The Bosun`s Call - Naval Association of Australia

The Bosun’s Call
Vol 19 No 7
Each for All—All for Each
August 2014
HMS Queen Elizabeth named by
HM the Queen
Photos RAN
Her Majesty The Queen
officially
named
the
Royal Navy's new aircraft
carrier at a ceremony in
Rosyth on 4 July 2014.
Hundreds of workers who have helped to
build the HMS Queen Elizabeth, along with
the ship’s company, joined the Prime Minister, Defence Secretary, military Chiefs and
dignitaries to witness Her Majesty christen
her namesake with a bottle of whisky.
Whilst traditionally a bottle of champagne is
used to smash against the bow, given the
carrier's Scottish roots, it seemed fitting to
use a bottle of Islay malt whisky instead.
The giant aircraft carrier was floated and released from dry dock on Thursday 17 July 14.
The ship is the largest warship ever built for
the Royal Navy. She will weigh 65,00 tonnes,
is 280 m long with a beam of 39 m at the wa-
terline and 73 m overall, speed is 25 knots.
She will remain in Rosyth until she is handed
over to the Ministry of Defence in 2016 ahead
of being put into service in 2020.
Six shipyards from across the UK and more
than 10,000 people were involved in building
parts of the vessel.
Photos Above Computer generated picture of HMS
Queen Elizabeth entering Portsmouth.
Left HM The Queen with Prince Phillip and the First
Sea Lord ADML Sir George Michael Zambellas KCB
DSC ADC at the naming ceremony.
RN Website
Events coming up
9 Aug HMAS Canberra I Memorial Service Kings Park Lake Burley Griffin Canberra Commencing 1100
18 Aug Vietnam War Memorial Service Anzac Parade
3 Sep Battle For Australia Memorial Service AWM 1100
Newsletter of the ACT Section of the
Naval Association of Australia
Hardcopy printed by CopyQik Civic
August 2014
Bosun’s Call
Naval Association of Australia ACT
Section
Patron The Hon Sir William Deane AC KBE
Office Bearers 2014
President
Peter Cooke-Russell
Vice President Alan Masters
Secretary
Alan Masters
Treasurer
Sylvia Sinfield
Committee Members
Welfare
Alex. McGown
Membership Peter Launder
John Small
JJ Harrison
Ron Tuckwell
Editor BC
Peter Cooke-Russell
Social Sec
Bev Joce
02 6223 2364
02 6281 5630
02 6281 5630
02 6288 2350
02 6258 6167
02 6260 3843
02 6258 1216
02 6258 4512
0401 329 580
02 6223 2364
02 6249 7230
Charitable Fund
Chairman
Harry Beardsell
Contact Details
The President ACT Section
[email protected]
Mobile 0412 757 505
The Secretary ACT Section
NAA ACT Section
PO Box 591
CURTIN ACT 2605
[email protected]
Tel 02 6281 5630
President’s Note
Dear all,
August marks the beginning of four years of centenaries relating to WWI. The significant part for
this year is the heavy involvement that the Royal
Australian Navy undertook and which had a Major impact on its performance over the following
years.
The lunch held at the Helenic Club at the beginning of July was a great success. The food was
good an the attendance was a vast improvement
of the previous lunch held at the Ainslie Football
Club earlier this year.
The major event for this month is the Memorial
Service for the loss of HMAS Canberra to take
place at the memorial in Kings Park on Saturday
9 August 2014. Members of NUSHIP Canberra
‘s ship’s company will be there and the CO
NUSHIP Canberra has been invited to make the
Occasional Address. We will adjourn to the
Poppy’s Café at the AWM afterwards. It was the
Terrace Café but changed its name in the last
couple of days.
There will also be memorial services for the Vietnam War on 18 August and the Battle for Australia on 3 September 2014.
General Meeting Dates and Locations
Programme
7 Aug Kaleen Sports Club
4 Sep Erindale Vikings Sports Club
2 Oct Kaleen Sports Club
6 Nov Eridale Vikings Sports Club
2015
Page 2
1330
1330
1330
1330
The loss of a civilian aircraft and its passengers
over the Ukraine last week has cast a pall over
the freedom of travel, especially after the loss of
a similar aircraft in the Indian Ocean - somewhere. Combined with the activity between Palestine and Israel, the current world situation is
not conducive to thinking one is in a happy part
of our life cycle.
