours were also popular, with many commenting on the similarities between the ships. A notice-able difference on some Japanese ships was the inclusion of an ‘onsen’ – a large hot bath for washing and relaxing, tra-ditionally found in areas of Japan with natural hot springs.

With a few days in port in Yokosuka, Melbourne’s crew had the chance to explore Japan more widely from quieter more rural areas to the nation’s capital.

For some it was the chance to see the bright lights, hustle and bustle that Tokyo is famous for.

Before decommissioning later in the year, Melbourne will undertake her final overseas deployment from April to June 19, visiting the North-West Pacific and East Asian regions.

From left, POCSS Todd Pyman, LSCSO David Cox, and LSCSO Coban Beer, on the flight deck of HMAS Melbourne, as the ship enters the port city Sasebo, Japan. Photos: LSIS Kieran Dempsey

ABML-SC Cassandra Eaton and ABET Jordan Paget enjoy the official function on JS Takanami in Yokosuka, Japan.

In land of the Rising Sun


WORKING AS ONE

Joint task force makes friends in every port

Four-page lift-out

INDO-PACIFIC ENDEAVOUR

SBLT Matthew Newman digs in to help at a school vegetable garden

at Koh Sire, Phuket, as part of a community assistance activity during Indo-Pacific Endeavour.

Photo: LSIS Kylie Jagiello

www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS June 13, 2019 1110 CENTREINDO-PACIFIC ENDEAVOUR

WHAT THEY SAID

I really enjoyed spending time at sea learning more about my job.

SMNBM Bree Etheridge

A fantastic opportunity to engage with international communities.

MIDN Lucas Menenti

Sri Lanka and India were two countries I never thought I’d get to visit.

ABBM Yuguang Huang

An amazing experience to travel and meet with great people.SMNML-P Emma Walter

It was great having Sri Lankans and US Marines sail with us.SMNBM Hamish Capewell

‘‘

‘‘

‘‘

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FLTLT Bel Scott

FOR military personnel, burpees, push-ups and sit-ups strengthen more than muscles. They are part of a physical fitness regime that improves resilience and sharpens mental capacity to deliver a force fit to fight.

Maintaining the mental and physical fitness of the ship’s company and embarked forces on board HMAS Canberra during Indo-Pacific Endeavour (IPE19) was crucial to the mission.

PO Kerryn Seaborn, one of the PTIs on Canberra, aimed to bring humour and variety to every training session she delivered, even though space on the ship was limited.

“The biggest difference from land facilities are the disruptions due to the operational requirements of the ship, such as flying operations and whole-ship activities,” PO Kerryn Seaborn said.

“The LHDs (landing helicopter docks) are

incredible for physical training. The space, the training areas and the equipment available are far better than on any other platform in the Navy.”

During the three-month deployment, she facilitated numerous physical fitness tests or basic fitness assessments and 94 physical training classes to keep the sailors, soldiers and airmen fit and strong.

“The best thing was the people I met and the appreciation I received for providing them the service of physical training. I had the best job on board,” she said.

“The port visits were great – experiencing the different cultures, engaging with the other militaries and competing against them in sport.

“The biggest thing I took away from a joint task force environment is that all three services may operate differently but all contribute to achieving the same goal. A healthy force is a happy one.”

AIRCDRE Richard Owen couldn’t help but smile as he reviewed the highlights of commanding the Indo-Pacific Endeavour (IPE19) Joint Task Force.

The task force returned to Australia at the end of May after nearly three months visiting seven countries and travelling 12,500nm in South and South-East Asia.

“The countries we have visited and the people-to-people engagement has been first class,” AIRCDRE Owen said.

“I have an immediate success measure of how many people were smiling – from what I’ve seen, there have been lots of smiles.”

IPE19 departed Fremantle on March 11 and travelled with up to 1200 personnel, four ships, eight helicopters, a P-8A Poseidon aircraft and a Collins-class submarine.

“IPE is one of the most important annual activities of the ADF,” AIRCDRE Owen said.

“It is a major contribution to regional security and stability and deepens Australia’s engagement and partnerships with regional security forces.”

The deployment included disaster assistance planning, community outreach, Defence industry exhibitions and receptions for regional VIPs and communities on board HMAS Canberra. The task group visited Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia.

The flagship, Canberra, was joined by HMA Ships Success, Newcastle and Parramatta.

Army units 2RAR and 3RAR, the Army Band, Air Force personnel and APS employees also formed part of the joint task force.

AIRCDRE Owen said the joint nature of the exercise was “a message from Australia to the region that this is how we will conduct ourselves in the future”.

