Issue 1, 2011 - Department of Defence

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Issue 1, 2011
The
CALM
after a STORM
Cover story pages 20 – 27
VC recipient
tells his story
Pages 4 – 5
Sub-metering: the
buzzword in electricity
Pages 40 – 41
Section Title
inside this edition
Defence
Magazine
Regulars
News
Editor:
4
Michael Weaver
Phone: 02 6265 7117
Regional News
10
Defence Magazine is produced by
Communication and Media Branch.
World News
12
ISSN 1446-229X
Snapshots of the month
14
For Your Information
28
Public Service News
30
4
Design and Layout:
Deb Namgyal & Karen Costello
Graphics Services
Defence Publishing Service
DPS: JAN018/11
Columns
How to contribute
to Defence Magazine
Contact: 02 6265 7117 or
Email address: [email protected]
Website: http://www.defence.gov.au/defencemagazine/
Subscriptions: Trish Dillon (02) 6266 7607
or [email protected]
Secretary: The challenges ahead
16
Chief of the Defence Force: BUSY – and it’s only the beginning
17
Spotlight on reform: Managing the Defence Estate
18
Cover image:
Cover story
A soldier from 8th/9th Battalion conducts a ground search along Rocky Creek
in Postmans Ridge, at the base of the Toowoomba range, in Queensland, during
Operation Queensland Flood Assist. The operation swelled to more than 1900 ADF
personnel, with numerous assets also brought in to help the state in its time of need.
Photo: Petty Officer Damian Pawlenko
The calm after a storm
20
Photo of
the month:
The Chief of the Defence Force, Air
Chief Marshal Angus Houston, shakes
hands with the Prime Minister of East
Timor, Xanana Gusmao, prior to a medal
presentation and parade at the East
Timorese Army base in Metinaro near Dili.
Air Chief Marshal Houston was awarded
the ‘Medal of the Order of Timor-Leste’
on February 2 by East Timor’s President
José Ramos-Horta, in recognition of Air
Chief Marshal Houston’s long-standing
assistance to the nation.
20
> Defence leads the way on road to recovery
22
> Coordination the key, says EMA
25
> DCO steps in at a time of need
26
> Pitching in for Victoria
27
Features
32
Intelligence and Security: The Defence Geospatial Strategy
33
Information and Technology: Mobile ICT services enhanced
34
People: Defence Attitude Survey
35
Air Force: Hawks go two-tone
36
Education and Training: Joint education comes of age
38
Defence Support: Electrical sub-metering
40
The Last Word: Singer-songwriter John Schumann
42
Photo: Leading Aircraftman Leigh Cameron
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“We got back to the base that night with dirt and blood on our uniforms and had a pie.”
NEWS
– Corporal Benjamin Roberts-Smith, VC MG
For VALOUR
“It got to the point where it was
like ‘f*** this, I’m not going to sit here
while one of the boys gets hit’,” he said.
“I thought I’d just have a crack.”
Australia’s most decorated serving soldier
details the action that earned him a Victoria Cross
The patrol commander, Sgt P,
described what he saw when CPL
Roberts-Smith moved forward.
By Sergeant Andrew Hetherington
“He saw the opportunity and he ran
forward on his own after I’d thrown my
grenade,” Sgt P said.
“We were in
like a mouth of
a valley and we
tried to push one
patrol higher than
us to get visibility
of the target, but
they couldn’t see
anything as there
was thick vegetation
consisting of
orchards and
mulberry bushes,”
CPL RobertsSmith said.
“We were lower
than the enemy
and after about 20
minutes of trying to
get the boys out of
Above: Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith, VC MG prepares to deploy to the Shah Wali
the creek line and
Kot offensive with a fellow Special Operations Task Group member. Photo: Lieutenant
out of the firing, my
Aaron Oldaker.
patrol commander
he mission for which Corporal
decided he’d had enough and told the
Benjamin Roberts-Smith was
ground force commander he was going to
awarded the Victoria Cross took
take us and go and try to neutralise the
place during the Shah Wali Kot offensive.
machine-gun position.”
On June 11 last year, he was part of
He and his mates separated from the
a Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) troop
main body of the troop, got into extended
that conducted a helicopter assault into the
line and advanced to contact.
village of Tizak, north of Kandahar. Their
“There were random enemy running
aim was to capture or kill a senior Taliban
in the trees and the position itself was
commander.
an elevated courtyard in front of a building
CPL Roberts-Smith’s role in the mission
surrounded by orchards,” CPL Robertswas patrol 2IC and assisting his primary
Smith said.
patrol sniper.
“As we approached we got hit on an
His patrol landed and engaged insurgents
oblique angle on our left flank.
who were firing on their troop mates. Shortly
“It meant three of us had to swing
after, two members of the troop needed
onto the
position to fully assault the three
to be taken out of the area for medical
guns
front-on
and the other three of us
treatment.
were trying to manoeuvre on our right flank
It took the Black Hawk medivac aircraft
to get into a flanking position.
three runs to land and remove the casualties
“As they did that they were engaged
because it was also getting hit by machineby
another group of enemy while we were
gun fire.
moving forward and I believe they were
As the troop began to cross a dry
trying to engage the rear of the target we
creek bed obstacle the lead patrol was
were going for.”
hit with what they thought was one PKM
CPL Roberts-Smith was on the left flank
gun. They were pinned down either side
with two of his patrol mates.
of the creek bed.
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DEFENCE MAGAZINE
“We got to within 40m of the position
and the rate of fire became ridiculous.
“They had seen us moving forward,
focusing all their fire on us and we found
it really hard to see them as they were
elevated, but they could see us.”
“He got to the wall and took out the
two guns with his M14.
The three men started to crawl forward as
they couldn’t bound forward anymore.
“I’ve been in the Special Forces a long
time and it’s the first time I’ve ever seen
something like that. Him running at
two guns while they were still firing was
amazing to watch.”
“The rounds were ripping over our heads
and it got to the point where we stopped
at the 20m mark and I held up a grenade to
one of the boys, Tpr J, next to me,” he said.
Making it to the wall was only part of
the problem for CPL Roberts-Smith, who
then had to take on several insurgents
to clear the position.
“He knew what I was going to do, so he
jumped up in front of the three firing guns
and emptied a clip into the position and
this enabled me to throw the grenade.”
“As I got up to move forward I saw
two guys run into the house and I then
ran straight up to the gap in the wall
and got about 3m from the first gun,
which was firing at us,” he said.
CPL Roberts-Smith’s grenade didn’t
have any impact, but the patrol commander
came up to their position and threw an
additional grenade.
“We believed his grenade took out one of
the guns,” he said.