Australia may be a long way from these problems, but distance these days is not a an insulating factor anymore.
Let us hope that things will get better and the
sooner the better.
Tables are booked for drinks and
lunch in the host club from 1200
prior to the meeting.
If you need assistance getting to the meeting
and/or functions, call Alan Masters on 6281
5630 who will try to organise transport for you.
Best wishes
Peter Cooke-Russell
Committee meeting
Kaleen Sports Club
1130 Thursday
7 August 2014
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Before Gallipoli - Australian Operations in 1914
On 4 August 1914 the British Empire declared war
on Imperial Germany and Austro-Hungary, and
Australia immediately began to contribute to the
Empire’s war effort. The First World War was to
have an indelible shaping influence on Australian
society and culture. Regrettably, the undeniably
heroic actions of the Australian and New Zealand
Army Corps (ANZAC) in the opposed landing at
Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915, the subsequent bitterly fought Gallipoli campaign, and the national
mythology that grew from it, have overshadowed
the earlier successful actions of Australian forces
in the war. This is a great pity, as late 1914 witnessed some notable Australian firsts – the first
land operation of the war, the first amphibious
landing, the first joint operation, the first coalition
operations, the first offshore military expedition
planned and coordinated by Australia, the first
bravery decoration of the war, the first combat
casualties of the war, the first RAN warship lost,
and the first enemy warship sunk.
On 7 August 1914 the British War Office requested
that Australia seize the German colonies in Nauru,
the Caroline Islands and New Guinea. The primary
reason for this request was to prevent enemy wireless stations from passing information to the German East Asiatic Squadron of the Imperial German
Navy, commanded by Admiral Graf von Spee, that
might hinder British efforts to bring it to battle. The
Royal Australian Navy (RAN) acted swiftly to eliminate the enemy threat to the Empire’s shipping. On
11 August the destroyers HMAS Parramatta,
Officers and ratings of the Victorian naval contingent of the 1st
Australian Naval
& Military Expeditionary Force c.
August, 1914.in
front of the Captain of the Dockyard’s office and
residence at Williamstown Dockyard Victoria..
The officers in the
foreground are: LR Lieutenant Bowen, Sub Lieutenant Webber, Sub
Lieutenant Hext,
Midshipman
Hicks, Midshipman Veale and
Engineer Midshipman Willian
HMAS Yarra and HMAS Warrego, covered by the
light cruiser HMAS Sydney, prepared to launch a
torpedo attack on the German anchorages in
Simpsonhaven and Matupi Harbour, New Britain,
but found the enemy squadron gone. Landing parties were placed ashore at Rabaul and Herbertshöhe to destroy the wireless station, but when it
was learned that the station lay inland it was clear
that an expeditionary force would be required.
Meanwhile, the battlecruiser HMAS Australia was
scouring the Pacific for Von Spee’s squadron. Von
Spee was aware of the threat, recording in his diary on 18 August that ‘the Australia is my special
apprehension—she alone is superior to my whole
squadron.’
On 29 August 1914, in Australia’s first coalition
operation, a New Zealand Expeditionary Force of
1400 troops landed at Apia, Western Samoa, covered by the guns of Australia, and the cruisers
HMAS Melbourne, HMS Psyche, HMS Pyramus,
HMS Philomel and the French Montcalm. With no
troops to defend the islands, the German Administrator surrendered on 30 August. The wireless station and harbour facilities were thereafter denied
to Von Spee’s squadron.
The Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary
Force (ANMEF) began recruiting on 11 August,
consisting of a battalion of 1,000 infantry and a
small battalion of 500 naval reservists and timeexpired RN seaman. The force left Sydney on 19
August aboard the transport HMAT Berrima, a
liner requisitioned from P&O, after a period of
August 2014
Bosun’s Call
training near Townsville. The force sailed for Port Moresby to await the arrival of supporting RAN vessels.
On 7 September the force, now including Australia,
the cruisers Sydney and HMAS Encounter, the destroyers Parramatta, Warrego and Yarra, and the
submarines HMAS AE1 and HMAS AE2, sailed for
Rabaul. Meanwhile, on 9 September Melbourne
landed a party on Nauru to destroy the wireless station, whereupon the German administrator promptly
surrendered.
