AIR F RCERCEVol. 54, No. 18, October 11, 2012 The official newspaper of the Royal Australian Air Force12 Th

Orions to return home after nearly a decade in MEAO

JOB DONE

Orion spots survivors

Growlers’ first visit

Remembering Bali P14-15P3

AFTER nearly 10 years of operational service and more than 2400 missions in the Middle East, the AP-3C Orion’s job on Operation Slipper is done.

The two Orions and almost 90 personnel from 92WG will

return home to RAAF Base Edinburgh in the next few months following their suc-cessful long-term commitment as part of the operation.

The first aircraft is set to return to Australia this month and the second by Christmas.

Throughout the almost dec-ade-long deployment, 92WG rotated more than 3500 per-sonnel on tours of duty lasting three to six months.

CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Brown said he was immensely proud of the achievements that Air

Force has made on Operation Slipper.

“All of our people are work-ing hard – not only on deploy-ment – but also here at home on our bases every day, to support our deployed mem-bers,” he said.

“I am proud of the quality of the contribution by our Air Force people, and continually thankful to all of our families that have supported us during these deployments.”

– Continued Page 2

P2

FINAL HOORAH: Below, members of the Orion detachment welcome a 10SQN AP-3C back to Al Minhad Air Base after its final operational sortie

in the MEAO. It is one of two Orions set to return home by Christmas. Photo: SGT William Guthrie

2 October 11, 2012RCEAIR FNews

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DISCLAIMERAir Force News is published fortnightly by the Directorate of Defence News. It is printed under contract by Capital Fine Print. The material published is selected for its interest. The views expressed in published articles are not necessarily those of Defence or Air Force News. Every adver-tisement is subject to Directorate of Defence News approval and the Directorate of Defence News may, at its discretion, refuse to accept an advertise-ment. The Directorate accepts no responsibility or liability in relation to any loss due to the failure of an advertisement to appear or if it appears in a form not in accordance with the instructions received by the Directorate of Defence News. The fact that an advertisement is accepted for publication does not mean that the product or service is endorsed by the Department of Defence or Air Force News.

ADF members incorrectly accred-ited with additional leave on Operation Resolute will not have to repay Defence for leave already paid out, nor will their leave bal-ances be adjusted.

CDF GEN David Hur ley and Acting Secretary Brendan Sargeant on September 17 agreed to the use of a section 58B Defence Determination to authorise the leave incorrectly accrued by ADF members between July 17, 2006, and 29 March this year.

Defence came to this decision after several months of analysing various options on how to deal with incorrectly accrued leave.

In July 2006, when setting up Op Resolute, the operation was recorded on PMKeyS as a non-war-

like deployment instead of a peace-time operation.

The anomaly caused members assigned to Op Resolute to accrue additional leave associated with non-warlike service.

The resulting overstated leave balance averaged out at three days per person, with impacted ADF members having accrued additional leave at a rate of 10 days a year for time spent assigned to Op Resolute during the period before the anoma-ly was rectified.

The Di rec to r o f Se rv ice Conditions and Housing Policy, Peter Redston, said ADF members had taken the incorrectly accrued leave in good faith before Defence made them aware of the error.

“This was a significant factor in

the decision not to adjust leave bal-ances down, or to require that ADF members pay back money if the leave had been paid out,” he said.

Defence corrected the PMKeyS configuration on March 29, record-ing Op Resolute as peacetime ser-vice.

“I acknowledge members had come to expect this leave, but there is no eligibility to additional recrea-tion leave for Operation Resolute other than that associated with peacetime seagoing service which is already being credited,” Mr Redston said.

“ D e f e n c e D e t e r m i n a t i o n 2012/42, authorising the leave in question, is now in place to prevent any retrospective financial impact on Defence personnel.”

Resolution on Op Resolute leave

KEEPING LEAVE: LAC Jackson Cahir, of 10SQN, directs an AP-3C at RAAF Learmonth. Photo: CPL Mark Doran

RAAF Base Amberley is playing host to three United States Navy (USN) EA-18G Growler aircraft visiting Australia for the first time.

The Growler aircraft, from the USN’s Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 132 – known as the Scorpions – based at Oak Harbor in Washington, arrived on September 28 to participate in Exercise Growler 12.

In a media day at Amberley on October 5, Defence Minister Stephen Smith, Defence Materiel Minister Jason Clare and CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Brown officially welcomed the visitors.

“The US Navy are regular visi-tors to Australia as part of longstand-ing aircraft cooperation arrangements between Australia and the United States, however this is the first time EA-18G Growler aircraft have visited Australia,” Mr Smith said.

“The USN EA-18G Growler visit will allow Australia to learn more about how the capability works along-side our F/A-18F Super Hornets.”

The Growlers are working with the RAAF’s Super Hornets during the bilateral Airborne Electronic Attack exercise, which began on October 1 and is due to finish on October 20.

Operating out of Amberley, Exercise Growler training missions are focusing on real-world proficiency in Airborne Electronic Attack employ-ment and integration.

OC 82WG GPCAPT Geoff Harland said it is providing a valuable

Growlers Growlers arrivearrive

training opportunity for the RAAF’s Super Hornets.

“We already work closely with the US on operations, and our future use of the EA-18G Growler capability will only improve that cooperation,” he said.

“The EA-18G Growler capability will provide Australia with an ability to disrupt or jam a range of military electronics systems, including radars and communications systems.

“The capability will provide pro-tection for Australian troops, and the USN EA-18G Growler visit will allow us to learn more about how the capability works alongside our F/A-18F Super Hornets.”

More on Exercise Growler in the next edi-tion of Air Force News.

IN BRIEFDouble firstAIRCDRE Kathryn Dunn has become the first Training Systems Officer to be pro-moted to Air Commodore, taking up the new role as the Head Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Officer. A promo-tion ceremony was held for her on October 2 in Canberra.

State recognitionWGCDR Lee de Winton, CO of 381 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron, will proceed to the national finals of the 2012 Telstra Business Women’s Awards after winning the Community and Government Award for NSW last month. AVM Margaret Staib, Commander Joint Logistics, also made it into the ACT finals for the same category.

New capability guideTHE first Defence Capability Guide has been released by Defence Minister Stephen Smith and Defence Materiel Minister Jason Clare. The new document provides general guidance for industry on projects for the six-year period following the four years Forward Estimates period of the Defence Capability Plan.

Hartley ChallengeADF Cycling Club riders will pedal 450km from Canberra to Charlotte Pass and back in the Hartley Ability Cycle Challenge from November 23-26 to raise money for people living with a disability. Donations can be made at www.hartley.org.au

FIRST TIME: Top, three US Navy EA-18G Growlers fly over RAAF Base Amberley on their arrival for Exercise Growler 2012; above inset, XO 1SQN SQNLDR Grant Fifield, second from left, welcomes US Navy personnel after the Growlers landed on base. Photos: LACW Shannon McCarthy (main) and CPL Glen McCarthy

From Page 1AIRMSHL Brown said during

their deployment, the AP-3C Oriondetachments had conducted morethan 2400 missions, comprisingmore than 22,300 hours.

“The detachment has pro-vided outstanding Intelligence,Surveillance and Reconnaissancecapability to coalition forces overthe 10-year commitment to Iraq,Afghanistan and the Middle Easttheatre with a mission success rate of96 per cent,” he said.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith,who announced the homecoming onOctober 5, commended the outstand-ing commitment and dedication ofthe men and women of 92WG.

“Their work has been an impor-tant component of Australia’s con-tribution to International SecurityAssistance Force operations in theMiddle East,” Mr Smith said.

“They provided a world-classcapability and proved themselves tobe extremely versatile.

“I also recognise the significantsupport and personal sacrifices madeby the families, friends and lovedones of those who have deployed.

“92WG’s decade of operationsin the Middle East is now a signifi-cant part of the Wing’s history thatdeserves to be recognised.”

AP-3Cs to return from Middle East

3October 11, 2012RCEAIR FF News

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AN 11SQN crew which was in Darwin for an exercise was called to a real-life emergency after a boat capsized near Papua New Guinea (PNG).

The Orion crew was tasked to sup-port the search and rescue (SAR) mis-sion, and within hours located eight sur-vivors holding on to a submerged object in the ocean.

11SQN’s Crew 3 had been work-ing out of Darwin for various exercises, including Singaroo, and was preparing for an evening sortie when the call for assistance came through.

J T F 6 3 9 A i r C o m p o n e n t Coordination Element commander SQNLDR Brett Williams said an alter-native SAR capability Orion was quick-ly prepared for the crew to use, and immediately set out towards PNG.

“The alternative aircraft was fitted with SAR equipment including life rafts and air sea rescue kits,” SQNLDR Williams said.

“The crew did a fantastic job and they should all be extremely proud of their efforts.”

Chief of Joint Operations LTGEN Ash Power said the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre sought Air Force assistance in searching the area.

“The Orion was airborne just over three hours following the formal request from Rescue Coordination Centre Australia,” LTGEN Power said.

After locating the survivors, who were desperately clinging to a sub-merged object in the water, the crew dropped an air sea rescue kit containing two life rafts.

“The crew stayed on station and observed the survivors climb aboard the life rafts,” LTGEN Power said.

The Orion crew then guided the Merchant Vessel Bougainville Coast to the location of the life raft with the sur-vivors. This vessel had already rescued the remaining three other people from the capsized boat.

Commander Survei l lance and Response Group AIRCDRE Stephen Osborne said the 11SQN crew did a fan-tastic job and proved just how flexible and capable they could be.

“This crew was preparing for an exercise sortie, and with little notice were tasked to respond to a real-life emergency,” AIRCDRE Osborne said.

“While search and rescue isn’t the primary role of the AP-3C Orion we are on permanent standby to deal with these situations.”

Orion flies to PNG rescueOrion flies to PNG rescue

RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME: Members of Crew 3 of 11SQN involved in the search and rescue, from left, SGT Matthew Garrett, SGT Michael Krollig, SGT Steven Kmiec, WOFF Michael Wright, FLTLT Philip Tracy, FLTLT Geoffrey Woolley, FLGOFF Jacqueline Killian, FLGOFF Annabel Shepherd, FLGOFF Jayson Nichols, SGT Thomas Kneale and SGT Peter Christensen; inset, the survivors on board a life raft dropped from the Orion. Main photo: LAC Benjamin Evans

RMWS

THE replacement for the AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft, the P-8A, moved a step closer with the announcement the Government has signed a $73.9 million Increment 3 Project Arrangement with the US Navy.

The joint announcement came from Defence Minister Stephen Smith and Defence Materiel Minister Jason Clare on October 5.

The signing formalises Australia’s participation in the development of the Increment 3 P-8A and marks Australia’s continued commitment to the $5 billion project to acquire a new manned maritime patrol aircraft.