“The jobs we do in the military are too big for one service to do alone and IPE19 is a manifestation of that,” he said.

The third iteration of the engagement was another way Australia helped to ensure the region was secure and prosperous.

“I think each IPE improves on the last as we get used to each other, build closer relationships and focus more on the finer details of what we can achieve together,” AIRCDRE Owen said.

“The real success of IPE19 may not be known until countries in our region, including Australia, need help from each other.

“That could be next year or it could be seven years down the track. If we build that trust and those capability knowledge bases, we will know who to call.”

AIRCDRE Owen said each country had its highlights. “Commemorating Anzac Day in Malaysia,

experiencing the wonderful cultural shows on arrival into each new port and witnessing the JTF members make lasting memories with people from all over the Indo-Pacific Region – all of these made this deployment a fantastic time for many of the members,” he said.

His own highlight was dancing with the embarked Army band on board Canberra and in ports from Malaysia to Vietnam.

“We’ve been able to engage all sorts of different young communities using music, song and dance, so having the Army Band and projecting a more human perspective on what we do was important,” he said.

MILES OF SMILESThe success of the joint task force’s tour of the Pacific will be measured in many ways but the most immediate one was evident on the faces of the visitors and the visited alike, LEUT Tanalee Smith reports.

AIRCDRE Richard Owen is presented with his surfboard signed by HMAS Canberra’s crew and embarked forces at the end of Indo-Pacific Endeavour.Photo: LSIS Kylie Jagiello

‘A healthy force is a happy one’

AB Tahlia Lovell, of HMAS Canberra, joins the fun with Malaysian dancers on arrival in Port Klang, Malaysia, during Indo-Pacific Endeavour. Photo: LSIS Steven Thomson

POPTI Kerryn Seaborn takes a group physical

training session on board HMAS Canberra during Indo-Pacific Endeavour.

Photo: ABIS Kieren Whiteley

Video from the conclusion of IPE19 can be seen at

video.defence.gov.au/play/6207

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AS HMAS Success came to the end of her Navy service, a group of midshipmen aboard the First Lady of the Fleet were starting theirs.

The 10 midshipmen – five men and five women aged between 20 and 29 – undertook the at-sea component of their training on Success as she carried out her duties with Indo-Pacific Endeavour.

They were under the watchful eye of training officer LEUT Shane Wallace.

“This was the first time the midshipmen had been to sea so it was a steep learning curve for them,” LEUT Wallace said.

MIDN Lauren Anstey, 27, was previously an air surveillance operator with the Air Force at RAAF Base Williamtown in NSW.

“I had achieved everything I wanted in the Air Force and was looking for a new challenge. The sea seemed more appealing than the land, coming from Port Stephens on the NSW coast,” MIDN Anstey said.

At 20, MIDN Sam Rembridge was one of the

youngest on board and was destined to join the Navy.

His father, grandfather, godfather and several uncles served in the Royal Navy.

“This experience exceeded all my expectations,” MIDN Rembridge said.

“I loved the lifestyle and routine on board. I was also able to visit places I never thought I’d ever see with people who have now become good friends.”

The oldest of the group was MIDN James Virgo, 29. He has degrees in applied science (civil aviation) and international relations and a decade of experience in the Army Reserve.

“Being in Success was a unique opportunity,” he said.

“The fact we were in a ship that is decommissioning, on a deployment through the Indo-Pacific, visiting some amazing places with a great command and crew was brilliant.”

LEUT Wallace said the group showed officer-like qualities.

“This experience has given them the building blocks they need to go on and become future Navy leaders,” he said.

CHALLENGE issued and accept-ed. A leading seaman aboard the retiring HMAS Success created what is believed to be Navy’s first on-board star delta starter machine testing system.

A star delta starter is a com-mon electrical ‘switcher’ used to start a pump or fan motor.

LSMT Chad Freund said he and his colleagues were asked to come up with a system to re-cre-ate faults in the ‘switcher’ as a way to help train junior electricians.

“I love a challenge but I was concerned because I didn’t know if we’d have the components on board to put together a workable testing system,” he said.

“We found some redundant pieces of equipment, including a starter box, a small motor and some cabling, and were able to piece it all together.

“The key part was then to find where we could induce a series of faults in the system to give our

CN VADM Mike Noonan con-gratulated the crew of HMAS Success as she completed her final deployment before decom-

missioning at the end of June.VADM Noonan flew from HMAS

Canberra to Success to speak to the crew and eat dinner with the junior sailors as the Indo-Pacific Endeavour (IPE19) Joint Task Force departed Singapore.