On 11 September a force consisting primarily of naval
reserve personnel was put ashore at Kabakaul to
seize the wireless station located inland at Bitapaka.
The landing force experienced strong initial resistance, and was forced to make small group attacks
through the thick jungle to outflank the enemy. The
wireless station was captured and destroyed. This
attack resulted in Australia’s first combat casualties of
the war—four sailors of the landing force and an attached Army doctor—Able Seaman Walker (he
served as Courtney but was re-buried under his real
name by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission), Able Seaman Williams, Able Seaman Street,
Able Seaman Moffatt, and Captain Pockley
(Australian Army Medical Corps). The other fatal
casualty suffered during the operation was Lieutenant
Commander Elwell, Royal Navy.
Page 4
On 12 September a combined Navy and Army force
was put ashore at nearby Herbertshöhe, while another landing force seized Rabaul. On 14 September
Encounter shelled German positions at Toma, the
first time an RAN vessel had fired on an enemy and
the RAN’s first shore bombardment. The German
resistance, comprising 40 reservists and 110 native
troops, was no match for the ANMEF, covered by the
12” guns of Australia, and the acting Governor surrendered all of German New Guinea on 17 September 1914. Subsequent operations occupied Bouganville and the New Guinea mainland colonies unopposed. The Governor’s steam yacht Komet, captured
on 9 October 1914, was subsequently commissioned
into RAN service as HMAS Una. The campaign was
an overwhelming success, rapidly achieving all objectives set by the War Office. A RAN reserve officer,
Lieutenant Bond, was awarded the Distinguished
Service Order, the first Australian bravery award of
the war. In a tragic footnote, AE1 disappeared without trace with all 35 personnel on board, the first unit
of the RAN to be lost on operations. On 26 September Sydney completed Australian operations against
the German Pacific colonies by destroying the German wireless station at Angaur in the Palau Islands.
While these operations were in progress
other RAN vessels were contributing to the war effort
On 11 September 1978 four naval veterans who were involved in the 1914 ANMEF operation gathered at the Shrine of
Remembrance in Melbourne to commemorate the 64th anniversary of the RAN's first action in World War 1. L-R The
then Naval Officer in Charge of Victoria, Commodore K.W. Shands, OBE, RAN, Mr Bill Gothard, 84 of Fairfield, Vic, Mr
Arthur 'Digger' Waller, 88 of Yarraville, Vic, Commander Stan Veale, 85 of Elwood, Vic and Mr Syd Maskell, 88 of
Footscray, Vic. Commander Veale, Mr Gothard and Mr Waller were part of the landing party while Mr Maskell served in
HMAS Encounter, one of the cruisers involved in the operation.
August 2014
Bosun’s Call
Page 5
by capturing German merchant shipping. HMAS Pioneer captured the steamers Neumunster and Thuringen off WA; HMAS Protector the steamer Madang off
New Britain; and the launch Nusa, the steamer Siar
and the schooners Matupi and Senta off Kavieng.
On 1 November 1914 the first ANZAC convoy sailed
for Egypt from Albany, WA. The escort comprised the
cruisers Melbourne, Sydney, HMS Minotaur and the
Japanese Ibuki. On the same day as the Australian
Government received notification that the Empire was
at war, Von Spee had detached the light cruiser SMS
Emden from the East Asiatic Squadron for independent operations in the Indian Ocean. By early November Emden, under Captain von Müller, had sunk or
captured 22 ships, thoroughly disrupting shipping
operations, forcing up insurance premiums, and
drawing warships away from other theatres.
On 9 November 1914 Emden landed a shore party at
Direction Island to destroy the cable station. The operators managed to get off a warning signal before
the station was closed down. The message was
picked up by the convoy and Sydney, commanded by
Captain Glossop, was detached to intercept. Better
armed, faster and more manoeuvrable, Sydney
caught the German cruiser by surprise, forcing von
Müller to abandon his landing party. Despite a fierce
resistance the outcome was a foregone conclusion—
the Australian ship pounded Emden into a burning
hulk, and von Müller drove his ship up onto North
Keeling Island to save his remaining crew. Sydney
suffered four killed and eight wounded, Emden 115
killed and 80 wounded. Sydney then intercepted Emden’s collier Buresk, which scuttled herself as the
cruiser approached. The 50 strong landing party from
the Emden, led by Lieutenant Commander von
Muecke, seized the station’s schooner Ayesha and
escaped, eventually reaching Germany after various
adventures.