The Air Force operates 19 Orions but these are due for withdrawal around 2019.

Their replacement, the P-8A, is a mod-ern, highly reliable aircraft based on the Boeing B737, modified to incorporate the latest maritime surveillance and attack capabilities.

The Increment 3 Project Arrangement falls under the Production, Sustainment a n d F o l l o w - o n D e v e l o p m e n t Memorandum of Understanding between Defence and the US Navy. The MOU was signed in March and provides the framework by which the P-8A will be acquired, sustained and developed though its service life.

The Increment 3 Project Arrangement was the first planned upgrade to the Australian P-8A fleet and aimed to pro-

vide a range of new upgraded capability to the Increment 2 aircraft, including a networked maritime strike weapon, air sea rescue kit and enhanced target tracking.

M r S m i t h s a i d t h e P r o j e c t Arrangement represented the “first real opportunity for Australia to influence the future capability of the P-8A, as Australia will be involved in the Increment 3 upgrade from the requirements determina-tion phase”.

The P-8A has an unrefuelled range of over 7500km, giving it the ability to remain on station conducting low-level anti-submarine warfare missions for four hours at a range of more than 2200km from base.

The P-8A is also air-to-air refuellable from the boom of tanker aircraft such as the KC-30A, pushing its endurance out to more than 20 hours – making it possi-ble to patrol Australia’s isolated Southern Ocean territories.

Support for the P-8A goes up another notch

FUTURE GLIMPSE: A US Navy Poseidon P-8 aircraft which visited RAAF Base Edinburgh in June. Photo: SGT Mick Bott

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CPL Mark Doran

NUMBER 1 Recruit Training Unit (1RTU) is now proudly displaying the new Air Force values with two sets of signs visible to all who visit or work and train at RAAF Base Wagga.

Respec t , Exce l lence , Agi l i ty, Dedication, Integrity and Teamwork are mounted on three-metre-high aluminium signs on front of the headquarters and 2.4-metre-high signs are attached to light poles on the path recruits use to march to their mess every day.

CO 1RTU WGCDR Billy Merkx said one of the most influential areas in shap-

FOR ALL TO SEE: Staff line up under the new Air Force values signs in front of 1RTU headquarters, above, and down the pathway to the mess at RAAF Base Wagga. Photos courtesy 1RTU

Values go on showing values and behaviour was at induc-tion.

“Given that two-thirds of the Air Force is inducted at 1RTU, we saw the unit as a prime location to erect signage in support of the new Air Force values,” he said.

And they did it just in time for the Air Force-wide launch of the values by CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Brown on September 14.

“Thanks to the fine work of Recruit Flight Commander FLTLT Josh Borg, we were able to erect the signage by September 11 and they have since been a talking point around the unit and base,” WGCDR Merkx said.

“We are currently working on incor-porating the new Air Force values into the recruit training course and the mili-tary skills instructor course.”

FLTLT Borg said the signage pro-ject developed when members of the unit were looking for ways to reinforce to recruits the culture of the organisation.

“We now have a constant visual reminder of Air Force values which can be seen by day and night,” FLTLT Borg said.

“With Air Force redefining its values in six easy words, it will be easier for the recruits to remember and will be what we

hope they will govern their behaviour on throughout their careers.

“When our current recruits end up running this organisation these values will already be ingrained.”

AC Ryan Rowbottom was on Recruit Course 06/12 and received the Airmanship award when he graduated on September 12.

He said it was a privilege to be a part of the first recruit course at 1RTU to see the signs on display.

“They have a strong presence when entering the unit and the signage is a clear and constant reminder for new recruits of what Air Force and its people are about,” AC Rowbottom said.

“When marching past the signs I thought of all the future airmen and women who will be passing these signs in the years to come as these new values will be a part of Air Force history.

“Learning the new Air Force values will be an integral part of training for all airmen and women and living by these values ensures we as an organisation will continue to be held in high regard.”

The values are part of the New Horizon initiative, which is Air Force’s response to Pathway to Change: Evolving Defence Culture, a result of the Defence culture reviews.

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5October 11, 2012RCEAIR FF News

Jaimie Abbott

A ONCE-in-a-lifetime event unfold-ed at RAAF Base Edinburgh on September 27 when 292SQN con-secrated its new Governor-General’s banner during an impressive parade.

More than 300 Air Force person-nel turned out to observe and honour the consecration in recognition of the squadron’s commitment and service.

Sou th Aus t r a l i an Gove rno r

RADM Kevin Scarce made the pres-entation.

It was a complicated and well-rehearsed parade, in which the men and women from the squadron moved with precision in all directions across the parade ground, ably accompanied by the Air Force Band.

The 120-strong squadron is respon-sible for training air and ground crew for the AP-3C Orion fleet, as well as the aircraft’s maintenance.

CO 292SQN WGCDR Roger McCutcheon said the consecration parade and banner was a tradition that dated back centuries.

“This is an extremely historic and special occasion for the squadron as it only happens once in the squadron’s life,” WGCDR McCutcheon said.

“It is a religious ceremony whereby the air chaplains consecrate the banner, which is then used as a symbol for the squadron.”

To qualify for a banner a unit must have completed 25 years of ser-vice in the RAAF or the Australian Flying Corps or earned the Governor-General’s appreciation for especially outstanding service.

Hundreds watched from the grand-stand as the banner was marched on to the parade ground, after which the principal air chaplains consecrated and blessed the standards.

Host officer OC 92WG GPCAPT

Craig Heap said he was extreme-ly proud of what the members of 292SQN had achieved over the years.

“Their ongoing contribution to train-ing the men and women who fly and maintain the AP-3C Orions has assisted our operations in the Middle East and border protection duties closer to home, which are typical of our strong opera-tional focus,” GPCAPT Heap said.

An AP-3C Orion conducted a fly-past over Edinburgh during the parade.

Banner Banner honour honour for for 292SQN292SQN

RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS: The banner is consecrated by the principal air chaplains during the parade.

AERIAL TRIBUTE: Above, an Orion performs a flypast during the Royal Salute.

AN ACHIEVEMENT: Left, 92WG OC GPCAPT Craig Heap salutes the Governor-General’s banner as it marches past.

Photos: LACW Nicci Freeman

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6 October 11, 2012RCEAIR FFNews

CPL Max Bree

STATE pride is on the line with RAAF Base Williamtown taking on RAAF Base Amberley to see which base can donate the most blood before November 30. The prize will be the first BloodisLow Cup.

Air Force blood ambassador SGT Andrew Kleef said the contest should help get more Air Force personnel draining their veins.

“Some people get on board because it’s a good thing but some people are going to get on board because it’s a challenge,” he said.

CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Brown and DCAF AVM Leo Davies joined their staff to donate blood on September 27 at the Canberra Donor Centre to show their support for the Australian Defence Organisation’s (ADO) annual blood drive.

AIRMSHL Brown said the blood challenge was incredibly important.

“We are trailing behind the other services and I would like Air Force to win this year so I am encourag-ing everyone in Air Force that can to give blood,”

he said. “This year, I have encouraged all Air Force members to roll up their sleeves to donate blood and show their support for the Red Cross blood donating program.

“Blood donation is a cause that’s important to me, as it directly ben-efits our members and the Australian community.

“Regardless of where you are in Australia, I strongly encourage you to support this worthy cause.”

CAF’s personal assistant, FSGT Christine Williams,

has been giving blood for 18 years.

“It’s only been in the last 10 years that I have progressed to giving plate-lets and plasma, rather than whole bloods,” she said.

“I donate platelets because I’m able to. I have great veins for giving blood.

“Give as much as you can, it only takes half an hour – you can save some-one’s life.”

Keep up to date with Air Force’s effort at www.airforce.gov.au/Blood_Challenge

ADF personnel will be able to register for a public ballot next year to determine the 10,000 pil-grims who will attend the centenary of the Anzac landings at Gallipoli in 2015.

Veterans’ Affairs Minister Warren Snowdon said the bal-lot would be conducted because the Anzac Commemorative Site at Anzac Cove had a maxi-mum capacity of about 10,000 people.

Mr Snowdon said the public ballot system for the allocation of attendance passes would ensure an equitable allocation of Australian places.

ADF personnel will be able to register for the ballot next year after a period of public con-sultation to give people the chance to say who should be represented at Gallipoli in 2015.

Community forums will be held across the country and an online survey of 40 questions is available at www.gallipoli2015.dva.gov.au

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Ballot for Gallipoli

BloodisLow Cup BloodisLow Cup state challengestate challenge

Following a challenge set by CAF to instigate a state contest between the two super bases, SGT Kleef initiated the BloodisLow Cup.

The idea came from former RAAF blood ambassador FSGT Tony Benfer.

“FSGT Benfer had the idea for his base but they were unable to initiate it,” SGT Kleef said. “So this year I said I’d run with it.

“Another idea FSGT Benfer had was ‘Plasma for Plasma’, where you donate plasma and you get a raffle ticket in the draw for a plasma TV. We’ll probably look at doing that next year.”

The Red Cross blood van will be at Amberley from October 23 to 25 and at Williamtown on October 10 and from October 29 to November 2.

But SGT Kleef said there was no need to wait for the Red Cross to come to the base.

“You don’t have to wait for the van being there, you can just go into the Red Cross donation centre in your local town or city,” SGT Kleef said.

Friends and family can also donate blood and their donation will be counted towards the Air Force effort.

BRING IT ON: SGT Andrew Kleef displays the new BloodisLow Cup at RAAF Base Amberley. Photo: LACW Joanne Larsen

SUPPORTERS: From left, back, FLTLT Tiffany Scott, CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Brown, SGT Anna Jackson and DCAF AVM Leo Davies support FSGT Christine Williams as she donates blood at the Australian Red Cross blood bank in Garran, Canberra.

Photo: LAC Bill Solomou

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7October 11, 2012RCEAIR FF News

LAC Bill Solomou

AIR Force has completed aircraft modification for the final phase of the Hornet Upgrade (HUG) program.

To mark the delivery and accept-ance of the final HUG phase 2.3 modi-fied aircraft, more than 200 people attended a ceremony at RAAF Base Williamtown on September 6, includ-ing ADF members and contractors and Defence Industry representatives involved in the project.

It not only marked the completion of the phase, but the end of the exten-sive upgrade program for the Classic Hornet fleet which has comprised mul-tiple phases since the late 1990s.

OC 81WG GPCAPT Vincent Iervasi, who addressed the ceremony, said the final HUG phase had deliv-ered a comprehensive electronic war-fare capability upgrade to the fleet, giving Air Force “the most capable electronic warfare system on a Classic Hornet”.

Under HUG 2.3, the Electronic Warfare Self Protection system was updated, comprising a replacement radar warning receiver, a supplemen-tary countermeasures dispenser, an electronic countermeasures system and an enhanced data recording capability.