“This ship has been in Navy for as long as I have,” VADM Noonan said.

“After more than 30 years, Success is in as good a shape now than she has ever been and I congratulate each and every one of you for the role you are playing in keeping this ship running the way she is,” he said.

The leading hand of the ship, LS Khory Beezley, said it meant a lot to the sailors to have CN on board.

“We have a great team in Success and it is very important for the hard work and dedication of the men and women who serve in her to be recognised and acknowledged like this,” he said.

CO Success CAPT Darren Grogan said it was no accident the ship was perform-ing so well.

“I am very proud of my officers and sailors. They are serving this organisa-tion well and every day they go above and beyond to ensure this ship operates at the top of her game,” he said.

Success also represented Australia in a regional maritime exercise led by Singapore and South Korea earlier in the deployment.

The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus – or ADMM+ maritime exercise – involved 15 ships from 12 countries.

Australia joined Brunei, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam in the exercise.

As well as being involved in a photo activity, Success took part in a series of replenishment-at-sea exercises as the ships approached Singapore on May 12.

CAPT Grogan said Australia had a long history of defence engagement with ASEAN “and we’re committed to con-tinuing to build practical defence coopera-tion in the region and supporting ASEAN-led initiatives”.

The ship’s last foreign port visit – to

Makassar in South Sulawesi, Indonesia – was also the final port visit by the IPE19 Joint Task Group, including HMAS Newcastle, which is also due to decom-mission at the end of June.

While in Indonesia, crew members from Success participated in welcome events, community engagement, official hospitality and sporting activities with their Indonesian Navy colleagues.

The Navy’s first and only imam, CHAP Mogamat Majidih Essa, also led a prayer after completion of the buka puasa, or the breaking of the fast, during the month of Ramadan.

“It was a great honour to represent the Navy at this event,” CHAP Essa said.

CAPT Grogan said the visit to Indonesia was important.

“Indonesia is a vital partner for us. We are close friends and neighbours and share the world’s longest maritime boundary,” CAPT Grogan said.

“Our defence relationship is a long-standing one focused on a wide variety of security-related matters.”

The visit was also “the last time this hardworking, proud and professional Navy ship got to see foreign shores”.

INDO-PACIFIC ENDEAVOUR 12 www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS June 13, 2019

LEUT John Thompson follows Success’ achievements on her final journey before decommissioning.

Dining out on a job well done

Faulty perfection pieced together

First time at sea on the First Lady’s last voyage

CO HMAS Success CAPT Darren Grogan takes a selfie with the Phase 2 midshipmen embarked with his ship during Indo-Pacific Endeavour.

CN VADM Mike Noonan joins the junior sailors for dinner on board Success. Photos: LSIS Christopher Szumlanski

young trainee sailors practical training on electrical fault-finding without having to wait for an actual breakdown on board.”

CPOMT Andrew McDonald, who issued the challenge, believed it was the first star delta

testing machine purpose-built for a Navy ship.

“I set the task because I want all my able seamen to feel confi-dent when they go into their trade qualification course that they know what they’re doing,” he said.

CPOMT Andrew McDonald, left, and LSMT Chad Freund with the star delta starter machine testing system.

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Give your daughter the skills to build an exceptional futureMerici College is an affordable secondary school, educating young women in a Catholic environment with a strong focus on pastoral care, and targeted support for ADF families with an ADF mentor on site.

Our curriculum is wide and varied within a technology rich environment.

Direct buses to the College are available from most suburbs and neighbouring NSW centres.

To find out more contact the Enrolment Officer Ms Narelle Patrick on 02 6243 4150 [email protected] merici.act.edu.au

CMDR Karl Brinckmann

THE multi-role aviation training vessel MV Sycamore is responsible for providing training to a variety of Navy and Defence organisations.

Every RAN recruit gets the opportunity to spend up to a week in Sycamore, allowing them to gain some first-hand experience of life at sea before graduating and progress-ing to their first full sea posting.

The recruits begin their jour-ney with an induction to the ship, which provides vital information on emergency and escape procedures – much like the process for joining a commissioned warship.

When they sail out of Sydney Harbour at dusk, for many, it’s either their first time in Sydney, their first time at sea, or both.

Their activities at sea include conducting ‘leaving ship stations’, engineering tours, rigid hull inflat-able boat familiarisation, seaman-ship evolutions, working at heights and aviation familiarisation.

Other activities include public speaking, in which each recruit is required to provide a five-minute brief on their background, including why they joined the Navy and what they want to get out of their careers.

Sycamore’s crew, with the instructing staff from the RAN

Recruit School, are always looking at innovative opportunities to max-imise the recruits’ training experi-ence.