The destruction of the Emden freed the shipping
routes of the Indian Ocean from raiding warships.
However, the German East Asiatic Squadron remained at large, a continuing threat to shipping in the
Pacific Ocean.
On 1 November 1914 Rear Admiral Cradock, commander of the North American station, encountered
Von Spee’s squadron off Coronel. In a battle fought in
deteriorating weather conditions the old armoured
cruisers HMS Monmouth and HMS Good Hope were
sunk with all hands by the armoured cruisers SMS
Scharnhorst and SMS Gneisenau, and light cruisers
SMS Dresden, SMS Leipzig and SMS Nürnberg. The
blow to British naval prestige could not be ignored,
and the Admiralty redoubled its efforts to hunt down
Von Spee.
The
battle
cruisers
HMS
Invincible
and HMS Inflexible, under the command of Vice Admiral Sturdee, were detached from the Grand Fleet to
lead the hunt. Australia was ordered to the American
Coast, rendezvousing on 29 November with the
Japanese cruisers Asama, Idzumo and Hizen. On 8
December Von Spee decided to raid the British coaling station at Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands, in
Light Cruiser HMAS Sydney
preparation for his return to Germany. Unfortunately
for him, Sturdee’s force was already anchored in Port
Stanley. When Von Spee’s ships were sighted, Sturdee raised steam as quickly as possible and set out
in pursuit. Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, Leipzig, Nürnberg and the colliers Baden and Santa Isabel were
sunk by Invincible and Inflexible, the armoured cruisers HMS Carnarvon, HMS Kent and HMS Cornwall;
the light cruisers HMS Glasgow and HMS Bristol;
and the merchant cruiser HMS Macedonia. Dresden
and the supply ship Seydlitz were the only German
vessels to escape the battle. Seydlitz was interned in
Argentina and Dresden scuttled herself when run to
ground at the Chilean island of Mas a Fuera on 14
March 1915.
With the major German threat in the Pacific and Indian Oceans now eliminated, Australia’s newer warships could be reallocated to the Atlantic and Mediterranean theatres of operations, while lightly escorted ANZAC troop convoys could sail unmolested
to Europe and the Middle East.
In the last five months of 1914 Australian forces, particularly the RAN, participated in a series of successful actions which, at the cost of ten dead, assisted in
sweeping the Indian and Pacific Oceans clear of enemy warships and seizing all German colonies in the
South Pacific. In comparison to these actions, the
land campaigns of World War One would provide
Australia with a harsh introduction to modern warfare—one that would scar and shape the nation.
by
Lieutenant Commander Glenn Kerr, RAN
August 2014
Bosun’s Call
Page 6
New Website Links Veterans to Support When They Need It
Minister for Veterans' Affairs
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the
Centenary of ANZAC
Special Minister of State
Saturday, 5 July 2014
VA047
resulting in serious injury or were medically discharged can access VVCS services.
VVCS services are also available to partners and
their dependent children, up to the age of 26, of
these
newly
eligible
service
men
and
women. Along with the partners, dependent children, aged up to 26, and parents of members
killed in service-related incidents.
The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Senator the
Hon. Michael Ronaldson has officially launched a
new dedicated website for the Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS) at the
South Australian RSL Congress in Adelaide today.
"The Government spends around $166 million a
year on meeting the mental health needs of Veterans and their families. The funding for treatment is demand driven, and it is not capped - if
treatment is needed, it is funded."
VVCS is a free and confidential service that offers
eligible veterans counselling, group programs, and
after-hours crisis support 24 hours a day.
"This Government is determined not to repeat the
mistakes of the past. This means we need to develop a strong understanding of the issues and
challenges faced by veteran and defence communities including their families, and to have a robust evidence base to inform efforts to reduce
stigma around mental illness and to keep improving our services." Senator Ronaldson said.
"Tackling the mental health challenges facing veterans and their families is a key pillar of the Government’s plan for veterans’ affairs. The Government’s priority is to ensure that we have in place
the mental health services and supports that are
needed for veterans and their families."