HUG 2 .3 P ro jec t Manager WGCDR Scott Parry, of the Tactical Fighter Systems Program Office, said the project had involved more than 130 personnel.

“Organisations such as the Boeing Company, US Navy, Elta, SAAB,

Elbit and Boeing Defence Australia have contributed to the upgrade, but what makes this project unique is that TFSPO undertook the role of integrat-ing all the pieces,” WGCDR Parry said.

“Defence usually outsources the integration aspects of projects, howev-er in this case our members stood up to the challenge – particularly HUG 2.3 ground systems team members FLTLT Kevin Le Poidevin and FSGT Sean Bell.”

FSGT Bell said as the project pro-gressed specific ground support sys-tems had to be developed to comple-ment the aircraft upgrades.

“To make things happen, we had

Hornet upgrade success

to find resources and think outside the box,” FSGT Bell said.

FLTLT Le Poidevin said the intro-duction of the HUG 2.3 aircraft sys-tems required the development of sev-

eral items of innovative ground sup-port equipment for the Classic Hornet fleet.

FLTLT Le Poidevin said the end result was a major team effort.

“Each activity required consider-

able research, design effort and draw-ing development that has resulted in a comprehensive and integrated HUG 2.3 ground s ystem,” FLTLT Le Poidevin said.

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: GPCAPT Joe Iervasi addresses the gathering; photo at right, from left, WGCDR Scott Parry, FLTLT Kevin Le Poidevin and FSGT Sean Bell. Photos: LAC Craig Barrett

TEAMWORK: Defence members, contractors and civilians gather to celebrate the delivery and final acceptance of the HUG phase 2.3 modified aircraft at RAAF Base Williamtown.

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: GPCAPT JJoe Iervasi addresses the gathering; photo at right from left WGCDRJoe

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8 October 11, 2012RCEAIR FFNews

Eamon Hamilton

THE friendship between Indonesian and Australian Hercules squadrons has been further strengthened following Exercise Rajawali Ausindo 12.

A 37SQN C-130J Hercules took a 27-strong RAAF and Australian Army contingent to Malang in East Java on September 17.

The Australians were hosted by their counterparts from the Indonesian Air Force’s (TNI-AU’s) 32SQN, which operates a fleet of C-130Bs and C-130Hs.

Exercise Rajawali Ausindo 12 involved a series of cargo airdrop and paradrop missions, assisted by mem-bers of Australian Army’s No. 176 Air Dispatch Squadron.

The exercise builds strong ties so both air forces can work alongside one another more easily during operations.

OC 84WG GPCAPT Donald Sutherland said that both air forces were united in purpose, regardless of their nationality or Hercules model.

“It has been great coming here and seeing how much we have in com-mon,” GPCAPT Sutherland said.

“Regardless of how we do it, we are all in the business of flying 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year, delivering cargo where it’s needed.

“All over the world, regardless of our nationality, C-130 operators speak the same language.”

The TNI-AU shares its participa-tion in Exercise Rajawali Ausindo

Indonesian ties just got

between its two Hercules units, the Jakarta-based 31SQN, and Malang-based 32SQN.

Currently, Australia and the US are the only two countries to conduct C-130 exercises with Indonesia.

A number of participants in this year’s exercise have experienced Rajawali Ausindo before.

CAPT Rudy Hartono, a naviga-tor with 32SQN, was involved with Exercise Rajawali Ausindo 09 in Malang.

“We can exchange knowledge with people from your country, such as viewing your checklists and pro-cedures, and compare how we do it,” CAPT Hartono said.

“I’m very excited about training in Australia in future – not just for flying but also the cultural exchange.”

WOFF Peter Kennedy, a load-master with 37SQN, participated in Exercise Rajawali Ausindo 10 at RAAF Base Darwin, which also fea-tured TNI-AU’s 32SQN.

“Every one of their loadmasters remembered me from two years ago,” WOFF Kennedy said.

“They were pretty excited about having someone they’d met before come to their home country.”

WOFF Kennedy said he was impressed by the hospitality and atti-tude shown by the Indonesian Air Force.

“They’re very good at what they do – they’re a very resourceful squadron,” WOFF Kennedy said.

“I reckon they’d be pretty good guys to work with.”

Exercise Rajawali Ausindo is one of three bilateral exercises routinely held by both countries.

The others are Elang Ausindo, which focuses on air combat capa-bility, and Albatross Ausindo which focuses on maritime surveillance.

Albatross Ausindo will be held in Darwin this month with TNI-AU B737 maritime surveillance aircraft and 11SQN AP-3C Orions.

DOWN TO WORK: Left, personnel from the RAAF, Australian Army and TNI-AU stand at ease on parade in front of a RAAF C-130J Hercules during a welcome ceremony. Centre, MAJ Reza Sastranegara of the TNI-AU, left, and FLTLT Andrew Colledge who were responsible for organising their respective air force’s contribution. Right, a 37SQN C-130J drops paratroops during Exercise Rajawali Ausindo. Photos: Eamon Hamilton

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9October 11, 2012RCEAIR FF News

Eamon Hamilton

LIMITED visibility and soaring vol-canic peaks are just some of the chal-lenges of low-level flying in Indonesia.

Australian C-130 crews have expe-rienced the challenges first-hand in recent years, with relief flights follow-ing the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami and 2009 Padang earthquake.

For pilots like FLTLT Jerome Appleby of 37SQN, activities like Exercise Rajawali Ausindo provide useful exposure to environments quite unlike Australia.

The exercise marked FLTLT Appleby’s first international task since completing his captain’s conversion in July.

“Flying low-level around their ter-rain, doing airdrop for the first time in a foreign country, has been awesome,” FLTLT Appleby said.

The Rajawali Ausindo missions coupled low-level navigation routes around East Java with a delivery of air-drops or paratroops in Malang.

Hazy conditions bring visibility down to around 5km, a distance the 40-tonne Hercules will cover in 60 seconds.

“Low visibility can be quite chal-lenging, especially when it’s coupled with a low cloud base and high ter-rain,” FLTLT Appleby said.

“We’re also looking out for kites while we’re flying – there are numer-ous very large kites across Java which are a couple of metres across, flying up to 400 metres above the ground.

“You don’t see them until quite late because of the haze, so you require a good lookout of what’s happening around you to stay out of their way.

“Ultimately we accomplish the

same mission, we just go about it in different ways.”

CAPT Marlon Ardilles is a pilot with the TNI-AU’s 32SQN, and like FLTLT Appleby, he too is a newly-minted Hercules captain with eight months’ experience.

The TNI-AU is exposed to the Indonesian flight environment from early on.

“We become familiar with the ter-rain around this airbase during our training, so it’s not a great challenge for us,” CAPT Ardilles said.

While the TNI-AU’s 32SQN oper-ates C-130Bs and C-130Hs, it is keen to see how RAAF does business with the C-130J.

“It’s a rare opportunity for us to see the C-130J and its technology, and we get to understand how the crew works differently,” CAPT Ardilles said.

Indonesia, a country of 237 mil-lion people spread across 6000 of the 13,000 islands in the archipelago, places great importance on its airlift capability, especially during times of crisis.

“The C-130 is the largest aircraft in our fleet,” CAPT Ardilles said.

“In this country, especially for our Air Force, transport is very important.”

Mastering low-level flying challenges

LEARNING CURVE: FLTLTs Brendan Quaife, left, and Jerome Appleby. Photo: Eamon Hamilton

even stronger

HATS OFF: Participants from the RAAF, Australian Army and TNI-AU. Photos: Eamon Hamilton

WELCOME: A sign at the front of TNI-AU’s 32SQN hangar welcomes Australian participants to Exercise Rajawali Ausindo 12.

LISTEN UP: FLTLT Steve Rothenbuhler (seated), a 37SQN co-pilot, listens to a local area brief.

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10 October 11, 2012RCEAIR FFNews

NOT everyone would be happy to sit behind a dashboard for 4000km – but for four RAAFies it was all in a day’s work as they helped out in the 2012 Variety NSW Bash.

Actually, it was 10 days’ work.The event – which raised $1.9 million

this year for Variety – The Children’s Charity, which aids children with special needs – started in the Sydney suburb of Balmain on August 19.

A convoy of 112 pre-1975 cars travelled north towards Bamaga in Cape York over 10 days.

The RAAFies along for the long ride were road movements officer FSGT Tony Perry and mechanic LAC Phil Webb, both of 381 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron, AC Ricky Osman, of 22SQN, and medic CPL Amy Best, of 3 Expeditionary Health Squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown.

They provided a mobile vehicle workshop and medical aid to entrants to make sure everyone reached far north Queensland safely.

There were few hitches, according to FSGT Perry.

“It went really well,” he said. “We didn’t have too many breakages.”

He said CPL Best only had a few scratches to patch up, so all went well on the human repair front too.

Even before the event, CPL Best was bursting with enthusiasm.

“Variety is one of the most well-known charities, putting smiles on children’s faces,” CPL Best said.

“What other charity has grown men and women dressed in costumes, driv-ing around in Australia in cars older than my dad?” she said.

Every year Variety provides more than $12 million to assist 45,000 spe-cial needs children and their families across Australia.

The bash was started by entrepreneur Dick Smith in 1985 in what was known as the Bourke to Burketown Bash. Since then the annual event has grown and raised millions of dollars.

Air Force’s association with the Variety NSW Bash started in 1990 when it entered a team driv-ing an HR Holden sta-tion wagon, as well as two mobile workshops. Since the mid- ’90s Air Force has provided a mobile workshop and now a medic.

Providing a bit of road comfort

MILES OF SMILES: FSGT Tony Perry, front, and LAC Phil Webb; inset, AC Ricky Osman with some of the tools of his trade.

Photos: LAC Craig Barrett and LAC David Said

CHUFFED: CPL Amy Best ... “What other charity has grown men and women dressed in costumes, driving around in Australia in cars older than my dad?” Photo: CPL Amanda Campbell

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11October 11, 2012RCEAIR FF News

SQNLDR Mal Grieve

THE RAAF Association’s 72nd annual national commemoration of the Battle of Britain – an action pivotal in stopping Hitler’s plans to invade Britain during WWII – has again been held in Hobart.

The weekend-long program on September 15 and 16 included a ser-vice at St David’s Cathedral, a dinner at Tattersall’s Park and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Hobart Cenotaph at the Domain.

Guests included former CDF ACM Angus Houston and CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Brown, who hailed the Hobart event for its significance and relevance.

“Not only was the Battle of Britain the first great air battle, but also perhaps one of the most decisive battles of the Second World War,” AIRMSHL Brown said.

“It proved that you can’t do any other land and maritime operations unless you’ve got control of the air.”