“They had two guns now and they started
to move around, with one orientated
onto us with a couple of guys with AKs
20m away and another guy on a gun,
concentrating his main effort firing on
the creek line to try to stop our guys from
coming across.
“The fire on our position didn’t stop and
Tpr J, who had a stoppage after covering us
while we had thrown our grenades, was now
taking fire.”
“I could clearly see his face and there
was the realisation from us both when
we saw each other – and in the end it
was me being the luckier out of the two
of us. I stopped and engaged him.”
About 6-10m away from the first PKM
was the other gunner, who was holding
up the troop on the creek obstacle.
“I saw him and then engaged him,”
CPL Roberts-Smith said.
“It was like standing in someone’s
backyard with a flat, mud-brick floor
maybe 12m long by 10m wide.
“By the time I’d engaged the second
guy the two others in my patrol had
moved forward to where I was.”
Another one of the patrol’s troopers was
also taking so much accurate fire he had his
face in the dirt and couldn’t fight back.
At this stage he didn’t know where the
rest of the patrol was and didn’t want to
lose the initiative over the enemy.
“He was getting smashed and the
other three on our right were in their own
fight 30-40m from us on a downhill angle,”
he said.
“We knew there were other Taliban in
the building and we quickly discussed
what each of us was going to do, so I
moved to the door of the house and the
other two followed,” he said.
“I could then see one of the guns
traversing across our narrow frontage
of 9m.”
At this decisive and frustrating
moment CPL Roberts-Smith made up
his mind to do something about the
two gun positions.
“My mate entered the door and he saw
an insurgent in the corner of the inside
of the house but he had a stoppage.
“He peeled back out and I went in
and engaged the first guy I saw, he went
down and then I had a stoppage.
“I continued down the room
and there was another insurgent
and another one beside him,
I got him and my mate came
in behind me and engaged the
second guy.
“We moved through the
position and mopped up the last
remaining insurgents.”
On that one position they had
killed about 10 insurgents.
After CPL Roberts-Smith
silenced the two guns and he
and his mates cleared the house,
they and the rest of the troop
continued to fight for more than
six hours in the area.
This included three hours
of heavy fighting and a further
three of sporadic contact.
Above: The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston,
salutes Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith, VC MG during an Investiture Ceremony
at Campbell Barracks, Swanbourne, January 23. Photo: Corporal Chris Moore.
Initially, the Special Forces troop was
told there would be about 10 insurgents
in the locality, but it turned out to be
about 100.
“It’s important to note once we
got through that position it achieved
the breakthrough we needed,” CPL
Roberts-Smith said.
“We were outnumbered four to one
and we ended up killing 11 on a list of
wanted Taliban and found out that as we
arrived, senior Taliban commanders were
having a meeting.”
“The next patrol which pushed up
on our flank broke through the next
compound in a different scenario.
“All day for most of the patrols it
went from one thing to another.
CPL Roberts-Smith didn’t have time
to contemplate if he had put in a
performance that would result in a VC.
“All day in our earpieces we could
hear the numbers of KIA coming in,”
CPL Roberts-Smith said.
“We got back to the base that night
with dirt and blood on our uniforms and
had a pie,” he said.
“Our fire support team was inserted
onto the side of a mountain to provide
cover for us. As soon as they hit the
deck they came under fire immediately
and were fighting for their lives on the
mountain by themselves, like we were
in the valley.
“Commander JTF 633 MAJGEN John
Cantwell had travelled to Tarin Kot and
congratulated us on our mission.
“Thirty minutes later we went to
bed, got up the next day and went on
another mission that night. That’s just
how it was.
“No matter what you were doing no
one missed out, everyone was in their
own little battle.”
“I’ve never been to Afghanistan and
not been in a gun fight. This is how we
operate over there – we’re an offensive
unit.”
Even the helicopter crews found
themselves constantly under fire.
CPL Roberts-Smith said the Shah
Wali Kot mission was a fantastic win
for the ADF.
“Our pilot took multiple machinegun hits through his cockpit into the
belly of the aircraft, we had RPGs
flying underneath the wheels while we
were sitting with our legs outside the
aircraft,” CPL Roberts-Smith said.
“In the end we gathered all the enemy
weapons, took them back with us and
we were extracted after midnight on
June 12.”
“What was weighing heavily on us
was the loss of the 2CER engineers Sprs
Smith and Moreland to IEDs earlier in
the month,” he said.
“This affected the troop a lot.”
This article first appeared in Army,
The Soldiers’ Newspaper on February 3.
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NEWS
Dedicated
soldier and
funny man
C
orporal Richard Atkinson was
leading his combat engineer
section as a search commander
when he was killed an improvised
explosive device in Afghanistan on
February 2.
in October 2009 and Operation Slipper
(Afghanistan) from October 2010 to
February 2011.
A statement released by the Atkinson
family told of how ‘Rich’ was the funny
man, always putting smiles on other
people’s faces.
“He was hoping to start a family this
year with Dannielle. He was a dedicated
soldier with long career aspirations,” the
Atkinson family said.
Twenty-two-year-old CPL Atkinson was
from the Darwin-based 1st Combat Engineer
Regiment, and leaves behind his fiancé
Dannielle, his parents Ross and Kate,
brother James and sister-in-law Sumah.
“He was a family man who was very
close to each of his relatives and was
looking forward to coming home at the
end of his tour to spend time with them in
Tasmania.
CPL Atkinson was born in Hobart in
1988. He joined the Army in 2007 and in
the same year successfully completed his
recruit and combat engineer basic training
prior to being posted to the 1st Combat
“He shared a strong mateship with those
he left behind in Afghanistan and all his
mates in Australia. He will be missed by all
and not a day will go by that he won’t be
thought of.”
The Commander of the Army’s 1st Brigade,
Brigadier Gus McLachlan, delivered the
eulogy on behalf of the Army at CPL
Atkinson’s funeral in Launceston on February
14. He described CPL Atkinson as a soldier
who led with maturity beyond his years.
“Whenever the scouts sensed the terrain
was pushing them onto a predictable path,
‘Akka’, often with his mate and search
partner, Sapper Rose, moved to the front.
They knew this was marching towards the
danger. They trusted each other implicitly,
knowing the other would always cover
their back.
Above: Corporal Richard Atkinson in Afghanistan.
Engineer Regiment based in Darwin.
He was promoted to Lance Corporal
in 2009 and displayed strong leadership
in bringing his section together during
preparation for operations in Afghanistan.
His dedication to his section was rewarded
with promotion to Corporal just prior to
their deployment.
CPL Atkinson has been awarded the
Australian Active Service Medal with Clasp:
International Coalition Against Terrorism
(ICAT), Afghanistan Campaign Medal,
the Army Combat Badge, the Australian
Defence Medal, and the NATO Medal with
ISAF Clasp.