Two recent additions have been working-at-heights training and having the recruits winched from the deck by an MRH-90 helicopter from 808SQN.

Sycamore has a mast height of 28 metres and the upper platform is 20 metres above sea level.

For many of the recruits, they’ve never climbed to such a height. The aim of the activity is to brief the RAN’s procedures for working at heights and to build confidence in the recruits to perform activities outside their comfort levels.

Recruits who feel unable to scale to those heights can access the help of one of the qualified Navy sailors posted to the ship. The sense of achievement on completion always has the recruits beaming, especially if they didn’t believe they were capable of such a feat.

Added to the experience is the view of one of the world’s most beautiful marine sanctuaries, Jervis Bay National Park.

Recruits from Recruit School’s Emms Division were in for a treat recently when a crew from 808SQN came aboard in Poseidon 15 (their helicopter) to reset their day deck

landing currency. Three recruits, the accompanying recruit school medic and one civilian member of the ship’s company experienced a rare career highlight in being winched from Sycamore’s flight deck to the MRH-90, which was captained by LEUT Natalie Davies.

Before flying from Melbourne to Sydney for the week at sea, RCT Dylan Hann had never flown in an aircraft.

By week’s end, he had complet-ed two airplane flights and a flight in an MRH-90.

His fellow recruits also found the program valuable.

“If I didn’t already know that I wanted to join the Navy, I certainly do now,” RCT Mitchell Rose said after his helicopter flight.

“It was the most amazing experi-ence,” RCT Bodhi Greenham said.

“I’m almost convinced that I want to transfer to aircrew,” said the sailor who had joined from Perth to be a boatswains mate.

AB Megan Miller was on board as part of the support staff for the recruits.

For her, it was the opportunity of a lifetime as she had always wanted to fly in a helicopter. She hopes to one day qualify to conduct rotary wing aero-medical evacuations.

14 TRAINING www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS June 13, 2019

From left, RCTs Dylan Hahn, Bodhi Greenham, Mitchell Rose and Teekay Shipping Steward Tess Neumann were all winched aboard MRH-90 Poseidon 15. Photos: Garry Vincent

New recruits on a high

RCT ML-P Monique Bomford, of Vendetta Class, Emms Division GE370, fires the pneumatic line-throwing rocket

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15FEATURESJune 13, 2019 www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS

A MOVING memorial service for American servicemen who lost their lives in a colli-sion 50 years ago was held in

Sydney on June 2.The Naval Chapel at Garden

Island Naval Base and the Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour hosted the service for the 74 US sailors.

They lost their lives aboard the USS Frank E Evans after she collided with Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne II on June 3, 1969.

The collision occurred in the South China Sea about 650 miles south-west of Manila when the US destroyer crossed the bow of the RAN aircraft carrier, resulting in significant loss of life and the sinking of the destroyer.

Director of Strategic and Historical Studies at the Sea Power Centre John Perryman said the Melbourne-Frank E Evans incident impacted the RAN even though the aircraft carrier was found not to be at fault.

“The disaster deeply affected those involved, especially the families of those who were killed,” Mr Perryman said.

The disaster came a year after another incident put the US-Australian

relationship under strain.On that occasion the destroyer

HMAS Hobart II was accidentally fired upon by US Air Force jets while serving in a war zone in Vietnamese waters, killing two RAN sailors and wounding seven.

“In both tragedies, the impor-tance of the relationship and alliance triumphed, with each nation taking significant steps to ensure that no such accident would occur again,” Mr Perryman said.

Eighteen former RAN officers and sailors have been awarded US medals for their actions following the colli-sion, including the late LCDR Colin Patterson, whose wife Rosemary and daughter Wendy accepted the award.

The court martial of CO Melbourne CAPT JP Stevenson was controversial and although eventually cleared of blame, it effectively ended his career.

Many years later in December 2012, CAPT Stevenson received an official apology from then Defence Minister Stephen Smith who acknowl-edged Stevenson was not treated fairly by the government of the day or the RAN, following the events of 1969.

Mr Smith said CAPT Stevenson was “a distinguished naval officer

Collision remembered

who served his country with honour in peace and war”.

Stevenson died in January this year and was farewelled with a full naval funeral at Garden Island Naval Chapel,

Sydney, on February 15.The June 2 memorial service in

Sydney coincided with two days of memorial events for the Frank E Evans in the US in Long Beach, California.

Lives lost in an accident at sea and the brave actions of others in its wake were marked 50 years on, writes LEUT Steve Cropper.