A poignant moment took place during the service as the sound of the Roulettes, performing a six-aircraft flypast and high show display overhead, could be heard within St David’s Cathedral. The Roulettes also performed a formation fly-past over the wreath-laying ceremony on the Sunday.

The Air Force Band participated at the weekend’s events and performed a specially-written fanfare called Victory in the Air in both the Hobart Mall and dur-ing the Battle of Britain dinner.

The band’s CO, SQNLDR Mathew

Battle of Britain tribute

Shelley, wrote the fanfare and was hon-oured to be there to lead the performance.

“The Battle of Britain was a revolu-tionary conflict – the first in which air power alone was used to win a decisive victory,” SQNLDR Shelley said.

“Victory in the Air was composed to celebrate that achievement of air power, and to commemorate the bravery and gal-lantry of Australians who fought and lost their lives during the Battle of Britain campaign.”

WGCDR Andrew Layton, CO of 29SQN, based at Anglesea Barracks in Hobart, said it was pleasing to see how this annual event had been confirmed as the national focus for the commemoration of the Battle of Britain.

“The importance of remembering the deeds and sacrifice of those who served, and who serve, cannot be over empha-sised and has a very real connection to a modern Air Force,” he said.

PROUD: ACM Angus Houston and CAF AIRMSHL Brown were among the guests at the cenotaph.

POIGNANT MOMENT: Air Force Band bugler SGT Peter McCracken sounds the Last Post during the service at the Hobart Domain Cenotaph.

Photos: CPL Cam Scott

CATHEDRAL: Drummer SGT Ben van den Akker of the Air Force Band, together with a flag party from 29SQN, support the 72nd Battle of Britain commemoration Ecumenical Service at St David’s Cathedral.

12 October 11, 2012RCEAIR FAir Force Improvement

SQNLDR Dallas Haggarty

COMBAT Support Group (CSG) has completed a successful review of a key component of its daily business, the functions of the permanent Air Force base.

As part of the Combat Support Improvement Program (CSIP), CSG mapped the tasks undertaken to pro-vide airbase support at every perma-nent airbase within Australia, as well as RMAF Base Butterworth.

CSIP director Steve Mallett said before embarking on any change pro-grams, understanding your own busi-ness was key.

He said the CSIP examined all of the enabling functions of each air-base, including command, control and intelligence, force protection, secu-rity operations, air operations support, airfield engineering, airbase logistic support, health support, occupational health and safety, emergency response and recovery, administration and coor-dination, and raise, train and sustain requirements.

“The outcome of this program of work was a discrete process map of every permanent airbase, and the gen-eration of a Change Opportunities and

SupportiSupporting ng businessbusiness

Issues Register, which currently con-tains over 860 items,” Mr Mallett said.

“The issues identified areas where the current system was not working and could be fixed, while the opportu-nities were processes, otherwise work-ing, that could not have been improved better.”

He said about one third of these issues and opportunities had potential to be localised projects that the airbase staff could tackle themselves, with the remaining two thirds being items that spanned multiple airbases or could not be resolved within a single airbase’s own resources.

“This data is proving to be invalu-able in planning ongoing CSIP activ-ity,” Mr Mallett said.

“The process maps are providing a constant source of ground truth as we consider future projects.

“We are using the issues and opportunities collected to launch a range of projects that will reduce duplication and re-working, as well as improving our ability to generate capa-bility for Air Force.”

Mr Mallett said 24 projects had already been initiated to address sub-jects such as the review and stand-ardisation of the Air Base Command

Post, including training, the Combat Support Request process, armoury management, and the CSG reporting framework.

This review follows up on the work completed earlier this year by CSG’s 395 Expeditionary Combat Support Wing that rationalised the support stores held at Air Force’s bare bases and reduced spares holdings by up to 25 per cent.

A complete list of the projects can be found on the CSIP SharePoint site at http://caas/TeamWeb2010/RAAF/CSIP/default.aspx

TAKING A LOOK: A CSG review has examined all the functions of running an airbase, such as air operations support (above) and health support (left). Photos: CPL Guy Young (main) and SGT Pete Gammie

^

13October 11, 2012RCEAIR FF News

CPL Max Bree

DURING her first few ses-sions in question time LACW Brimlea-Jane Smyth found things to be placid – until the person in the top job arrived to get things going.

“For the first couple of days it was pretty quiet because the Prime Minister wasn’t in the house,” LACW Smyth said. “But when she came back it was a little bit more fiery.”

LACW Smyth was taken under the wing of Northern Territory MP Natasha Griggs as part of the ADF Parliamentary Program in Canberra from September 17-20.

“She was great, very wel-coming and very proud to have a Defence member attached to her,” LACW Smyth said. “She was very generous with her time – inviting me to committee meetings and functions or other meetings I was allowed access to.”

Along with feeling the fire of question time, LACW Smyth helped write Ms Griggs’s speeches and amendments.

“When you see your MP on TV and you hear a particular part of a speech or an amend-ment that you helped them do, you get a bit of a buzz from it,” LACW Smyth said.

A clerk at the Directorate of Personnel – Air Force, LACW Smyth and 14 other ADF members at Parliament as part of the program had meetings with Defence Minister Stephen Smith, Defence Parliamentary Secretary David Feeney and other Parliamentarians.

But rather than aspiring for high political office, LACW Smyth said she could see herself working as a ministerial staffer.

“I didn’t mind doing that particular admin, speeches and things that get done in the back-ground,” she said.

During the week LACW Smyth attended an evening function with the South Korean ambassador along with meeting political high flyers and TV per-sonalities.

“I wasn’t over-whelmed with it because they were all so welcoming,” she said. “They wanted to learn just as much about us as we did of them.”

Although a cou-ple of days finished around midnight, LACW Smyth said she had a better apprecia-tion of what politicians do.

“It makes you real-

ise that they’re not just on the TV. They’re meeting members from their electorate, attending meetings or committees,” she said.

“The experience has given me exposure to things I wouldn’t normally consider happening in Parliament, though I don’t think work will let me watch question time at 2 o’clock each day to keep up with what is happening in Parliament.”

Other Air Force members who took part on the program were WGCDR Jonathon Durden, of Headquarters Combat Support Group, WGCDR Wesley Perrett, of Air Force Headquarters, and SQNLDR Robert Crawford, of Aerospace Operational Support Group.

House guests welcomed

NEW EXPERIENCE: LACW Brimlea-Jane Smyth with her Parliamentary host Natasha Griggs MP, Member for Solomon, at Parliament House in Canberra. Left inset, Defence Minister Stephen Smith with the ADF participants of the Parliamentary Program. Photos: David McClenaghan

14 15RCEAIR FFCentrepiece October 11, 2012

SUPPORT: From top, troops help victims in the hangar at Denpasar; a Hercules flight arrives at Brisbane International airport with burns victims; clockwise from left, LACW Hayley Edwards, FLGOFF Kim Davey, CPL Colin Pitts and SQNLDR Steve Cook. Photo: SGT Troy Rodgers

HOW OP BALI ASSIST UNFOLDED IN 2002

LS Paul Berry

MEDICAL assistant CPL Michael Gunn woke to a phone call early on October 13, 2002.

A voice on the line told him to grab his gear, get to Richmond and start prepping for an aeromedical evacuation (AME).

For CPL Gunn, then an LAC with No. 3 Combat Support Hospital, it was the beginning of a mercy dash into the horrific aftermath of the 2002 Bali bombings.

He would spend almost 72 sleep-less hours providing lifesaving medical treatment to scores of Australians as they were evacuated from Bali to Darwin.

“Each anniversary I take some time to myself, because it was such a big episode,” CPL Gunn said, 10 years on.

“There may be a lot of things going on in your life, but you’re still walking and breathing – it’s a good reflection for me.”

Details were sketchy when the AME team departed RAAF Base Richmond in a C-130. Initial reports indicated six people were injured following a gas cylinder explosion.

“We went over with enough gear to look after six and we ended up bring-ing back 66, which at the time was the biggest AME since Vietnam; it was massive,” CPL Gunn said.

The scale of the incident wasn’t clear until he arrived at the Denpasar Hospital in Bali.

“There were people six deep around

the outside of the hospital not knowing what had happened to their family or friends.

“The hospital was inundated, they had patients in the hallways, the ICU was packed and it only had four or five beds in it. It was a sight.”

As the RAAF medical team made their way through the crowd, an Austra-lian man called out something that has stayed with CPL Gunn ever since.

“He just said ‘go Aussie’. That re-ally stuck in my head because I hadn’t experienced anything like that before,” he said.

“I guess it was reassurance for him seeing us, but it was also reassuring for us to know that we were needed there.”

They began the slow process of ferrying priority patients back to the airport casualty clearing station for evacuation.

CPL Gunn recalled hand-ventilating a patient because bottled oxygen was not available.

“I had a tube down his throat and was breathing for him and this local guy asked if he could help. That man sat there and hand-breathed for the guy for over an hour,” he said.

“It allowed me to go and help treat the other 30 patients who were waiting in the casualty clearing station for the second Herc to arrive.”

It was a humbling experience for CPL Gunn.

“In catastrophes of any kind, you come together as a team and there are no longer the little bureaucratic things, you are there to do your job and you

just get it done,” he said.

“We might have worked for 72 hours straight, but there were people in operations cells and support staff back in Australia that worked even longer in support of that mission.”

CPL Gunn said it was important to remember the tragic events of that day.

“The impact this event had on Australians, the Bali-nese and inter-nation-ally was huge,” he said.

“I’m just happy I could help.”

A humbling experience

Compassion in troubled times

‘‘No matter how badly burnt they were, so many vic-tims asked us to help others first.

– SQNLDR Michelle Maundrell, Op Bali Assist

nurse

CPL Mark Doran

“THE Australian spirit shone through the troubled times and circumstances in Bali,” said SQN-LDR Michelle Maundrell, of Health Operational Conversion Unit, as she described her involvement in Op Bali Assist.

SQNLDR Maundrell was a flying officer posted to what was then No. 6 RAAF Hospital as a nurse in Mel-bourne and said she was at home, watching television reports on the bombings, when her phone rang.

“I immediately suspected what the call was for,” she said.

“There was a bit of uncertainty at first, the reports were conflicting and I wasn’t sure exactly what had happened, how big it was going to be or the number of casualties involved.

“The authorities weren’t even sure if it had been a terrorist attack or a gas pipe explosion.”

The Melbourne team was given an hour to pack before being taken to the airport.

They arrived in Darwin late that night and with initial casualty estimations relatively low, the ADF

planned to retrieve them in just two missions.