During CPL Atkinson’s service in the
Australian Army, he deployed on Operation
Padang Assist (Indonesian Earthquake)
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“Corporal Richard Atkinson died while
leading from the front, fighting alongside
one of his best mates on behalf of all of us.
Through the strength and example of young
men like Corporal Richard Atkinson, we have
proof our future is in good hands.”
Country lad
with ambition
to serve
T
he Australian Defence
Force is mourning the
death of 21-year-old Sapper Jamie
Larcombe from the Darwin-based 1st
Combat Engineer Regiment.
SPR Larcombe was killed in action during
an engagement with insurgents in the
Mirabad Valley of Uruzgan Province on
February 20.
SPR Larcombe was a community-minded
person whose life ambition was to serve his
country. He leaves his partner Rhiannon,
parents Steven and Tricia, and three
younger sisters, Ann-Marie, Emily and April.
SPR Larcombe was born in
Kingscote Hospital on Kangaroo Island,
South Australia, in 1989. He joined the
Army in 2008 and successfully completed
his recruit and combat engineer basic
training in 2008, prior to being posted
to the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment
in Darwin.
Above: Sapper Jamie Larcombe with his partner
Rhiannon Penhall. Photo: Jeff Anderson
SPR Larcombe is described by his Army
mates as dependable and genuine, whose
country upbringing instilled a wisdom that
was respected.
He went to Parndana Area School
where he was loved by all his peers. He
was also a Country Fire Service volunteer
and played sport for his local footy club,
Western Districts.
“Jamie was a fun, loving individual
who loved life and loved to give where he
could,” a Larcombe family statement said.
“A dedicated brother, son and partner,
he could always be relied on.
“Anyone who came in contact with Jamie
grew to love him for his personality and
great sense of humour.
“He was cherished by his local Kangaroo
Island community, friends, family and his
close Army mates, who are now mourning
this great loss.
“He will always be in our hearts.”
SPR Larcombe has been awarded the
Australian Active Service Medal with Clasp:
International Coalition Against Terrorism
(ICAT), Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the
Army Combat Badge.
During SPR Larcombe’s service in the
Australian Army, he deployed on Operation
Padang Assist (Indonesian Earthquake)
and Operation Slipper (Afghanistan) from
October 2010 to February 2011.
NEWS
JeHDI to put the
Aviators return
from Timor
stealth in health system
Left: The Vice Chief of the Defence Force,
Lieutenant General David Hurley (right),
the Minister for Defence Science and
Personnel, Warren Snowdon (centre), and
Commander Joint Health Major General
Paul Alexander (left) at the JeHDI launch.
Photo: Corporal Aaron Curran
information. This will provide
great benefits to those who
regularly move, such as Defence
families,” he said.
The Vice Chief of Defence
Force, Lieutenant General David
Hurley, said Defence health care
presented unique challenges
A
multi-million dollar electronic
health record system is being
designed to improve the quality
of healthcare to all Australian Defence
Force members.
The Defence Joint eHealth Data and
Information System, known as JeHDI,
will link health data from recruitment
to discharge and allow for health
practitioners to access a patient’s
complete health record.
“This is a very exciting time for the
ADF as they are taking a key national
leadership role in the introduction of
electronic health records throughout
Australia and delivering a single
electronic health system across the ADF,”
the Minister for Defence Science and
Personnel, Warren Snowdon, said.
“JeHDI is a web-based system which
can be accessed wherever internet
is available, while still maintaining
confidentiality and data integrity, JeHDI
will simplify record management and
provide immediate access to patients’
medical records and other healthcare
“Leading edge technology, like
JeHDI, is helping Defence meet
these objectives with greater
speed and efficiency,” LTGEN
Hurley said.
The ADF consulted extensively with
other agencies including the Department
of Health and Ageing, the Department of
Veterans’ Affairs and the National eHealth
Transition Authority. JeHDI complements
the Australian Government’s National
eHealth Strategy, which has committed
$466.7 million to develop a personally
controlled ehealth records system that
will be available from 2012-13.
Defence will have the opportunity
to interchange data and information
between JeHDI and the public and private
health sectors.
JeHDI is being developed with Defence
Oakton and CSC Australia. CSC, the
world’s largest health systems integrator,
has been selected to deliver the JeHDI
system.
Defence is investing more than
$55.7 million in the development and
delivery of the JeHDI system for the next
four years. The project will be developed
through a staged process including a
pilot and is expected to be completed
by early 2014.
After a successful six months serving
with the International Stabilisation Force
(ISF), the 14th rotation of the TimorLeste Aviation Group (TLAG) has returned
home to Australia.
Whilst assigned to the ISF, the S-70A-9
Black Hawk helicopters made a significant
contribution to security in East Timor
by providing troop lift and aero-medical
evacuation capabilities.
The TLAG 14 Officer Commanding, Major
Tony Dennis, said he would look back
with pride on the group’s two-month
build-up and six-month tour of duty.
“As a detachment, TLAG 14 has
performed exceptionally well,”
MAJ Dennis said.
Five aero-medical evacuations were
conducted in support of ISF soldiers on
patrol in East Timor.
Another highlight was the Tour de
Timor – a 400km route considered one
of the toughest mountain bike courses
in the world – which saw eight ISF
members join more than 300 local and
international cyclists in the five-day
multi-stage event.
Ahead of their return home, TLAG
14 personnel, along with other ISF
members, were presented with the East
Timor Solidarity Medal during a ceremony
attended by the President of East Timor,
José Ramos-Horta.
Team to address
amphibious fleet issues
The Government has appointed an
independent team of experts to develop
a plan to address problems in the repair
and management of the amphibious and
support ship fleet.
Mr Paul Rizzo, a director of a number
of major Australian corporations including
the National Australia Bank and Malleson
Stephen Jacques and the Independent
Chair of the Defence Audit and Risk
Committee, will lead the team.
He is supported by Air Vice Marshal
Neil Smith (rtd) and Rear Admiral Brian
Adams (rtd) who have relevant experience
in defence administration, engineering,
maintenance, logistics, systems
engineering, safety certification and
the operation and support of amphibious
ships.
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NEWS
ADF Parliamentary
ADF’s amphibious
transformation
underway
By Natalie Alexander
The hull of the first of the Royal
Australian Navy’s two new amphibious
ships has been launched in Spain,
heralding a new era for Australia’s
amphibious capability.
Program marks 10th
anniversary
The Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Russ
Crane, led the launch and said the event
on February 18 was enormously significant.
“These ships are officially known as
Landing Helicopter Docks or LHDs and are
the largest the Australian Navy has ever
owned,” VADM Crane said.