A member of the RAN Navy Band performs the Last Post during the memorial Service and (inset) Rosemary and Wendy Patterson hold the US Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal awarded to the late LCDR Colin J Patterson. Photos: ABIS Shane Cameron

From the 15th of April 2019 it became easier for Defence Reservists to access information and advice about reserve service protection, employer support payments and

employer engagement activities.

The following Defence Reserves Support numbers will be transitioned to 1800DEFENCE providing our Reservists with

greater access to information and advice,including after hours and on weekends.

Defence Reserves Support 1800 803 485

Office of Reserve Service Protection 1800 671 998

Employer Support Payment Scheme 1800 001 696

This merge will undergo a transitional period where the current three 1800 numbers will be

forwarded to 1800DEFENCE.

Further information can be sought through 1800DEFENCE.

DPS:APR017-19

BEING a parent, partner or child of an ADF member presents many opportunities and challenges.

This June, ADF families have the opportunity to provide Defence with feedback about their experi-ences and views on military life through the ADF Families Survey.

CDF GEN Angus Campbell said Defence recognised the significant contribution made by ADF families.

“Defence values the essential role families play in supporting our serving members and the contribu-

tion they make to the ADF,” GEN Campbell said.

“The ADF Families Survey is an opportunity to have your say and share your views on the services and support available to you and your family.

“To ensure we make the right commitments and deliver on those commitments, Defence wants to understand the needs of ADF fami-lies and their experiences with the current programs and services on offer.”

“I encourage all ADF personnel and their families to take advantage of this opportunity to have their say,” GEN Campbell said.

“By letting us know what is important to you and your family, we can focus services and support in the right areas.”

The ADF Families Survey will close June 21 and can be accessed at defence.gov.au/dco or dfa.org.au. The results are expected to be available in late 2019

Families have their say

LEUT Eleanor Snelling, RAN

THE latest group of principal warfare officers will soon join the fleet after completing 12 months of intensive theoretical and practical warfare training.

The graduation ceremony for the 14 officers was held at HMAS Watson (CAPT John Stavridis) on May 3 and included a RNZN graduate and the first US Navy student to undertake the training.

Officer-in-Charge of the School of Maritime Warfare LCDR James Bardon said the school had graduated six air warfare, six surface warfare and two navigation warfare special-ists, all of whom would move into dif-ferent roles to consolidate their skills.

“The graduating class should be proud of their efforts on course and the remainder of the warfare commu-nity looks forward to sharing in your successes in your future postings,” LCDR Bardon said.

LEUT Cleo Scarce, a PWO sur-face warfare graduate, achieved the overall Dux of Course and received the coveted Sydney-Emden Prize for exceptional performance under train-ing.

In a momentous day, LEUT Scarce also received the CEA Warfare Theory Award for achieving the high-est marks in theoretical assessments.

Other award recipients included LEUT Benjamin King, who was awarded the ‘Saint Barbara Award’

for Dux of the Air Warfare specialisa-tion phase and LCDR Colin Marshall, RNZN, who received the ‘Captain Darling Award’ for Dux of the Surface Warfare specialisation phase.

These awards, that recognise excellence in warfare training, are supported by the Naval Warfare Officers’ Association, which contin-ues its longstanding relationship with Watson.

DCN RADM Mark Hammond said the graduates were entering a

dynamic operating environment, the professional mastery of which had never been more important.

RADM Hammond acknowledged the significant contribution of the families and friends of the graduating students and the importance of their support to their successes.

The graduates proceed to fleet units and shore establishments across the country to consolidate and enhancing the knowledge and skills achieved during training.

16 PERSONNEL www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS June 13, 2019

Prepared for warfarePWO surface warfare graduates and overall Dux of Course LEUT Cleo Scarce, centre. Photo: ABIS Shane Cameron

A big haul for beachcombersLEUT Gary McHugh

A BEACH on the west side of Garden Island near HMAS Stirling had 200kg of flotsam removed from it as part of an environmental program organised by the Collins Submarines Program Office (COLSPO).

LCDR Dave Reid said a number of members of the COLSPO recently spent a day combing about 500 metres of the beach north of Beagle Bay.

He said the rubbish mainly con-sisted of old rope and floats.

“Once we’ve finished cleaning this area we’ll move onto the next beach and start work there,” he said.

LCDR Dave Reid, POET-SM Terry Douglas and WOMT-SM Mark Layton with some of the flotsam.

If you’re part of an ADF family, we want to hear from you.ADF families make a significant contribution in supporting military members and we want to know what you think about current support for families and your experiences as an ADF family.

Take part and help us better understand your family’s needs.