En route to Bali, mission staff learned the scale of the

incident. SQNLDR Maundrell was

nervous flying in as she didn’t know what they were going to

see.Arriving at Denpasar airport

early on October 14, SQNLDR Maundrell’s team immediately start-ed work at the aeromedical staging facility in an old aircraft hangar where the victims were brought to prepare them for evacuation to

October 131.20am – Bomb blast occurs in Bali.3.30am – ADF alerted and immediately begins developing options for assistance. 4am – Defence Minister’s office informed.4.50am – ADF formally directed to place two C-130 aircraft and AME teams on immediate notice to move and be prepared to support AMEs in Bali. The aircraft were also directed to be configured for AME.9am – DFAT tasks an Inter-Departmental Emergency Task Force to develop a whole-of-government response to the incident.9am – Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister an-nounces the RAAF will send aircraft to assist in the evacuations. 10.15am – First C-130 departs RAAF Base Richmond for Darwin.2.30pm – Second C-130 departs RAAF Base Richmond.3.50pm – First C-130 arrives in Darwin.4.30pm – First C-130 departs Darwin for Bali.6.30pm – AP-3C Orion departs Canberra. 7pm – Third C-130 departs RAAF Base Richmond.7.40pm – First C-130 arrives in Bali.11.10pm – First C-130 departs Bali.October 1412am – Second C-130 arrives in Bali.12am – Fourth C-130 departs RAAF Base Richmond.12.35am – Third C-130 arrives in Darwin.2.30am – First C-130 arrives in Darwin carrying 15 evacuees – three in intensive care; five on stretchers; seven walk-on (less seriously injured) patients.2.30am – AP-3C Orion arrives in Bali carry-ing AFP and additional consular DFAT staff.7.10am – Second C-130 arrives in Darwin carrying 22 evacuees – two in intensive care; 19 on stretchers; one walk-on patient.12.35pm – Third C-130 arrives in Darwin carrying 15 casualties. 1.05pm – Fourth C-130 arrives in Darwin carrying 12 evacuees – nine on stretchers; three walk-on patients.5.30pm – C-130 arrives in Darwin carrying two stretcher evacuees.October 15 12.30am – First patient transport C-130 de-parts Darwin carrying 12 patients along with two next of kin en route to Perth. 2.30am – Second patient transport C-130 departs Darwin carrying eight patients en route to Adelaide then Melbourne.5.30am – Third patient transport C-130 departs Darwin carrying seven patients en route to Brisbane.6am – First patient transport C-130 arrives in Perth.6.30am – Five ADF storage refrigerator and support equipment arrive in Bali.7.50am – Second patient transport C-130 arrives in Adelaide, offloads one patient.9.40am – Fourth patient transport C-130 departs Darwin carrying 10 patients en route to Sydney.10.40am – Second patient transport C-130 arrives in Melbourne, offloads seven patients.10.50am – Third patient transport C-130 arrives in Brisbane.2.20pm – AFP Disaster Victim Identifica-tion Team departs Darwin en route to Bali.5.05pm – Fourth patient transport C-130 arrives in Sydney at the Qantas Jet Base.October 162.30pm – RNZDF C-130 departs Darwin en route to Bali to support a casualty evacuation request for one Indonesian national back to Darwin for specialist care. 10.55pm – RNZDF C-130 arrives into Darwin from Bali.October 17 1.45pm – RAAF C-130 departs Darwin to deliver material handling forklift. 9.30pm – RAAF C-130 departs Darwin to de-liver additional refrigeration equipment [In AEST]

DARK DAYSDARK DAYSLooking back, a Looking back, a decade after the decade after the Bali bombingsBali bombings

ing r

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just get itdone,” he said.

“We mighthave worked for 72 hours straight, but there were people in operations cells and support staff back in Australia that worked even longer insupport of that mission.”

CPL Gunn said it was important to remember the tragic eventsof that day.

“The impact thisevent had on Australians, the Bali-nese and inter-nation-ally was huge,” he said.

“I’m just happy I could help.”

Australia. Rows of NATO stretchers lined the concrete floor of the hangar in the tropical heat with hoochie cord strung-up for intrave-nous drips.

“By the time we ar-rived the more acutely injured patients had already been flown out,” SQNLDR Maun-drell said.

“The people we were looking after were all conscious with varying degrees of burns and other blast-associated injuries.

“What touched me the most during the operation was hearing the victim’s stories. One person said they were in a bathroom and had

bent over during the blast so he ended up with less burns than the person beside him, which made him feel guilty.”

Sixty-six patients, many with severe burns, blast and shrapnel injuries, were evacuated from Bali to Darwin in 21 hours using five RAAF C-130 aircraft and 34 Aus-tralian military medical staff.

Patients were then transferred to other capital cities for further care in burns units across Austra-lia.

SQNLDR Maundrell was also on the evacuation flights to Ad-elaide and Melbourne.

She was proud of the ADF’s response and the amount of com-passion she saw.

“No matter how badly burnt they were, so many victims asked us to help others first, as they thought the other person was worse off than they were,” she said.

“By the time we clocked off in Melbourne we had worked for 53 hours without sleep.

“I think I then slept for 20 hours.”Looking back, 10

years on, SQNLDR Maundrell said Op Bali Assist was a steep learning curve for a lot of people about how to be ready for the unexpected at short notice.

“We hadn’t done an evacuation on that

scale since the war in Vietnam and we didn’t have a clear picture of what we were going into,” she said.

“But we made the best use of the resources we were given and we bought our people home.”

MERCY DASH: CPL

Michael Gunn, reflects on

Op Bali Assist.

Photo: LS Paul Berry

WE REMEMBER: From top, 86WG and 3CSH personnel

return to Richmond after the aeromedical evacuations; ACW Sonja Inderwisch and SGT Ken

Kurtz hold a banner as a mark of respect to the Bali victims; Kuta buildings and cars are on fire after a

bomb blast; Tasmanian reservist 2LT Stuart Anstee arrives at Darwin Airport.

Photos: CPL Rod Welch and Clive Hyde, AFP

PAUSING TO PAUSING TO REMEMBERREMEMBERO

N OCTOBER 12, many people around the world will pause to remember the hundreds of lives lost in the horrific Bali bombings 10

years ago.That night in 2002, the Indonesian

holiday island was shaken by two bomb blasts exploded by terrorists outside a nightclub and bar in Kuta, killing 202 locals and tourists and injuring many more.

Australia lost 88 people and more than 60 were injured. A further 140 were missing in the aftermath.

The Sari Club was levelled when a massive bomb loaded into a van parked outside was detonated just after 11pm. In Paddy’s Bar, a suicide bomber deto-nated a backpack loaded with explo-sives just 20 seconds earlier.

The ADF response to the tragedy was immediate, with medical staff despatched by RAAF C-130 aircraft within hours.

During the next few days, five C-130s and associated aeromedical evacu-ation (AME) teams were deployed to Bali to treat injured Australians as part of Operation Bali Assist.

The aircraft transported urgently needed medical stores to Darwin and flew six sorties from Denpasar in Bali during the operation, airlifting 66 casualties.

All known serious casualties were evacuated from Bali by October 15 and the majority were moved to southern states.

The ADF provided five medical teams, totalling 41 medical personnel, to assist in patient treatment and care, prioritisation and coordinating transfer of casualties to Darwin.

Despite the efforts of the AME team during a flight out of Bali, one evacuee

died on board the C-130 from abdomi-nal wounds suffered in the blast.

Other ADF support included flying two ambulances to Bali, where they were used to ferry casualties from hospitals to the Denpasar airport for loading onto aircraft.

Six storage refrigerators, plus support equipment and two ADF operators, were also flown into Bali to preserve the bodies of victims.

Two chaplains, one Air Force and one Army, were initially deployed to Bali to provide pastoral care for the victims of the bombing. Two more ar-rived on October 16.

Three ADF Indonesian linguists were also deployed to Bali on October 16 to provide liaison and interpreter support to the Department of For-eign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Australian Federal Police and local authorities.

Defence staff from the Consular Mission, working around the clock, assisted DFAT and other agencies on the ground.

Two soldiers were injured, one seriously and one slightly, but no ADF personnel were killed in the blast.

Memorial services will be held around Australia and a small team of ADF personnel involved in Opera-tion Bali Assist will return to Bali to take part in a special 10th anniversary ceremony there. Coverage in the next edition of Air Force News.

A memorial service will be held in Bali at the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park at 6am on October 12. A service will also be held in Canberra at the Great Hall in Parliament House at 9.30am on October 12. Further details at www.dfat.gov.au/bali-anniversary. Coverage in the next edition.

TOUCHING: SQNLDR Michelle Maundrell helped Bali bombing victims. Photo: LACW Shannon McCarthy

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HELP: LACW Hayley Edwards, FLGOFF Kim Davey, SQNLDR Steve Cook and a paramedic carry a Bali bombing victim. Photo: SGT Troy Rodgers

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17October 11, 2012RCEAIR FF News

Michael Brooke

SHARING hardships while paying tribute to the heroes and victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks provided SGT Sean Seery with many unforgettable memories during the 2012 Tour of Duty Ride.

SGT Seery joined 22 other US and Australian Defence and emergency services personnel in a 4200km cycle event across the US that started at the USS Midway in San Diego on August 12 and ended at the USS Intrepid in New York on September 10.

The ride was a tribute to the thou-sands of fire-fighters, police and mili-tary personnel who responded to the attacks on September 11, 2001, in New York and Washington DC and those involved in the ongoing war on terror.

SGT Seery, of 22SQN at RAAF Base Richmond, was one of four ADF personnel, along with MAJ Ty Domin, SGT Dan Ferguson and PO Brian Fish, who participated in the tribute ride.

“The event showed that even the great distance between our two coun-tries which is created by the Pacific Ocean does not remove our common thoughts and values,” SGT Seery said.

During the ride the ADF sustained

five fatalities in one day in Afghanistan and the Americans offered heartfelt support.

“As a sign of support we all wore black arm bands,” SGT Seery said.

The cyclists met thousands of peo-ple during the 20-stage event. They pedalled up to 210km a day, passing through California, Nevada, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illionis, Ohio, Pennsylvania and finally New York State.

“The people looked after us every-where we went,” SGT Seery said.

“I have never been greeted like that in my life; they could not do enough for us.”

SGT Seery said the most chal-lenging part of the event was climb-ing the range on the way to Shanksville, though it was also the best ride of the trip.