LHD01’s hull launch was held at the
Navantia dockyards at Ferrol in northern
Spain; the event having a distinct
Australian feel as children of Australian
diplomats joined the official delegation
waving Australian flags.
A Canberra regional sparkling wine was
broken over the Canberra Class ship’s hull.
Above: Flight Lieutenant Lisa Donaldson, Bronwyn Bishop MP, Major Chris Duffy, Senator Steve Hutchins and
Commander Lewis Gaha at the launch of the Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program 2011 at Parliament
House, Canberra. Photo: Lauren Black
T
he Australian Defence Force
Parliamentary Program (ADFPP) has
been launched for 2011, marking
a decade of partnership between the ADF
and the Australian Parliament.
concerns about Generation Y to go and see
how good they are,” LTGEN Hurley said.
The program gives Senators and MPs
the chance to experience life as a serving
member of the ADF.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence,
Senator David Feeney, said the initiative
showed policy-makers the challenges of
service life first-hand.
Since beginning in 2001, 110
parliamentarians have taken part in various
local and international attachments across
the three Services.
This year, 17 attachment options are
scheduled, including a trip with the
Navy’s Young Endeavour Youth Scheme,
Helicopter Underwater Escape Training
with the Army, and experience with Joint
Operations in Afghanistan, East Timor and
the Solomon Islands.
Speaking at the launch on February
10, the Vice Chief of the Defence Force,
Lieutenant General David Hurley, said the
program offered an opportunity for the
ADF’s young people to share their views
with governmental decision-makers.
“This is a great opportunity for Members
of Parliament and Senators who have any
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DEFENCE MAGAZINE
“You’ll get people who’ll tell you what
they think is going on, and I think that’s
a valuable part of the program.”
“It gives Members of Parliament an
awareness and understanding of defence
capabilities, personnel and management
issues,” Senator Feeney said.
Vicki Coates, wife of the late Rear
Admiral Nigel Coates, who commanded
the previous HMAS Canberra, was the
‘launch lady’.
Both ships will be based at Garden
Island in Sydney.
Crewed by all three Services, the
LHD will mark a significant strengthening
of the ADF’s amphibious capability and
tri-service culture.
First of class, HMAS Canberra (LHD01)
will arrive in Victoria next year where it
will be fitted out before being accepted
into service in 2014 with sister ship
HMAS Adelaide (LHD02) to follow
the year after.
“I’d like to encourage all MPs,
particularly members in their first term, to
get involved.”
Senator Feeney also encouraged ADF
personnel to take part in the exchange
in September, which allows them to
experience the workings of government by
joining a parliamentarian for a week.
“Just as it is our challenge to familiarise
ourselves with the Services, so too is the ADF
well-served by gaining a fuller understanding
of the Parliament, the processes of this place
and the democracy that, in the final analysis,
they defend,” he said.
Above: The hull of the first of the Royal Australian
Navy’s two new amphibious ships has been launched
in Spain, heralding a new era for Australia’s
amphibious capability.
NEWS
HMAS Melbourne home
from Middle East
Hundreds of family, friends and officials gathered
in Sydney on February 18 to welcome home the
230-strong ship’s company of HMAS Melbourne after
a six-month deployment in the Middle East.
In January the crew disrupted a pirate attack on the
British chemical tanker MV CPO China, which was one
of the 14 piracy distress calls the crew responded to
during their deployment.
“The men and women embarked on Melbourne made
a significant contribution to the safety of vessels
in maritime corridors during the deployment,” the
Commanding Officer, Commander Michael Harris, said.
HMAS Melbourne is an Adelaide Class Frigate
capable of air defence, anti-submarine warfare,
surveillance, interdiction and reconnaissance.
It is the first Adelaide Class Frigate deployed to
the Gulf following the FFG upgrade project which saw
new missile and torpedo systems installed as part of
extensive capability enhancements.
HMAS Melbourne was replaced on station by HMAS
Stuart, which took over in mid-January.
Board to provide expert
advice on Defence industry
An expert board of Defence industry representatives,
unions and government agencies has been established
to provide high level advice on Defence industry
programs to the Federal Government.
The Minister for Defence Materiel, Jason Clare, said
one of the first tasks of the Defence Industry Innovation
Board would be to work on guidelines for the new
Priority Industry Capability Innovation Program.
This $44.9 million program will provide funding,
particularly to small to medium sized enterprises,
to develop innovative products that contribute to
Priority Industry Capability goals.
The Board will be made up of representatives from
small and medium enterprises, industry associations,
Defence and the Department of Innovation, Industry,
Science and Research.
They include: Mr Michael Ward (Managing Director,
Raytheon Australia); Mr Rob Forbes (Chief Executive
Officer, CEA Technologies Pty Limited); Mr Graham
Priestnall (National President, Australian Industry and
Defence Network); Mr Ben White (Manager, Defence
Industry Unit, Australian Business Limited); Air Marshal
John Harvey AM (Chief Capability Development Group,
Department of Defence); Mr Harry Dunstall (General
Manager Commercial Group, DMO); Professor Robert Clark
(Chief Defence Scientist, DSTO); Ms Judith Zielke (Head of
Division - Enterprise Connect, Department of Innovation,
Industry, Science & Research); Mr David Oliver (National
Secretary, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union); and
representatives of the Australian Industry Group and the
Australian Council of Trade Unions.
Defence shoulders
arms for blood
challenge
By Able Seaman Melanie Schinkel
R
esults for the 2010 Defence Force Blood Donation Challenge
are in, with 405 Defence Public Service employees willingly
presenting their arms for a needle prick to help save 6309 lives.
Air Force defended its 2009 title, winning the 2010 challenge with a total
of 779 donations.
Next was Navy with 491 donations followed by Army with 428 donations.
Overall, Defence made 2103 donations in the 2010 challenge, smashing
2009’s total by 838 donations.
Spanning 13 weeks, the 2010 Defence Force Blood Donation Challenge
was launched in September to encourage as many Defence personnel as
possible to donate blood to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service (ARCBS).
The Defence Blood Drive co-ordinator, Gary Schulz, said most of the
donations were tallied in ARCBS centres or via the Club Red website. He said
this year there would be further emphasis on participants registering their
donations online to enable the ARCBS to accurately track the number of
donations from each Service.
“Unfortunately, not everybody registered their donation, so there could’ve
been many more donations that we were unable to track,” Mr Schulz said.
“I think Defence personnel are driven to donate because they see it as
another way to serve their country on a local level. They also understand
the importance of blood products when it comes to saving lives during
operations.”
The ARCBS shares an important relationship with Defence, supplying
almost 400 units of blood annually to Australian personnel on operations
in East Timor and Solomon Islands.