The 2019 ADF Families Survey is open from 3 to 21 June 2019

Complete the online survey on the DCO or DFA websites www.defence.gov.au/dco or www.dfa.org.au

ADF FAMILIES SURVEYHave your say!

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17SPORTJune 13, 2019 www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS

LEUT Will Singer

A NAVY athlete has regained some form from his teenage years in a fun run he entered as part of his preparation for a half-marathon.

LSCSO Benjamin Higgins was among 13 Navy and four Army mem-bers who represented the ADF Running and Athletics Association (ADFRAA) at the Asics Bridges 10km road race at Elizabeth Quay, Perth, in April.

The course took them across the three prominent bridges around the city’s picturesque Swan River.

LS Higgins was the first across the line, completing the course in 43.10 minutes.

The Bridges 10km was the first proper running event he had partici-pated in since his teenage years.

“I had been training for a half-mar-athon that was a week after the Bridges run and saw this as the perfect way to test myself,” LS Higgins said.

“I picked a pace that was fast for me and stuck to it. The course was mostly flat and the scenery around the city was a nice distraction.

“The only pinch came from the Narrows Bridge with about 2km to go. A push right at the end saw me come through with a personal best time.”

Navy ADFRAA patron CAPT Michael Manfield said running was a great way to improve fitness.

“Participating in athletics and run-ning events – from track events to Saturday Parkrun events and upwards – is a fun and social way to achieve a higher level of mental and physical fit-ness,” he said.

“ADFRAA supports a mixture of track, road and trail events in every state and territory, and seeks participation from all standards of runner.”

For further information about ADFRAA, go to //collab/vcdf/org/ADC/ADFSC/ADFRAA/SitePages/Home.aspx

A LIFE member of the RAN Lawn Bowls Association (RANLBA) says winning the singles and pairs events at the association’s championships in late May was the highlight of her nearly 20-year bowling career with Navy.

CPOML Noleen Brennan won 10 games in a row to take out the two crowns. She teamed with AB Matt Carters to win the pairs before finishing the day with the singles title.

Eighteen members competed at the Forster Bowls Club, in NSW, in the singles, pairs and fours. AB Matt Filliponi was declared the Top Rookie after playing off against three other rookies.

CPOCD Stephen Mauger won the singles plate and POPTI Steve Adams led his team to the fours titles for the second year running.

RANLBA president AB Matt Carters said the diversity of bowl-ers from around Australia, along with four new bowlers, made the tournament a success.

The championships will move to the NSW South Coast next year and will be held at a differ-ent time of the year to give more sailors and officers the chance to play.

The tournament was a selec-tion event for the ADF Lawn Bowls National Championships, at RAAF Base Amberley in October.

No bridge too far

Bowler on a roll

LSCSO Ben Higgins shows off his Bridges 10km medal in front of HMAS Warramunga at Fleet Base West.Photo: POIS James Whittle

AB Matt Carters and CPOML Noleen Brennan show their winning form at the RAN Lawn Bowls Association Championships.

18 SPORT www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS June 13, 2019

LSIS Jayson Tufrey

A team of 24 current and former serving sailors, soldiers, airmen and air women has been named to take on veterans from five other nations in Florida.

U S S p e c i a l O p e r a t i o n s Command will host the 2019 Department of Defense Warrior Games from June 21-30 in Tampa Bay.

The ADF and Veteran’s Sport Australia will support a combined team of competitors, comprising 12 former and 12 current serving military personnel.

LSEW Vanessa Broughill said it was exciting to be going back to the Warrior Games for a second time.

“It was such an amazing event last year,” LS Broughill said.

“We all had so much fun and I can’t wait to catch up with some of the people we met last year.

“This time round I think I will try to be more relaxed and really try to enjoy the moment.”

Competing in indoor row-ing, track and field, sitting vol-leyball, swimming, powerlifting and wheelchair basketball, LS Broughill said it was fantastic to see so many first-timers in the Australian side this year.

“It will be a life-changing expe-rience for all the newbies,” she said.

NSW dominated the ADF Hockey Combined Championships, winning both the men’s and women’s competi-tions.

About 100 competitors played in four women’s and four men’s state-based teams from May 4-10.

Blues women’s captain PO Talei Stoll was happy with the result despite struggling with a limited player roster.

“Unfortunately, due to the high exercise tempo, we didn’t have the numbers previous years have seen,” PO Talei said.

“This saw the women having to play nine-a-side and a majority of players playing two games a day.”

NSW men’s captain, Navy WO William McConnell, said his side didn’t have an easy run.