"VVCS is at the frontline of mental health and
wellbeing support for the Australian veteran and
ex-service community. The services provided by
VVCS are particularly important as they also support the families, who significantly support veterans."
The launch of a new dedicated website for VVCS
builds on the Minister’s recent announcements to
improve access to mental health treatment, including access to counselling and support.
From 1 July 2014, former serving members who
have border protection service, served in a disaster zone either in Australia or overseas, served as
a submariner, were involved in training accidents
A mobile version of the new VVCS website has
also been developed to ensure that veterans and
their families can access information and support
details when they need to.
The new VVCS dedicated website can be accessed
at: www.vvcs.gov.au
Media inquiries:
Minister Ronaldson: Brad Rowswell 6277 7820 or
0417 917 796
Department of Veterans’ Affairs Media: 02 6289
6203
Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS) and Veterans Line can be reached 24
hours a day across Australia for crisis support and
free and confidential counselling. Phone 1800 011
HMAS Canberra Memorial Service
9 August 2014
At the HMAS Canberra Memorial Kings Park Canberra
(Just by the Carillion)
Commencing at 1100
A group of NUSHIP Canberra’s ship’s company
are expected to be present
Gather at Poppy’s (was the Terrace) at the Australian War
Memorial for refreshments on completion of the service
August 2014
Bosun’s Call
Page 7
Those who preserve conquer
2014 has been marked by many important anniversaries for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), including the 50th anniversary of the collision between
H M AS * M e l b o u r n e * a n d H M AS
*Voyager*, and the centenaries of the
arrival of our first submarine squadron,
the commencement of World War I and
the RAN’s first battle (and victory) at
sea in the Battle of Cocos.
With hundreds of ships, and hundreds of thousands
of people, having served in the RAN over more
than a century, the responsibility for capturing, preserving and promoting Australia’s rich naval history
falls upon the Naval History Section (NHS), a part
of the Sea Power Centre – Australia (SPC-A) in
Canberra.
Senior Naval Historian John Perryman leads a
small team that collects and records the histories of
each ship, boat, submarine, squadron and base of
the RAN in order to honour the legacy of those that
have come before, and so that we can learn from
the many lessons acquired, some of them at a high
cost.
“Reviewing and recording the histories of former
ships of the RAN is just one of the many jobs of the
Navy History Section.Senior Naval Historical Officer, Mr John Perryman with Naval Historical Officers Petar Djokovic and Maree Whittaker-Jones at
the Sea Power Centre - Australia.
“In amongst attempting to capture everything that is
happening now, my team and I are constantly looking backwards to write about and promote the
amazing stories that the Navy has to tell,” Mr
Perryman said.
memorative events, and makes much of that information available to researchers and other members of the public.
“In 2013 our team received over 600 written enquiries, along with telephone queries, ministerial
requests and requests to host researchers who
wish to view our archives.
“The main bulwark to showcase the history of the
RAN, and to get it out into the public domain, is the
RAN History webpage, where people can find a
growing repository of the written history of the
Navy,” Mr Perryman said.
The RAN History webpage also features backgrounds of the many of the unique and important
customs and traditions of the Navy, such as the
Red Kangaroo that is featured on all RAN ships,
awards like the Duke of Gloucester Cup and the
daily ‘Colours’ and ‘Sunset’ ceremonies.
“The beauty of the web is that members of the public can read about the various aspects of our history, while integrated multimedia allows them to
explore the visual history, such as seeing ‘Colours’
and ‘Sunset’ in action,” Mr Perryman said.
"There is much to be learned from the lessons of
the past and the members of the Navy History Section agree that ‘those who preserve conquer.'"
Those interested in Naval history are invited to
view a growing collection of detailed historical information about the ships, boats, aircraft, bases,
people, customs and traditions of the RAN at http://
www.navy.gov.au/history.
Imagery is available at http://images.navy.gov.au/
S20141639.
Published on 20 July 2014 by LEUT Des Paroz
(author), POIS Paul Berry (photographer)
Preserving this information is a complex job with
lots of moving parts, and marrying the official records with the personal stories of the sailors is
equally challenging.