The ADF Surgeon General and Commander Joint Health, Major General Paul
Alexander, said the resuscitation, damage control and surgery undertaken in
the field relied heavily on blood products.
“We use a range of blood products including pack-cells, fresh frozen plasma
and whole blood platelets,” MAJGEN Alexander said.
“Not only do we use these products during operations overseas but also
here in Australia to aid Defence members in recovering from severe illnesses,
infections, injuries and chemotherapy.”
He said Defence had partnered with the ARCBS to conduct further research
on the use of frozen blood products.
“Defence is looking at increasing the range of ARCBS products it uses,
particularly frozen products to increase flexibility during exercises and
operations.
“I’d like to personally thank all the individuals who donated last year
and encourage everyone to get on board for the challenge again this year.”
Only three per cent of Australians regularly donate blood. The ARCBS
needs about 27,000 donations a week to ensure there is enough blood for
patients in need.
If you are aged 16-70 and feel healthy you may be eligible to donate blood.
To make an appointment, call 13 14 95 or visit donateblood.com.au.
WWW.DEFENCE.GOV.AU/DEFENCEMAGAZINE
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regional NEWS
their personal equipment, but we’re
unpacking unit equipment as well, we’re
opening drawers and cupboards and
putting things where they need to be.”
For the commanding officer, the move
south will focus his attention on being
authorised to create a support company
and its specialist capabilities, which
also means that his soldiers get the full
infantry battalion experience.
Bound for
South Australia
7RAR settles in to new home
By Michael Weaver
“In Darwin, the battalion was capped
at 500 soldiers, as there simply wasn’t
anymore room to grow.
“Being in Adelaide will create a lot
more promotion opportunities for the
soldiers as well, which is great for them
and great for Army because Army gets
a far more capable and operationally
deployable infantry battalion with all the
capabilities it’s supposed to have,”
LTCOL Garraway said.
The ever-predictable Northern Territory
wet season has hampered the training
routine for 7RAR, with training facilities
closed for much of the year.
LTCOL Garraway said training areas
didn’t open until August last year after
one of the longest wet seasons in recent
memory.
Furthermore, the humidity also restricts
the intensity of training that can be
achieved.
“South Australia offers the opportunity
to train 12 months of the year.
O
Top: Private Glenn Bargeus of 7RAR operates the Manitou forklift to help set up the regiment at RAAF Base Edinburgh.
Above: 7RAR’s Private Adam Warland tackles a track change on an Armed Recovery Vehicle shortly after the move to RAAF Base Edinburgh.
ne of the most common questions
being asked by soldiers of the
Army’s 7th Battalion The Royal
Australian Regiment (7RAR) is “where does
this go?”
The 600 soldiers have been unpacking
and settling into their new home at
Adelaide in a move that will significantly
enhance their capability and lifestyle.
Having traded the tropical heat of Darwin
and a split with the 5th/7th Battalion, the
relocation to Adelaide is a major part of the
Army’s Enhanced Land Force initiative and
provides considerable benefits for the city
and its new inhabitants.
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The Commanding Officer of 7RAR,
Lieutenant Colonel Mick Garraway, said
January 31 marked the first day of work
for the mechanised infantry battalion.
The hull blocks for Navy’s new Air
Warfare Destroyers are also being
partially built at the Osborne shipyard in
South Australia.
“For all intent and purpose, we’ve
moved everyone and pretty much
everything and started work and put
things where they need to be.
For the Army, however, the benefits
are numerous with the plan always
having been to raise 7RAR in Darwin and
then relocate to Adelaide.
“There certainly wasn’t anything formal
about it – we just came to work and got
on with the task,” LTCOL Garraway said.
The move adds a significant Army
presence to Adelaide, which has largely
been home to the Air Force at RAAF Base
Edinburgh.
“Adelaide was identified as a location
for a mechanised infantry battalion
some years ago, and when the Enhanced
Land Force initiative was signed off, the
decision was to split the old 5/7RAR and
re-raise 7RAR,” LTCOL Garraway said.
“All of the soldiers’ removals have
arrived, so they’re not only unpacking
“Obviously it’s a dry state so some
of our training areas are desert
areas, so they have their own unique
environmental considerations that we
need to take into account, but it’s far
more manageable and we can spread our
training throughout the year and take a
far more progressive approach.”
Added incentives such as purpose-built
facilities, more affordable housing and
Adelaide’s diverse cultural events means
there are many benefits for the soldiers
of 7RAR.
“And South Australia is much more
centrally located for soldiers to fly home
for the weekend if they want to,”
LTCOL Garraway said.
Above: The Commanding Officer of 7th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Michael
Garraway, in front of their newly-constructed headquarters building at RAAF Base Edinburgh.
Photos: Leading Aircraftman Brenton Kwaterski
Being posted to the
Top End?
feature the Super Hornet, Wedgetail and
Globemaster.
NORTHERN TERRITORY – When you are
posted to a new location for the first
time, finding information about your new
home is important.
It is a fitting tribute to the Royal
Australian Air Force, which will celebrate
its 90th birthday on March 31.
The Northern Territory Government has
created DVDs called Life in Darwin and
Life in Katherine for Defence personnel
and their families who have been posted,
or are considering a posting, to the
Northern Territory.
The DVDs include testimonials from
Defence personnel residing in the
Northern Territory, on their experiences
of life including the weather, shopping,
schools, sports and more.
The DVDs also cover areas such as
housing, schools, health services,
recreation and sporting activities, and
cultural aspects.
Activities during 2011 will focus on
remembering the past, and looking to
the future with the theme tradition,
innovation, and evolution.
New home for Victor
Harbour Army Cadets
SOUTH AUSTRALIA – Victor Harbour’s
423 Army Cadet Unit (ACU) has relocated
to a new facility at Hindmarsh Valley near
Victor Harbour.
It includes a larger space for cadet
activities, such as ceremonial drill,
navigation, first aid and field craft.
To find out more and to get your
free copy of the Northern Territory
Government’s Life in Darwin or Life in
Katherine DVDs, contact the Defence
Support Division on (08) 8999 7520 or
email [email protected].
The Officer Administering Command
at 423 ACU, Warrant Officer Class Two
Ron Teusner, said the unit was looking
at recruiting more cadets and taking on
additional adult cadet staff to help with
the operations.
RAAF puts stamp on
90th birthday
“Throughout the coming year we will
continue to develop lessons and activities
that will benefit the cadets’ enjoyment
and their youth development,”
WO2 Teusner said.
QUEENSLAND – The Royal Australian Air
Force, in partnership with Australia Post,
launched a new commemorative stamp
collection at RAAF Base Amberley on
February 18.
The collection celebrates Air Force
aviation, with recognition of the recent
retirement of the F-111s.