“There were tight tussles in the games, with us being pushed by all states,” WO McConnell said.

“We had plenty of new players in the association this year, which saw the tougher competition.”

In the men’s final, NT ran on hard and was leading at half-time.

A refocused NSW scored an equal-iser in the third quarter.

Patient and sustained pressure from NSW allowed them to control the last quarter and a goal with two seconds left sealed the win 2-1.

Army CPL Iain McClung praised the way his fellow NSW players per-formed over the week.

ADF HOCKEY teams took a big stick to their trans-Tasman rivals, with both the men’s and women’s sides defeating the New Zealand Defence Force to win the Anzac series in Auckland from April 18-26.

Competing over a three-test series, both squads won the series 2-1 against the Kiwis.

The ADF Men and Women played their final games as curtain-raisers to the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras tak-ing on the New Zealand Blacksticks.

Army Sgt Shayne Buenaobra said playing a curtain-raiser on Anzac Day was a highlight.

“Being able to march on with the Hockeyroos team was such an honour and the highlight of our tour,” SGT Buenaobra said.

With the series tied at one a piece, men’s ADF coach AIRCDRE Leon Phillips made changes to the line-up

that saw them take out the series.“We were surprised in the first

game by how structured our New Zealand counterparts were and how effectively they counter-attacked,” AIRCDRE Phillips said.

“We nullified that in the second two games with a more patient, con-trolled backline and by spot-marking their key play-maker.

“Game three, our players were near faultless – one of the best perfor-mances I’ve seen from them.”

After the women wrapped up their series, coach PO Daniel Knapp praised his side

“The debutantes and experienced heads gelled nicely and our structure was effective,” PO Knapp said.

“The facilities, crowd and honour surrounding the Anzac Test made it a memorable experience and highlight of my coaching career.”

Men, women secure Anzac series victory

NSW doubles down at combined comps

It’s game on for warriors

“They will learn so much about themselves and their journey to recovery, which will set them up for what lies ahead.”

About 300 wounded, injured and ill serving and former serving military members will participate in the competition.

LS Broughill said it was impor-tant for Defence to continue to support adaptive sports.

“It has played such a vital role in my recovery from both injury and mental health issues,” she said.

“I believe everyone in Defence can benefit from being involved with adaptive sports, not just the injured and ill.

“These programs save lives – that alone should prove how valu-able adaptive sports is to Defence.”

The competition will include competitors from the armed forces of the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands and Denmark.

The US competitors will rep-resent the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Special Operations Command.

LS Broughill said she was hon-oured to be selected again.

“ADF Adaptive Sports changed my life over the last 18 months, making me a better mum, a bet-ter wife, a better friend, a better person and I am really looking forward to sharing that experience and knowledge with the team,” she said.

“This journey has taught me so much. Medals are not what it’s about – winning is great, but show-ing up and proving that you are not defined by your illness or injury is more important than anything else.

“It’s those moments that will stick with you for the rest of your life.”

LS Broughill will be competing alongside Navy teammates ABs Matthew Brown and Mark Daniels.

Competitors will participate in 14 sports including archery, cycling, shooting, sitting vol-leyball, swimming, track, field, wheelchair basketball, indoor row-ing, powerlifting and, for the first time at the Warrior Games, golf, wheelchair tennis and wheelchair rugby.

“The final was the toughest game of the tournament. It was an amazing feeling to seal the win against such a strong opposition in a tight game,” he said.

The women’s final was a test of endurance after a long week of nine-a-side hockey.

NSW sealed the victory 1-0 after OCDT Hannah Burrell converted a penalty corner.

“The team performed exceptionally well, considering we had a mixture of new and experienced players,” PO Stoll said.

“I’m proud of what we achieved as a team and if it wasn’t for their dedica-

tion, winning wouldn’t have been an option.”

It was PO Stoll’s first champion-ship win since starting her ADF hock-ey career in 2004.

“I’m completely humbled; the effort the girls put in throughout the championships in order to achieve this victory is commendable,” she said.

“Hockey is my passion and lead-ing these girls to victory has been my absolute pleasure. I just can’t believe it has taken so long.”

ADF National men’s and wom-en’s squads will compete in the Australian Country Championships in Shepparton, in August.

NSW ADF Combined Services player PO Nicholas Simmons passes the ball during the tournament in Sydney. Photo: ABIS Leo Baumgartner

Action from one of the men’s games in Auckland.

LSEW Vanessa Broughill

LSEW Vanessa Broughill training in the lead-up to the Warrior Games last year. Photos: LSIS Jayson Tufrey

19SPORTJune 13, 2019 www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS

ADF teams went down fighting at the Australian Country Water Polo Championships on the Gold Coast, from May 15-18, as they faced off against seven state and territory-based sides.