Tribute ride Tribute ride across USacross US

UNFORGETTABLE: SGT Sean Seery before the tour and left, from left, SGT Seery, PO Brian Fish, SGT Dan Ferguson and MAJ Ty Domin at the Grand Canyon during the Tour of Duty. Main photo: CPL Amanda Campbell

er been greeted like that

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OILS AIN’T OILS: LAC Cameron Graham, of 1SQN, with the Good Show Award he received for his quick actions in preventing the potential contamination of a Super Hornet with the incorrect engine oil. Photo: LACW Shannon McCarthy

AL MINHAD FIRST AID: Above, medical assistant LACW Pricilia Da Cruz Messias in front of the medical centre at Al Minhad Air Base where she is serving as part of Combat Support Unit. Photo: SGT Mick DavisWINNER: Below, CPL Chris Speranza, of 82WG, with the Beaufighter and Boston trophy presented to him by Brian Jones, president of the Logan City Branch of the RAAF Association, during the annual Associations’ Day at RAAF Base Amberley. Photo: LAC Benjamin Evans

MID-AIR FILL: Above, SGT Geoff Stinson, of 33SQN, at his control desk during a KC-30A refuelling mission. Photo: LACW Jessica de RouwAWARDING JOB: Left, clerk SGT Jessica Carr with some of the operational medals she manages as part of Force Support Unit at Al Minhad Air Base. Photo: SGT Mick Davis

19October 11, 2012RCEAIR FF Personnel

From October 1 our members will enjoy increased Top Extras benefits on dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropractic, alternative therapies and more. All for no extra cost. So if you’re not already with Defence Health, it’s an extra reason to join. Especially as we’ll honour any waiting periods you’ve served with your current fund. So join now and save.

Call 1800 335 425 or visit www.defencehealth.com.au Serving Defence families better

With our increased Top Extras benefits you’re laughing.

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PMKEYS will soon include additional applica-tions, making it a one-stop site for personnel admin-istration.

PMKeyS Technical Refresh Project Phase 2 will take PMKeyS from a client-based application to a web-based application, introduce Global Payroll for public service, officer and instructor of cadet and military compen-

sation payees and expand self service for reservists.

To gain access to the new PMKeyS system, users can apply via Self Service from January 14, 2013, onwards.

Users’ PMKeyS portal login ID and password will access both PMKeyS self ser-vice and the PMKeyS business application.

A new course “PMKeyS Introduction and Reporting v3.0” will replace the sepa-

rate courses “PMKeyS an Introduction” and “PMKeyS Reporting”.

For users already familiar with PMKeyS, the course cov-ers all features of the upgrad-ed application.

To gain access to the new PMKeyS system after January 14, 2013, PMKeyS users must have completed this course along with the “Working with Privacy”

course. Both courses are cur-rently available on CAMPUS.

There will be a scheduled outage in the period leading up to the Phase 2 Go Live date where PMKeyS will not be available to allow upgrade of the system and migration of data. The outage will be from 5pm on January 5, 2013, until 7am on January 14, 2013.

For more, go to http://intranet.defence.gov.au/ciogweb/sites/PTRP/

Next phase about to start

SELF HELP: PMKeyS self service will offer more features under the next phase of the technical refresh project.

Waiver allows all employeesaccess to DRN Karlee Holland

A WAIVER has been granted permitting personnel with a Defence restricted clearance to have ongoing access to the Defence Restricted Network (DRN) fol-lowing its reclassification as a protected network.

The head of Security Policy and Plans at the Defence Security Authority, Pat Burke, said the waiv-er meant Defence and Defence industry personnel who currently held a restricted clearance were able to access protected information and systems in accord-ance with the need-to-know principles.

“The waiver covers all Defence employees, includ-ing APS, ADF permanent and reservist members, external service providers and the commercial sector. In the case of external service providers, the waiver only applies to access to protected information and systems associated with their employment contract with Defence,” Mr Burke said.

“The granting of this waiver requires a security non-compliance report to be provided to Government annually. The Defence Security Authority will con-tinue to monitor the risks associated with this non-compliance.

“The waiver will be used to address the transition period until all restricted clearances are phased out. In the meantime, users are reminded that classified information should always be controlled on a need-to-know basis.”

For more information, including Frequently Asked Questions, visit the DSA Transition Management Portal at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/dsa/dsm/index.html

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21October 11, 2012RCEAIR FF Personnel

OCTOBER 24 is Air Force Safety Day and all members are being encouraged to play their part.

Each year, Defence holds an annual safety day to coincide with Safety Week in late October where working Australians are encouraged to get involved in, and concen-trate on, safety in their workplace to reduce death, injury and disease.

This year’s safety day has the theme of “Know your business – manage your risks”.

For Air Force units unable to take part on October 24 because of operational commit-ments, an alternative date is to be selected between October 22 and November 2.

The Deputy Director of Air Force Safety at the Directorate of Defence Aviation and Air Force Safety (DDAAFS), WGCDR Alf Jonas, said this year’s theme was particularly relevant to Air Force.

“Safety day provides an opportunity for all Air Force members to better understand the recently enacted Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) Act 2011 legislation,” he said.

“This legislation imposes specific obliga-tions on workers and managers, and many of these obligations are related to the identifica-tion of hazards and management of risks.

“In addition to this, policy in the new Air Force Safety Manual provides a number of options for the ‘how to’ for Air Force WHS Risk Management. For this policy to be understood and effective, it needs to be dis-

cussed, interpreted where nec-essary, and practised. Safety day is perfect for this.

“Key to the success of Air Force Safety Day will be ensuring that Air Force personnel understand that risk management must be a central consideration in all activities.”

WGCDR Jonas said for maximum effectiveness, safety day should consist of presentations relevant to the theme, followed by some interactive activities conducted in manageable groups or syndicates.

“Depending on the type of work, units may choose to cover either aviation risk management or WHS risk management or may choose to do both,” he said.

DDAAFS has prepared all relevant mate-rial for the morning session and a suggested program for the second half of Air Force Safety Day. This information is available on the DDAAFS intranet page at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/raafweb/sites/ddaafs/com-web.asp?page=68452

RoulettesOctober 14: Jamestown Airshow, SA.October 20: Nhill Fly-in, Victoria.

Air Force BandOctober 12: Hat Day for mental health research, Melbourne City Square.October 21: Children’s Week Picnic, Werribee Park South.October 24: St Joseph’s College school concert, Geelong.

RAAF MuseumOctober 20: Nhill Fly-in, Victoria.

Air Force BalloonOctober 14: Sutho Cop and Rodders, Sutherland, NSW.October 19-20: Paris in the West, West Wyalong, NSW.➤ For the full cal-

endar of coming Air Force events, visit www.air-force.gov.au

Air Force eventsTake part in Take part in

safety daysafety day

GET INVOLVED: Air Force Safety Day, which is being advertised around Air Force with the special poster pictured above inset, will give members the opportunity to learn more about how to manage hazards and risks in their workplaces. Photo: LAC Craig Barrett

ty

a

r

d.

AIR FORCE SAFETY DAY Wednesday 24 Oct 2012Know your business – manage your risks

For more information, see your Unit Safety Advisor or visit http://intranet.defence.gov.au/raafweb/sites/ddaafs

22 October 11, 2012RCEAIR FPersonnel

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Chance for families to have a sayWHO SHOULD TAKE PART?

WHERE IS THE SURVEY?

➤ Spouses and ADF recognised interdependent partners of permanent full-time ADF members.

➤ Permanent full-time ADF members who are sin-gle parents.

➤ Permanent full-time ADF members who are sin-gle with dependants.

➤ Both members of dual ADF couples (where both are permanent full-time ADF members).

ADF personnel are asked to encourage their fami-lies to take advantage of this opportunity.

The survey should take about 20-30 minutes to complete and will be open until October 21. It can be accessed online at:

➤ Defence Community Organisation: www.defence.gov.au/dco/

➤ Defence Families Australia: www.dfa.org.au/

Alternatively the paper survey can be mailed directly by contacting the survey messaging ser-vice on (02) 6127 2153, or by emailing defence.surveys@defence.gov.au

Last chance: The Defence Families Survey is available online until October 21.

CPL Max Bree

A NEW study into the effects of deployment on ADF members’ fami-lies reveals the importance of social networks such as extended family and co-workers.

More than 4000 people, including serving and former members along with current and ex partners, participated in the study to determine if there were any physical, mental or social heath effects on families because of a mem-ber’s deployment to East Timor.

The survey looked at risk factors and ways to protect families to guide the government in giving support.

Dr Annabel McGuire, the study’s chief investigator, said the study was needed to formally understand how fami-lies of deployed soldiers were affected.

“We knew what Joe down the pub thought,” Dr McGuire said. “But we didn’t know what a lot of people thought.”

When families of members who deployed to East Timor were compared with families of those who hadn’t, the study found no significant difference between the two groups.

Instead, the report revealed gener-al information about the wellbeing of deployed members’ families.

“We discovered the health of one member affects the health of the other

members of the family,” Dr McGuire said. “When the ADF member was doing well the family was doing well.”

The study revealed that partners with stronger support networks, such as extended family or coworkers, reported better mental health, lower stress and fewer behavioural issues with their chil-dren.

The study found no evidence that a deployment to East Timor increased the risk of birth complications in part-ners or any difference in health and perceived “work-family conflict” with East Timor partners and others.

Less than 5 per cent of partners in the study showed signs of post-trau-matic stress disorder, more than 60 per cent of families reported moderate to very high levels of family satisfaction and 91 per cent said their families had a healthy range of cohesion and flex-ibility.

However, the study found spouses felt a negative impact on their rela-tionship and on their children as the number of deployments increased. And if the ADF member had poor mental health, their partner was more likely to also report having poor mental health. This in turn had a negative impact on their children.

The report can be viewed at www.dva.gov.au

GOOD READING: From left, AIRCDRE Andrew Dowse, Prof Peter Warte, Julie Blackburn, Dr Annabel McGuire, Defence Families of Australia members Amita and daughter Isabella, Veterans’ Affairs Minister Warren Snowdon, RADM Stephen Gilmore and DCN RADM Trevor Jones. Photo: Lauren Black

ADF members and their families have until October 21 to submit the ADF Families Survey and have their say on family support pro-grams and policies.

The ADF families’ survey cov-ers topics such as how separation, workload and mobility impact on families and the retention of ADF members, as well as what Defence support services families access, what they think about them and how they can be better commu-nicated.

Since the last ADF families survey in 2009, the Defence Community Organisation has introduced a variety of initiatives to improve support to families, including:➤ The Defence Family Helpline

was introduced earlier this year to provide 24/7 support service to families.

➤ The FamilySMART programs have been implemented to help Defence families manage the challenges of military life, including deployment, paren-tal absence from home, mov-ing house, or a partner return-ing after a long time away.

➤ Support for partners’ education and employment has increased.

➤ The Deployment Support Booklet was released late last year. The feedback provided through

the ADF Families Survey helps ensure that Defence focuses on the right issues to improve quality of life for ADF families.

Importance Importance of networksof networks

23October 11, 2012RCEAIR FF History

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A FORMER C-130 loadmaster who became the only 36SQN member since WWII to be awarded the Air Force Cross

has died at 83.Keith “Mul” Muldowney, who

served in the Air Force for 26 years, was farewelled at Carsbrook Crematorium in Brisbane on September 14 after a long battle with illness. Poppies were laid at the RSL service, which was conducted by air-man aircrew members and attended by a large number of former RAAF members.