Other stamps in the collection will
Youths aged from 12½ are eligible to
apply for enrolment into the Australian
Army Cadets (AAC).
Once enrolled, they may remain as a
cadet until the end of the year in which
they turn 18.
WWW.DEFENCE.GOV.AU/DEFENCEMAGAZINE
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11
world news
world news
Change of command
Middle East – Former Commander of
Australian Defence Force personnel in the
Middle East, Major General John Cantwell,
has handed responsibility to Major General
Angus Campbell after completing his
12-month appointment.
More than 500 ADF personnel watched
the formal transition of command in
January during a ceremony at the Al Minhad
Air Base attended by Australian embassy
officials and representatives of the United
Arab Emirates Federal Government.
“I will retain lasting memories of the
servicemen and women whom I have
met, the efforts they made, the lives that
were lost and the wounds that many have
suffered,” MAJGEN Cantwell said.
“I have felt deep grief with every one
of the 10 deaths and spent time at the
bedside of many of the 64 wounded during
my time as Commander.
“I will never forget the sacrifice and
courage of our fallen, nor the fortitude of
their families and those of the wounded.”
Explosives found
Late night call for help
East Timor – The Australian-led
International Stabilisation Force (ISF)
carried out emergency repairs to several
roads, culverts, drains and a school in Dili
after receiving a late night request from
East Timor’s President, Jose Ramos-Horta.
Joint effort dents insurgents
Above: Soldiers from the 4th Brigade, Afghan National Army and their Australian mentors and weapons
experts inspect a cache find on return to Patrol Base Samad. Photos: Corporal Christopher Dickson
A
fghan National Army soldiers
and their Australian mentors have
removed significant quantities of
explosives, ordnance and weapons from
insurgents located within the Baluchi
Valley area of Uruzgan Province during
the last week of January.
This included an insurgent bombmaking facility, which was discovered
on January 25 and contained more
than 400kg of explosives and 20 preprepared improvised explosive devices
(IEDs). Numerous smaller cache finds also
removed insurgent weapons and bombs
from the area.
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The Mentoring Team Leader, Lieutenant
Alex Davidson, believed the cache finds
had come at a pivotal time, as the Afghan
winter gave way to the warmer ‘fighting
season’.
“We also located six rocket-propelled
grenades, a mortar, rocket-propelled
grenade motors, detonator cords and
electrical IED components.
This valley was historically an area of
significant insurgent activity and the
discovery of the IED-making facility was
aided by the increased local influence
provided by the new base.
“All of these are components for IEDs
so we’ve hit them [the insurgents] where
it hurts,” Lieutenant Davidson said.
Another mission conducted by the
ANA and their Australian partners during
the final week of January uncovered
significant quantities of aluminium
powder, a key component used in the
production of explosives.
The operations were conducted in
the vicinity of the newly established
Patrol Base Samad in the Baluchi Valley.
Other recent cache finds included
significant quantities of rockets, munitions
and weapon systems.
Several days of heavy rain caused minor
flooding and landslides in the Dili area,
putting a number of roads, schools and
buildings at risk of serious damage.
The ISF Commander, Colonel Mick
Reilly, received the call on February 6
and realised the situation demanded
immediate action.
“Dili is closely surrounded by
mountains, so during the wet season they
act like funnels, channelling the water
down onto the city below,” he said.
After attending a briefing at the
Presidential Palace, COL Reilly and an ISF
engineering team immediately undertook
an evaluation of the areas most in need
of assistance.
By 2.30am, having made the onsite
evaluation with the Prime Minister of East
Timor, Xanana Gusmão, COL Reilly advised
the Prime Minister that ISF possessed the
capability to make the repairs and would
begin work within hours.
At 8am a team of more than 30 Anzac
team members and the Dili Fire Brigade
– using a combination of ‘elbow grease’
and heavy earth-moving equipment – had
commenced work.
Their tasks primarily consisted of
removing silt and debris which had
completely blocked drainage pipes,
covered a major section of road and
threatened to flood a school.
Above: Major Mohammad Dieu (2nd Kandak, 4th
Brigade, Afghan National Army) registers a cache find
at Patrol Base Samad, Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan.
The Commander of Joint Task Force
633, Major-General Angus Campbell, said
these latest finds not only disrupted
the efforts of the insurgents, but also
indicated the growing capabilities of the
Afghan National Security Force.
“The Afghan National Army and their
Australian mentors have been able to take
the information provided to them by local
sources and develop a targeted operation
that will certainly affect future insurgent
activities,” MAJGEN Campbell said.
Above: Prime Minister of the Republic of Timor-Leste Xanana Gusmão speaks with Army Lieutenant Gary Breen
about the flood clean-up operation undertaken by Australian and New Zealand personnel in Dili. Photo: Leading
Aircraftman Leigh Cameron
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13
SNAPSHOT
SNAPSHOT
Corporal Mark Donaldson VC congratulates Corporal Benjamin Roberts-Smith VC, MG on
receiving his Victoria Cross. An Investiture Ceremony was held at Campbell Barracks, Swanbourne,
to award a Victoria Cross on January 23. Photo: Corporal Chris Moore
Forty-three high school graduates from Melbourne and regional Victoria have commenced their
careers as officers in the Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force. The young men and
women were appointed as Officer Cadets of the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA),
at a ceremony held at Victoria Barracks Melbourne, on January 21. Photo: David Grant
The organiser of the 87 Squadron Headquarters cup cake fundraiser, Flight Sergeant Suzanne
Harvey, holds up a collection box. The competition raised awareness and money for the Cancer
Council ‘Relay for Life’. Photo: Leading Aircraftman Brenton Kwaterski
Captain Christopher Bates identifies his target during a weapons practice on the 100m range at
Tarin Kot, Afghanistan. Captain Bates runs the Quarter Master’s Store for the 1st Mentoring and
Reconstruction Task Force. Photo: Corporal Ricky Fuller
(L – R) Corporal Malcolm Fawcett, Lance Corporal Fiona Wilkins and Corporal Deborah Cotton
perform during a Twilight Concert at Simpson Barracks in Melbourne.
Photo: Lance Corporal Mark (Doc) Doran
More than 40 crews from Surf Life Saving Clubs across Victoria competed at Lorne Beach, Victoria
in the 2010-11 NAVY Australian Surf Rowers League Series, consisting of 24 events around
Australia from October 2010 to February 2011. Photo: ABIS Andrew Black
The 1st Combat Engineer Regiment Honour Guard and dignitaries line the tarmac as Corporal Richard Atkinson is brought from the ramp of the RAAF C-17 aircraft. CPL Atkinson,
killed in action in Afghanistan on February 2, was formally returned to his family in a moving Ramp Ceremony at RAAF Base Darwin. Photo: Sergeant William Guthrie
The Guard ‘presents’ with blank cartridges on the flight deck of HMAS Parramatta during a Ceremonial Sunset for the Royal Australian Navy
Reception for Tasmania Navy Week while alongside in Hobart. Tasmania Navy Week is celebrated from February 11 to 15. Photo: Able Seaman Dove Smithett
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15
secretary’s column
2011: the
challenges
ahead
By Dr Ian J Watt
The beginning of the year often provides an opportunity
for contemplation and anticipation – what lies in the
year ahead?