The men finished sixth, while the women, hampered by the lack of a dedicated goalie, finished eighth.

LEUT Brianna Webb said her team’s fitness was pushed to the limit by the timing system that added penal-ties and stoppage time to the end of the

game, rather than stopping the clock. “Six-minute quarters could turn out

to be 12 to 15 minutes long,” LEUT Webb said.

“The margins would have been a lot smaller if we were playing running time. After three 12-minute quarters, where you’re wrestling, sprinting and shooting, it starts getting really hard to get back on the line to attack or defend.”

LEUT Webb said her side’s biggest challenge came from the NSW team.

“They’re made up of a lot of girls from the national-level teams. They play with and against each other a lot, so they know each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” she said.

“NSW have got anywhere between their northern and southern border to recruit from, but the ADF is a niche.”

Despite the tough losses, LEUT Webb took heart from Defence being able to field a full squad.

“Overall, it just means a lot that we can get a team to go. The scores didn’t

reflect how difficult each game was,” she said.

“I don’t think other teams would say we’re an easy side to play. They know our biggest weakness is that it takes us a couple of games to get into a rhythm.”

LEUT Webb hoped the inter-ser-vice water polo championships later this year would inject new blood into the ADF team.

“I think if people in the wider ADF knew there was a water polo comp

that anyone could come to our pool of players would increase immensely,” she said.

“Two years ago we came second in the country championships because we had a stronger pool to draw from.”

Members interested in water polo can attend the ADF Water Polo Championships at Randwick Barracks, Sydney, December 2-6. Contact LT Bianca Kilborn on (07) 3332 5280 or [email protected]

CPL Veronica O’Hara and MAJ Holly Mainwaring

BATTLING strong winds and rough road services, LCDR Rowan Walker finished fourth in his 45-49 age group in the Ironman Australia event at Port Macquarie in May.

Competing in only his second ironman, the former marathon runner was among 17 ADF Triathlon Club members who took part, with nine athletes completing the full iron-man distance (226km) and the rest tackling the Ironman 70.3 (half-ironman).

Racing in mild temperatures of up to 19 degrees, LCDR Walker was happy to finish quicker than in his first ironman last year.

“It was a windy day and I’m a pretty tiny guy so I got blown around on the bike,” he said.

“You become an endurance junkie and ironman is a bit of a mecca.”

This year’s race featured a change to the bike turn point, which had competitors come into town down a hill then turn around to attack the steep climb for the next 90km leg.

The bike course also consisted of rough road surfaces and carpet was laid on the steep gradient at Matthew Flinders Drive to allow cycling shoes to grip for those walking up.

LCDR Walker was the first ADF athlete out of the water in the swim leg and the first

of them to reach the end of the full distance event, in a time of 9hr 26.06min.

With a background of successful mara-thon running, LCDR Walker found as he got older that his body wanted to run less.

“The diversity of ‘tri’ is so much better than just running as all-round fitness,” he said.

“As a runner I’m not really a natural swimmer but, begrudgingly, I have started to enjoy it a bit more.

“I still do the same run distance in the race but don’t have to train the same amount, as you have to balance it out.

“For a marathon, I’d train 160 to 200km per week, now I only run about 50 to 70km in preparation.”

In other results for Navy, MIDN Joe Benzie finished seventh in the 18-24 age division in a time of 12.26:06 and LEUT Lachlan Bourke, racing in the 30-34 age group, recorded 12.23.13.

Navy competitors in the Ironman 70.3 were AB Aaron Hughes (5.19:56), LS Josh Muscat (5.29:15), LEUT Gary Bateman (6.20:57) and AB Andrew Mee (6.32:37).

To find out more about the ADF Triathlon Club or to connect with club members, contact club president MAJ Cameron Stephenson at [email protected] or treasurer FLTLT Dave Carroll at [email protected]

Blown away by an upcycled time

Time to fill talent pool

LCDR Rowan Walker powers through the bike leg in the Ironman Australia full-distance event at Port Macquarie.

The ADF women’s water polo team attacks the goal at the Australian Country Water Polo Championships on the Gold Coast.

Photo: SGT Peter Borys

Volume 62, No. 9, June 13, 2019

SPORT

HEADS HELD HIGH

ADF teams tough it out at water polo

championshipsPage 19

LEUT Brianna Webb looks for the pass during the Australian Country Water Polo

Championships at the Miami Aquatic Centre on the Gold Coast.

Photo: SGT Peter Borys

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