“With the ‘Reports of Proceedings’ we get the Commanding Officer’s perspective, but more substance
to the story is added by providing the perspective of
each member—regardless of whether they were
Commanding Officer, Petty Officer or Seaman.
“This was perhaps best expressed by the original
officer-in-charge of the then Naval Historical Records Section who said ‘each man is concerned
only with his own job; but in doing it, he is perhaps
seeing things which no other person sees,” Mr
Perryman said.
With its extensive records the Naval History Section
is able to provide key information in support of com-
Senior Naval
Historical
Officer, Mr
John
Perryman
(centre) with
Naval Historical Officers
Petar Djokovic and
Maree
WhittakerJones at the
Sea Power
Centre - Australia.
August 2014
Bosun’s Call
Done
Page 8
August 2014
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Page 9
August 2014
Bosun’s Call
Page 10
Navy Chief says diversity is essential to optimal capability
The Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs,
chaired the inaugural meeting of the Navy Diversity
Forum at HMAS Creswell last Friday, with his strategic advisors on Women’s, Indigenous, Islamic
and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex matters.
One key area of Vice Admiral Griggs’s focus since
assuming the position of Chief of Navy has been on
ensuring Navy’s diversity discussions are, themselves, diverese.
Over the last three years he has been putting in
place strategic advisors to ensure that Navy’s diversity discussion is broader than it had been in the
past. His objective has been to ensure that Navy is
as reflective of Australian society as it can be,
through the conduct of all of its activities.
One of the greatest challenges, though, is in getting
people to believe that this approach is actually
about enhancing Navy’s capability and not some
exercise in political correctness.
It is beyond dispute in all the academic literature
that a more diverse team ensures different perspectives are covered and generally results in a
better outcome for the organisation.
The Navy Diversity Forum is designed to be an opportunity for the Chief of Navy to regularly discuss
the key diversity issues in Navy with his strategic
advisers.
It is also very important that the four advisers cross
pollinate ideas and understand what is happening
in each others areas of responsibility and recognise
opportunities to synchronise their efforts.
“I have seen some excellent work to date in the
diversity field led by the strategic advisers,” Vice
Admiral Griggs said.
Some of the major achievements have included:
 Changes to the uniform regulations to allow the
use of Islamic headdress;
 The creation of the Navy Indigenous performance Group which has already drawn international interest;
 Expansion of our Women’s mentoring program;
 Deeper engagement with the Indigenous, Islamic and LGBTI communities;
 Development of Islamic cultural education material for ship’s deploying to work with ‘Muslim’
navies;
 Establishment of a new Navy Cadet unit in
western Sydney aimed at a more culturally diverse membership;
 Progression of understanding the challenges of
performing the primary care giving role and
having a sustainable sea going career.
“While we have a way to go, we have made very
good progress; it is crucial that we have a balanced approach to diversity and that no single issue disproportionately skews the debate. Events
such as this forum will help ensure the whole diversity discussion is kept in balance,” Vice Admiral
Griggs said.
04 June 2014 Mr Pup Elliott (author and photographer)
The Chief of Navy,
Vice Admiral Ray
Griggs, AO, CSC ,
RAN chairs the inaugural meeting of the
Navy’s Diversity Forum at HMAS Creswell on 31 May 2014.
With him are (left)
Deputy Chief of Navy,
Rear Admiral Michael
van Balen, Warrant
Officer Stuart O'Brien,
Captain Mona
Shindy; (right) Chief
Petty Officer Ray
Rosendale, Commander Wendy Gould
and Warrant Officer
of the Navy Martin
Holzberger.
August 2014
Bosun’s Call
Page 11
Higher Education Support for Vietnam Veterans’ Children
Long Tan Bursary
Students from around Australia will be given a helping
hand as they prepare for study this year with funding
through the Long Tan Bursary Scheme, the Minister for
Veterans’ Affairs Senator the Hon. Michael Ronaldson
announced today.
Fifty bursaries, worth $9,000 over three years,
are awarded each year to successful applicants
from each State and Territory. The scheme is
administered by the Australian Veterans' Children
Assistance Trust on behalf of the Department.
"The Long Tan Bursary Scheme provides up to $9,000
over three years to each successful applicant – the sons
and daughters of Vietnam Veterans – to help them pursue their chosen study or professional career," Senator
Ronaldson said.