Mr Muldowney joined the RAAF in February 1950 as an equipment assistant, before remustering to a Hercules loadmaster in 1960.

Serving with 36SQN, he reached the rank of warrant officer in 1966, becoming the first loadmaster leader, of the equipment mustering, on the A-model C-130 Hercules.

He served in many theatres of activity, in both warlike and humanitarian roles throughout

Keith ‘Mul’ Muldowney30.04.1929 – 08.09.2012

Real character Caterpillar farewelled

HORSE PLAY

DECORATED veteran of Bomber Command and the Pathfinder Force FLTLT Deryck Giblin (ret’d) was fare-welled on September 24.

Fellow WWII Pathfinders attended his funeral at St James Anglican Church in Turramurra.

FLTLT Giblin joined the RAAF in July 1940 as an aircrew wireless operator and trained in Australia and Canada under the Empire Air Training Scheme, graduating second in his course.

During his war service, he trained on nine aircraft types – his final training flight, in a Handley Page Hampden medium bomber, ended in a fiery crash from which he was the sole survivor.

Following his convalescence, he went on to operation-al flying with 408SQN (Royal Canadian Air Force), again in Handley Page Hampdens, followed by Halifax IIs.

On February 14, 1943, FLTLT Giblin’s aircraft took part in a raid on Cologne and it sustained extensive flak damage. On final approach the port engines caught fire and the crew were forced to bail out as the aircraft spiralled toward the ground. FLTLT Giblin opened his parachute at just 400 feet.

FLTLT Giblin was received into the ‘Caterpillar club’, an Irvin Parachute Company association for those who saved their lives by parachute after bailing out.

On May 23, 1943, he was presented with the Distinguished Flying Cross by King George VI.

FLTLT Giblin completed 53 operations across two tours of duty, 25 of them as Signals Leader of 405SQN RCAF of the Pathfinder Force. Of the 47 wireless opera-tors who left Australia with FLTLT Giblin in 1941 to serve in Bomber Command, only three survived.

On return to civilian life, he remained active in ex-servicemen’s associations, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Bomber Command Memorial at the Australian War Memorial.

FLTLT Deryck is survived by his wife Joy, sons Michael and Alan, daughter Jan and their families.

FLTLT DERYCK GIBLIN14.03.1922 – 18.09.2012

THE stallion on the 36SQN crest was the result of an original sketch by WOFF Muldowney when he was loadmaster leader at 36SQN in the late 1960s.The CO at the time, WGCDR Dave “Crazy Horse” Hitchins, request-ed section leaders come up with a design based on a horse. It had to be standing on its hind legs similar to how horses in general react when being loaded onto a Dakota air-craft. WOFF Muldowney was adept at sketching horses – having acquired his gift travelling the rodeo circuit – so he sketched a rearing stal-lion for flight engineer and resident artist Ray Hawkins to use in his crest design, which was subsequently chosen.

A LEGEND: Keith Muldowney, achieving 5000 hours on the A-model Hercules. Left inset, the 36SQN logo he helped design.

36SQN’s motto “Sure” could also be attributed to WGCDR “Crazy Horse” Hitchins, who often used the word as part of his vocabulary. Upon receiv-ing a call from the Royal Seal regarding the squad-ron’s crest approval, WGCDR Hitchins was asked to provide a motto. Answering “sure”, with full intentions of asking squadron members for input. The Palace took that as the answer. The CO was then stunned when the mail eventu-ally arrived with the approved crest, together with ‘‘Sure’’ as the official motto.

A SURE THING

Australia, Papua New Guinea and South-East Asia, and during this time was awarded the Air Force Cross – the only 36SQN member, since WWII to receive the honour.

He was also awarded clasps to his Australian Active Service Medal and Active Service Medal for Malaya, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea and Thailand and was the loadmaster on one of the first C-130s into Darwin after Cyclone Tracy in 1974.

Mr Muldowney retired in March 1976.

Robert “Shorty” Heffernan, also a former 36SQN loadmaster leader, spoke on behalf of the RSL at Mr Muldowney’s funeral.

“Mul was one of the real char-acters of the Herc world and was renowned for his flight deck sand-wiches,” Mr Heffernan said.

“As I am sure many senior officers, who were boggies at the time, will attest to, Mul was well regarded by all who came in con-tact with him.

“Mul’s daughters wish to thank members of the RAAF for their kind wishes and support

during this hard period of their life.”

Another former loadmaster, Col Coyne, remembered Mr Muldowney fondly.

“Mul was a legend among us older loadmasters, from his prowess of making sandwiches on a plastic garbage bag on the flight deck floor, to his sayings of ‘pass a cursory glance over the load’, and ‘another fine fiesta’,” Mr Coyne said.

Mr Heffernan said the funeral was well attended thanks to the airmanaircrew.com website.

“The site was instrumental in providing members with infor-mation so that they could attend Mul’s funeral,” Mr Heffernan said.

“Without this, Mul’s passing may well have gone unnoticed. It’s a great forum for people to stay connected and all mem-bers of the RAAF are invited to become members for free.”

An airman aircrew reunion is being held on October 27 at the Belmont 16 Footers Sailing Club, near Newcastle. For information, call (02) 4945 0888, email info@16s.com.au or visit www.airmanaircrew.com

A He

dan_an_11oct

Keep a track of your spending, says Australian Securities and Investments Commission chairman Greg Medcraft.

➤ Email ASIC at ADFcolumn@asic.gov.au with topics that interest you.

IN THE ADF you’re used to tracking your movements and you understand the value of good intelligence report-

ing. Knowing what situation you’re in is an important part of making informed decisions. But how many of you apply the same discipline to your spending?

According to Australian Bureau of Statistics data, the average Australian household spends more than $1200 a week on goods and services. Yet how many of us really know where our money is going?

Our research shows many people fall into the habit of living pay to pay. That’s why ASIC has developed a new suite of tools to help us take control of our money.

Once you know exactly where your money is going, you can redirect it to where it matters most. We suspect many households end up leaking thousands of dollars each year because they’re not keeping track of their money.

Here are our top three tips for tak-ing control of your spending:

1 TRACK your day-to-day spend-ing by recording what you spend over a week or a fortnight using the TrackMySpend app from ASIC’s

ian Securities and Investments

➤ Email ASIC at ADFcolumn@asic.gov.au with topics that interest you.

MoneySmart website. This new app is free and easy to use.

2 COMPARE money in and money out over a month. Put your income and expenses into the online budget planner at www.ADFconsumer.gov.au, or use the tear out plan-ner in our new booklet Managing your Money, available from ASIC’s MoneySmart website.

3 PRIORITISE where you want your money to go. Identify your needs and wants, see where you can save by reducing or cutting out the things you can live without, and set some savings goals.

Once you’ve taken these simple steps, you can act to make your money work for you. Mark upcoming big bills in your calendar. Put your savings into an account that is not accessible by ATM. Check your budget once a year and adjust it if things change, for example if a family mem-ber’s income drops or you are deployed over-seas and receive extra deployment allowance.

Keep in mind that tracking your spending is not all about making cuts – reward yourself

About the appYOU can use the new TrackMySpend app to record your expenses on the go. It helps you set a realistic spending limit and stick to it. Your expenses are entered by category and you can view your spending history so you can easily see where you can save.

New publicationASIC’s new free booklet called Managing Your Money has a step-by-step guide to budgeting and a tear out budget planner for those who prefer to use pen and paper. This booklet and other publications can be ordered for free on ASIC’s MoneySmart website.

Stay in controlwith occasional treats so living on a budget doesn’t feel like a chore.

Go to ASIC’s MoneySmart website at www.moneysmart.gov.au for more information.

24 October 11, 2012RCEAIR FFinance

Photo: LAC Bill Solomou

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25October 11, 2012RCEAIR FF Health

IT IS estimated that one in five ADF members will have experienced a mental health disorder in the past 12 months. In recognising the importance

of this, the ADF will hold its inaugural ADF Mental Health Day on October 10.

Coinciding with World Mental Health Day, it aims to promote open discus-sion of mental health issues and educate members to better recognise and under-stand the symptoms.

Director General Mental Health Psychology and Rehabilitation David Morton said the ADF wanted to highlight to its members that mental health was an important issue and one worth discussing.

“It’s an excellent opportunity for the ADF to promote mental fitness, health and wellbeing,” he said.

“We’re trying to reduce the stigma and barriers that reside around mental health.”

Research conducted in 2010 by the ADF indicated that 54.1 per cent of ADF members experience mental health issues at some stage in their lifetime.

The research also found no significant relationship between operational service and the rising number of post-traumatic stress disorder cases.

Mr Morton said there was good evi-dence that mental health conditions could often be treated successfully, even more so if people acted early.

“To minimise the impact on careers, families, social lives and general wellbe-ing, ADF members must improve their awareness of mental health issues,” he said.

In support of World Mental Health Day, CPL Nick Wiseman talks to the Director General Mental Health Psychology and Rehabilitation about how the ADF supports members with mental health issues.

Be aware,take care, seek help

“They must understand ways to main-tain good mental health, be willing to seek advice, and actively support those who are seeking help with mental health issues.”

Regional areas are scheduled to con-duct activities to tie in with ADF Mental Health Day and the new ADF Mental Health Plan will be released on the day.

Mr Morton said mental health issues could affect anyone.

“It is important that we are aware of the signs so that we are able to recognise them in ourselves and in our mates, and to know what action to take,” he said.

“The earlier you do something about it the better your chances of recovering.”

For more information on mental health visit http://intranet.defence.gov.au/vcdf/sites/DMH.

TAKING CARE➤ Be aware of threats

➤ Build in protections

➤ Watch out for signs of trouble

➤ Consider the impact on your family

➤ Get help when you need it

➤ Remember – no one does it alone

FEELING BLUE?: More than 50

per cent of ADF members will

experience mental health issues in

their lifetime. Photo: CPL Mark Doran

‘We’re trying to reduce the stigma and barriers that reside around mental health.– Director General Mental

Health Psychology and Rehabilitiation David

Morton

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26 October 11, 2012RCEAIR FSp rt

John Martin

NETBALLERS FLGOFF Amy Brewster and CPL Wendy Holt were pivotal in a nailbiting win against the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) in the Anzac Cup in Auckland.

The trans-Tasman rivalry in civilian netball is well known and the military rivalry is not much different.

On August 30, the ADF beat NZDF 45-43 at HMNZS Philomel after a goal-for-goal last quarter.

The Kiwis clawed their way in front mid-way through the quarter but ADF steadied in the last five minutes.