T
wo months into the year and
Australians have witnessed
and experienced several very
unfortunate events: serious flooding in
Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales
and Western Australia; bushfires in several
parts of the country; a category five
cyclone hitting north-east Queensland;
and the tragic loss of two of our soldiers
in Afghanistan.
And the Australian Defence Force has
readily responded to each situation with
the skill and determination that we have
come to expect.
These kinds of events are representative
of the unpredictable and very diverse
environment in which Defence operates.
May I say that it is a testament to the
whole of the Defence organisation that the
ADF is able to respond so quickly to these
kinds of circumstances and, in times such
as these, the nation witnesses our worldclass Defence Force in action.
The ADF, through its dangerous and
challenging work, regularly achieves public
recognition, as it should. However, the
work that goes on behind the scenes,
from both uniformed and non-uniformed
members across Defence, often goes
unseen. I would like everyone in this
organisation to feel proud that the work we
do, either directly or indirectly, supports
and enables our Defence Force.
As we have seen, a lot of things can
change the course of a year. So, in Defence
we need to be able to manage that element
of uncertainty and unpredictability.
However, as a government department,
there are several things we can anticipate
and know will happen.
There will be budgetary processes,
considerations and consequences. The
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Expenditure Review Committee will
meet soon to consider portfolio budget
submissions, ahead of Budget Cabinet in
mid-April, and in the lead-up to Budget
night in early May.
There is the Senate Standing Committee
on Defence, or Estimates, which convenes
three times during the year. The Estimates
process is fundamental to our way of
government; it is essential that, as the
spender of public funds, the Government
and its agencies, such as the Department
of Defence, are seen to be transparent and
accountable.
I have said this before but it is worth
repeating at the beginning of the new year;
to effectively support the Government of
the day, accountability is a value that must
be embedded in our organisational culture.
It is fundamental to building productive
working environments, and staff at all
levels must be aware of this. We have more
to do in this area.
While some accountability and
governance-related issues are addressed as
part of specific Strategic Reform Program
streams, accountability also needs to
be considered from a whole-of-Defence
perspective. The Chief of the Defence Force
and I are determined that Defence become
more transparent and accountable in the
management of Defence business.
Last year, CDF and I commissioned The
Review of the Defence Accountability
Framework, led by Dr Rufus Black, and
supported by a small team in Defence.
The review was presented to CDF and me
in late January 2011 and presented and
discussed with the Minister for Defence in
mid-February 2011.
Once considerations have been finalised
and recommendations implemented, we
will see major changes to decision-making,
performance management, personal
accountability and skill sets in key areas
of Defence.
The associated cultural changes will not
be easy and will not happen overnight,
but we are committed to improving
accountability for the long term so we can
better serve the Government, the Australian
public, and our people on the front line.
Defence simply can not achieve what it
needs to without improving accountability
across the organisation. This applies
not just to the SRP, but to many of our
activities.
And speaking of SRP, a key focus this
year will be on keeping to a schedule of
cost reductions. The SRP is scheduled
to deliver another $1016 million in cost
reductions, which will be re-invested in
Force 2030. More than $380 million will
also be invested in reform activities to help
us achieve this result.
This will be demanding, but nonetheless
achievable. We will also continue to provide
detailed and targeted information about
the SRP by way of further briefings, visits,
workshops and other methods because it
is imperative for staff to get on board with
the SRP and to genuinely understand it.
While the necessary activities for future
cost reductions are already underway, and
the past year has provided a very firm
foundation for the changes ahead, we need
to continue to move away from a ‘businessas-usual’ approach to become more
innovative and embed cost-consciousness
in everything we do.
It is clear that 2011 will be a very busy,
challenging year, however I have every
confidence in the people of Defence that
we can rise to the challenge.
chief of the defence force’s column
BUSY – and it’s
only the beginning
By Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston
I am extremely proud of how quickly we were able to
respond and what our people – some of whom were
themselves affected by these disasters – were able to achieve.
T
he beginning of 2011 has already
been a very busy period for the men
and women of Defence.
In addition to supporting and enabling
the 3300 ADF men and women we have
deployed to 12 operating locations around
the world, during the past two months we
have also supported a number of response
and recovery operations in Queensland,
Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern
Territory following a series of natural
disasters.
This was the largest ADF response to a
civil emergency ever undertaken. All told,
we were able to deploy the equivalent of
an entire joint brigade group of about 3500
people on two operations, as well as other
Defence Assistance to the Civil Community
tasks, at short notice and during a period
when our people are normally stood-down
for the Christmas/New Year period to spend
time with their families.
Our people undertook a range of diverse
tasks. They went door-to-door to deliver
warnings and advice; built sandbag levies;
evacuated residents; conducted aerial
reconnaissance; assisted with clean-up;
re-built critical infrastructure; cleared roads;
delivered emergency food, water and other
cargo such as laptops, mattresses, tents and
stretchers; surveyed waterways; re-directed
creeks; conducted damage assessments; and
assisted with search and rescue operations.
I am extremely proud of how quickly we
were able to respond and what our people –
some of whom were themselves affected by
these disasters – were able to achieve.
There can be no doubt the actions of
ADF men and women saved lives. To all
these people, thank you. Your actions,
conduct and professionalism have rightly
earned you much admiration from your
fellow Australians, especially those who
benefited from your immediate and
compassionate support.
Of course, with our significant ADF
presence in affected areas, I know that
many ADF families were directly impacted.
To those affected, I want you to
ensure you are accessing all the support
mechanisms we have in place to assist you.
Information can be found at http://www.
defence.gov.au/dco/ or through your unit.
Please make use of the services available to
you. Your safety and wellbeing – and that
of your family – is very important to me and
the Service chiefs.
Of course, our response hasn’t just been
here at home. In late February, following
the devastating earthquake in New Zealand,
the ADF provided strategic airlift of
emergency services urban search and rescue
personnel and equipment to Christchurch.
We were able to respond very quickly to this
disaster, and we had two C-130s and a C-17
on the ground in Christchurch only 24 hours
after the earthquake.