Who can apply?
The scheme provides financial assistance, worth an annual $450,000 for up to 50 individuals. The breakdown of
2014 Bursaries per State and Territory is as follows:







NSW - 14 recipients
To be eligible to apply for a bursary, a person
must:



TAS - 1 recipient
VIC - 5 recipients

QLD - 17 recipients
WA - 3 recipients
SA - 1 recipient
Total - 41 recipients
The Bursary is named after the Battle of Long Tan during
the Vietnam War. It is administered by the Australian
Veterans' Children Assistance Trust on behalf of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Applications for each academic year open on Vietnam Veterans’ Day, 18 August, and close 31 October.
There have been more than 450 recipients since the
Scheme commenced in 2000.
The Long Tan Bursary scheme is an initiative of
the Australian Government through the Department of Veterans' Affairs and has been established to help eligible children of Vietnam veterans meet the cost of post-secondary education.

be the child of an Australian veteran who
served in the Vietnam war during the period
31 July 1962 to 30 April 1975;
have Australian residency status;
be planning to enrol or be enrolled in postsecondary education in Australia, in an approved course of one or more academic year’s
duration;
be in disadvantaged circumstances such as
financial need (as determined within the
means test eligibility for Youth Allowance educational benefits), health and other nonfinancial family and personal circumstances
where these circumstances could prevent the
recipient from undertaking post-secondary
education without the bursary; and
not be a previous recipient of a bursary.
Within the eligibility criteria, those selected are to
be the most deserving applicants on merit as assessed. Consideration will be given to applicants
who require a second degree to complete their
course of study and enable them to enter the
workforce (provided they have not previously
received a bursary).
Social Programme 2014
There will be the opportunity to have lunch
with other members at 12 noon before each
monthly meeting at the meeting venue.
October 26 - Fish & Chips on the banks of
the lake at the Southern Cross Yacht
Club from 1700hrs to 1900
August 9 Coffee at Poppy’s Cafe at the
AWM after HMAS Canberra I Memorial
service
November 23 - BYO EVERYTHING Picnic
at our home in Dickson from 12 noon
(unless someone else wants to host
this event this year)
August 2014
Bosun’s Call
Medihotel opens at Canberra Hospital
A new 'Medihotel' has been opened at Canberra Hospital to provide accommodation for patients requiring a lower level of care
than in hospital wards.
Chief Minister and Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher said the
Medihotel consists of eight bedrooms located on the hospital
campus that were available for use by patients requiring care,
without the requirement to be in the acute hospital setting.
"The opening of the Medihotel on the Canberra Hospital campus
supports the hospital's ability to deal with the increasing capacity and growing demands placed on our health system," the
Chief Minister said.
Page 12
August 2014
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Page 13
Reunions
End of an Era
Steamships Reunion
No 4
Mandurah WA
7th 8th & 9th November 2014
Naval Association of Australia,
City of Mandurah Sub Section
PO Box 1633
MANDURAH WA 6210
EMAIL POSTING OF APPLICATION FORM TO:
[email protected]
NUSHIP Canberra
Family Link
To keep up to date on Canberra’s progress and
crew activities, access to its newsletter is available
http://www.navy.gov.au/media-room/publications/
nuship-canberra-family-link
NAVYJR—10th Intake Reunion
Reunion November 2016
Your names and numbers attending would be appreciated
email to [email protected]
Snail Mail;
The Secretary RANCBA (ACT)
30 Woollum Crescent
RIVETT ACT 2611
(email—[email protected]
Ph 02 6288 0828—Mobile 0417 407
HMAS LEEUWIN 9th Intake
July 1964
Reunion
will be held in Ballina in
November 2014
For further information please contact
Allan Watt
Phone 02 6686 8324
To be held in Sydney
0402 749 582
9-12 January 2015
Email [email protected]
Contact point
www.jrt10thers.org
A Happy Birthday to you all
in August 2014
John Bakker, David Campbell,
Syd Comfort, Trish Dollison,
Norman Downe, Mark Fullick,
Esther Goodieson, Peter Guy,
Peter Launder, Jim Quick,
John Perrett, Toby Selby and
Joe Slaats.
Seagull Aircraft on HMAS Camberra’s catapult ready for
launching
SPC