Aside from playing, FLGOFF Brewster, of RAAF Base Edinburgh, was also organiser of the tour – which also took in participation in the NZ interservice championship against NZ Army, Navy and Air Force teams in the days leading up to the Anzac Cup.

It meant lots of after-hours work but she said it was time well spent.

FLGOFF Brewster also organised NZDF’s trip to Australia last year when a three-test series was played in Sydney, Albury and Adelaide.

Australia won that series 2-1, but before that New Zealand had won six times in a row.

It was a new-look team that came together before this year’s tour for training sessions in Sydney.

CPL Holt said there were only two players from last year’s team.

Coach CPL Mike Kiker thought the team was short of a centre, so he recast CPL Holt in the role.

CPL Holt played last year mainly as a shooter. The change worked won-ders though. She was voted players’ player for her performances on the Kiwi trip.

CPL Kiker also made assistant coach LS Zanda Furnell-Hall a reserve player for the tour – and activated her from game two in the NZ interservice championship against the team from the NZ Army, Navy and Air Force.

All did not go well at the outset. ADF lost five of its seven games in the NZ titles.

But FLGOFF Brewster said there was no panic.

The team was learning to work best together.

“We didn’t go over there to lose games but it was a learning experi-

Netballers in NZ triumph

ence,” FLGOFF Brewster said. “It was the last game of the week we were focused on.”

The Kiwi team was picked at the end of their interservice titles.

CPL Holt said the competition was extremely physical. “Which is what we expect when we play the Kiwis,” she said.

CPL Kiker was stoked with the win.

“The improvement of the group from our first time together to the final NZDF game was outstanding,” he said.

DUAL ATTACK: Left, CPL Wendy Holt, right, battles a NZDF opponent; left, FLGOFF Amy Brewster deflects a ball against the NZ Army.Photo: Dyanne

Armstrong

Michael Brooke

RAAF Base Richmond upset Navy to win the NSW interservice basketball championships at Sydney’s Randwick Barracks on September 1.

Richmond won 46-41 after trailing 28-36 at three-quarter time.

Navy appeared to be cruising to its fifth consecutive victory in the tournament when Richmond’s players lifted to take the lead just three minutes from full-time.

Richmond’s best players were LAC Andy Passmore and LAC Stuart Gregory who were inspiring in both attack and defence through the tournament.

LAC Stewart Cartwright, of RAAF Base Williamtown, won the Most Valuable Player award.

LAC Cartwright said the tourna-ment was fun and helped to develop the skills and confidence of rookie players.

The Air Force’s women’s team lost to a combined Navy and Army team.

FLTLT Janeter Turnball said Navy/Army piled on 20 points in the first quarter.

“We really struggled to get into the match in the first quarter because we failed to match our opponents’ tempo and intensity,” FLTLT Turnball said.

Air Force mounted a fight-back in the second and third quarters (17-26 and 25-35) but ran out of steam in the last

quarter. “We just couldn’t match their level of intensity in the fourth stanza.”

FLTLT Turnball said the NSW basketball championships helped to unearth new talent while serving as a selection trial for the Defence National Basketball Titles in Laverton, Victoria, from November 30 to December 2.

FLTLT Turnball will be the NSW men’s team head coach.

The team will be named in early November after tryouts.

Richmond turns tables on Navy to win NSW interservice basketball

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27October 11, 2012RCEAIR F Sp rt

From Back PageThat came about after 75SQN

surface finisher AC George Gilto con-tacted the NRL to request support and they generously responded by flying Sutter up from Sydney.

Sutter said the place hadn’t changed much.

“Mind you, I hadn’t seen so many people at a Tindal match,” he said.

The game followed the base’s open day, which featured static displays and a flying display, as well as demonstra-tions from the CHC SAR helicopter, medics, firefighters and the Military Working Dog section.

Come 6.30pm, when the game started under lights, several hundred people had gathered around to watch.

75SQN had won last year’s encounter in a cliffhanger, so there were great expectations of another good game.

This time 75SQN won 44-12.CO 75SQN WGCDR Phil Arms

made some dominating runs in the forward pack.

The man of the match award went to 75SQN half-back LAC Steve Winter who played an outstanding game with the ball in hand and on the boot.

“It was great to be part of such a tough match,” LAC Winter said. “The opposition was a quality side, but in the end 75SQN was just to o strong.”

Sutter said it was a good game. “Lots of fun.”

Unfortunately, he couldn’t stay to enjoy the festivities after the game.

Twenty minutes after the game ended at 8.30pm, he was in a car bound for Darwin and a 2am flight back to Sydney.

Now that’s what we call a fly-in referee.

Queanbeyan racesADF members and their families will be offered free entrance to the Defence Force Cup at the Queanbeyan Racing Club on Sunday, October 28. The day will include seven races, including the Air Force Handicap, the Army Handicap and HMAS Harman Handicap. People with a current Defence or Defence Contractors pass will be admitted free, along with their families. Activities will be provided for children.

Tenpin challengeFOUR RAAFies will figure in the six-man ADF team that will contest one of the showcase events at the national tenpin titles that began in Sydney on October 6. FSGT Brett Byers, SGT Keiran Wylie, LAC Daniel Soderman and LAC James Wood are part of the team that will play New Zealand and state teams on October 23-25 in the Walter Rachuig Trophy interstate teams tournament. Brett Kleidon, a former WOFF but now public servant, will manage the ADF women’s team in the interstate teams tournament.

NRL referee returns for Tindal game

FSGT Chris Moore thanks his trusty seven iron for getting him across the line to win the South Australian Defence handicap championship at the Tea Tree Gully Golf Club from September 9-11.

“I had a really good first round and managed to scramble well on the second day pulling off some get-out-of-jail free shots with the seven iron,” he said.

Thirty players from Air Force, Army, Navy and Australian Public

Service contested the champion-ships.

Air Force, the defending cham-pion, also won the interservice com-petition which was a scratch stabl-eford held in conjunction with the individual event.

The Air Force team – WOFF Stew Rawlinson, FLTLT Michael Bogan, SQNLDR Ken Gilbert and FSGT John O’Reilly – finished on 166 points after two days’ play, leading home Army, APS and Navy.

SQNLDR Gilbert was also the A-grade 36-hole gross winner and WOFF Steve Shuck was the A grade 36-hole nett winner.

FSGT Moore, who also won the Defence Air Force championship, clipped two shots off his handicap at the event and will now represent South Australia at the ADF national golf championships in Canberra in from December 10-14.

FSGT Moore, who has been playing golf competitively for about

five years, is a member of the Tea Tree Gully club.

“Tea Tree Gully is always a chal-lenging course and punishes anyone who fails to maintain focus or atten-tion or give the course the respect it deserves,” FSGT Moore said.

“The course was turned beau-tifully and provided players with many challenges, like playing off the back plates and some really tough pin positions on undulating greens.”

FOUR Air Force cadets helped the ADFA Rams end two years of pain by beating the Australian National University (ANU) Griffins by 102 points in the Australian Football League (AFL) Canberra Division 2 competition.

The Rams had fallen short in the previous two grand finals but were undefeated for the season going into this year’s grand final at Manuka Oval on September 9.

OFFCDT Cameron King kicked seven goals and OFFCDT Craig Peterson kicked five goals.

OFFCDTs James Versace and Ramy Fathelbab both played pivotal roles in the Rams back line, keeping ANU to only eight goals for the game.

The Rams won 23.14 (152) to 8.2 (50).The ADFA Rams are looking for new players and coaches

for their 2013 season.They have teams in AFL Canberra Division 2 and 3 in the

men’s competition and also in the women’s competition.

For more information, email john.gregory@student.adfa.edu.au

PART OF WINNING TEAM: FSGT John O’Reilly plays a shot out of the sand bunker during the South Australian interservice golf championships at Tea Tree Gully.

STEELY DETERMINATION: FLTLT Michael Bogan plays a shot. Photos: CPL Rodney Welch

Seven iron heaven

Have a sports story to tell us about? Contact Sharon Palmer, (02) 6266 7612 or sharon.palmer@defencenews.gov.au

Ramming the points home

SEVEN GOALS: OFFCDT Cameron King.

BACKLINE STRENGTH: OFFCDT Ramy Fathelbab who repeatedly repelled attackers.

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SP RTRTOctober 11, 2012

John Martin

WHEN Brett Sutter left the Air Force to chase his rugby league dream, he never expected to land back at RAAF Base Tindal refereeing a grudge match.

Sutter, who spent six years with 1 Airfield Defence Squadron and did a six-month posting to Tindal, is now a first-grade referee with the National Rugby League.

But he jumped at the chance to swap the hurly burly of the likes of ANZ Stadium for the outback playing fields of Tindal on September 15 to officiate at a match between the 75SQN Magpies and 322 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron (322ECSS) Kites – a composite team representing the base, made up of players from 322ECSS, 452SQN, 2 Expeditionary Health Squadron and 3 Control Reporting Unit.

To Page 27

NRL ref NRL ref returns returns to Tindalto Tindal

ADF NETBALLERS BEAT NEW ZEALAND IN A CLIFFHANGER – Page 26

HEADS OR TAILS: NRL referee Brett Suttor with Magpies captain Phillip Rolls, left, and Kites captain Ryan Keep at the coin toss at RAAF Base Tindal; left inset, 75SQN’s AC George Gilto, right, and LAC Jason Gaskell wrap up an opponent. Photos: LAC Terry Hartin

RAAF Base Williamtown firefighter LAC Charles Keesman will join competitors from 50 or so coun-tries when the world firefighters’ games are held in Sydney from October 19-28.

With thousands of competitors, the games are billed as one of the largest participation sporting events in the world.

There are more than 70 events, covering everything from track and field to billiards, at venues across Sydney.

Some of the “sports” – like the firehouse cook-off and top photo shoot – haven’t quite reached Olympic status yet.

But LAC Keesman’s events will definitely be on familiar turf. Well, water anyway.

He will be competing in the 50m butterfly, and the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle individual swim-ming events at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, where the swimming events at the Sydney Olympics were held in 2000.

“Before joining the Air Force three years ago, I was a coach/swim instructor and a pool facility maintenance operator in Melbourne for 13 years as well as being a competitive swimmer during my younger years,” LAC Keesman, of 381 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron, said.

He found out about the games early this year and, although he hasn’t competed for about 10 years, thought he’d give it a go.

“I started training in the pool around March. I trained in the out-door pool on base at Williamtown but when winter came, I looked for an alternative. I now train at the 50m indoor pool at Newcastle University and even joined the squad group to build up fitness, strength and to work on speed.”

For more information about the games, see www.worldfirefight-ersgames.com.au

Fireman on the blocks

In seven iron heaven in SA

PAGE 27

J h M ti

POOLSIDE: LAC Charles Keesman.