I was also very proud in late January as
I watched the Governor-General present
Corporal Benjamin Roberts-Smith with
the Victoria Cross for Australia “for the
most conspicuous gallantry in action in
circumstances of extreme peril as a Patrol
Second-in-Command, Special Operations
Task Group on Operation SLIPPER on the
11th of June 2010”.
On that day, in the most dangerous and
demanding of situations – when his patrol
was outnumbered and his life and the lives
of his mates were under imminent threat –
Corporal Roberts-Smith cast aside concern
for his own safety and placed the lives of
his mates above his own. I greatly respect
the extreme valour shown by Corporal
Roberts-Smith. Ben has brought great credit
to himself and the Australian Defence Force.
Finally, the early part of 2011 also
brought with it some disappointment
when I received Part One of the report of
the HMAS Success Commission of Inquiry.
This report concerns alleged incidents of
unacceptable behaviour involving members
of the crew of HMAS Success between March
and May 2009.
I was very disturbed by the content of
the report and the serious questions of
individual accountability and cultural issues
that were identified.
It was found, among many other
problems, that there was a break-down
of discipline, many instances of drunken
and out-of-control shore leave behaviour,
inappropriate conduct toward females and,
among one sub-section, a culture of silence
and mutual protection.
The Chief of Navy and I are bitterly
disappointed with the behaviour of a
number of individuals, as well as the serious
problems that have been raised regarding
leadership, accountability and failures
within the chain of command.
Therefore, I have fully accepted the
findings, recommendations and conclusions
of Part One of the report.
I have established a specialist HMAS
Success implementation team headed by
Rear Admiral Allan Du Toit to implement
the actions we intend to take and I have
directed him to report regularly to me
on progress. I will accept nothing less
than a fully resourced, fully supported
and energised approach to implementing
these recommendations.
I want it to be clear that the
unacceptable behaviour involving some
members of the crew of HMAS Success
between March and May 2009 is not what
I expect from the men and women of
the ADF.
However, I stress that the actions of
certain individuals on this deployment
should not tarnish the reputation of the
Navy nor the entire ship’s company of HMAS
Success, now and into the future. The vast
majority of our Naval officers and sailors are
dedicated, professional and serve our nation
with distinction.
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17
spotlight on reform
Managing
The Defence Estate
W
e all work on it, some live
on it and the ADF relies on
it, so how will the Defence
estate be managed during and after the
Strategic Reform Program (SRP)?
The vision for the Defence Estate
is a strategically aligned, affordable,
sustainable estate that supports
capability.
Defence Support Group (DSG) manages
one of the largest property portfolios
in Australia: more than 370 owned
properties, three million hectares of
land, 110 training areas and ranges,
about 25,000 buildings, 6000 other
structures, 150,000 items of fixed plant
and equipment, 350 leased properties
in Australia and 220 leased properties
overseas.
The estate reform stream has a significant
role to play in ensuring the estate is
managed efficiently and will appropriately
support capability into the future.
As a non-savings stream of the SRP,
the focus of estate reform is improved
governance, planning and delivery
processes.
While these initiatives will not
provide savings for Defence in the short
term, they will give decision-makers a
more comprehensive view of the estate
and the pressures Defence faces in
managing the estate.
Reform initiatives will ensure strategic
level oversight of estate investment. In
turn, this will improve affordability and
should see improvements in the condition
of our working and living environments.
To date, major reforms have addressed
three key areas:
Strategic oversight
of Estate decisions
> The Defence Estate Performance and
Investment Committee (DEPIC) was
established in August 2010 and meets
bi-annually to consider investment
planning, risks, and overall estate
performance. It is chaired by Deputy
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DEFENCE MAGAZINE
Secretary Defence Support and has 2
Star/SES Band 2 representatives from
each group and service. It enables senior
Defence management to understand
better key estate investment drivers and
provide guidance to ensure whole-ofDefence outcomes are achieved.
> The Defence Estate Committee, which
focuses on the scope and budget of
individual infrastructure projects,
reports to the DEPIC. This mirrors
the committee structure for capability
development and provides the Defence
Capability and Investment Committee
with visibility of both capability and
estate investment priorities.
requirements, base condition
and constraints to enable better
prioritisation of funding for bases.
Improved links with
Defence Capability
Plan
> Noting the importance of the estate
and training areas to capability, DSG
has also embedded an ‘infrastructure
capability coordination’ area within
Capability Development Group (CDG).
This is assisting CDG staff to assess and
cost facilities for new equipment and
ensure that early capability planning
adequately addresses estate, training
area and environmental compliance
requirements. In turn this will ensure
As a non-savings stream of the SRP,
the focus of estate reform is improved
governance, planning and delivery processes.
Coordinated
investment
programming
> All estate investment is now centrally
managed through the Defence Estate
Investment Plan (DEIP). The DEIP is a
20-year plan that allows projects from
the major capital facilities program,
estate maintenance and leasing
programs as well as Defence Capability
Plan facilities, to be considered
together, to ensure available funding is
used to best effect.
> This approach has already achieved
savings in base redevelopments and
maintenance for ADFA, RAAF Base East
Sale and Garden Island East where
overlapping works were delivered in a
more streamlined way.
> The DEIP will be informed by base
development plans for each major
base, which will identify capability
better support to future capability and
better value-for-money outcomes.
DSG is also focused on delivering
consolidated and efficient facilities
and infrastructure to support other SRP
streams that depend on major changes
to the estate, such as the Logistics,
Information Communication Technology
(ICT) and Non-Equipment Procurement
(NEP) reform streams.
These reforms have significant upfront capital costs and require DSG to
undertake thorough development and
approval processes before they can be
delivered. This action is on track to
facilitate flow-on savings through the
respective streams.
As is the case across the SRP,
consultation is the key to delivering
major business reform. DSG is
committed to open, collaborative,
consultation across Defence to ensure
cost-effective estate outcomes.
DEFENCE SUPPORT GROUP
Construction steams ahead at RAAF Base Tindal
Above: Construction works at RAAF Base Tindal are expected to be complete by May.
W
ork is nearing completion
on two major infrastructure
projects at RAAF Base Tindal
in the Northern Territory: RAAF Base
Tindal Redevelopment Stage 5 and
facilities for the new Airborne Early
Warning and Control Aircraft (AEW&C).
> an additional electrical generator for the
RAAF Base Tindal, located around 330
kilometres south east of Darwin and 15
kilometres south east of Katherine, is
home to No.75 Squadron (75SQN) that is
equipped with F/A-18 Hornets.
In conjunction with Delamere Range
Facility, some 150 kilometres to the southwest, it is used extensively by deployed
RAAF elements. Through bilateral Defence
agreements, RAAF Base Tindal is also
used by a number of overseas forces for
exercises. No.322 Expeditionary Combat
Support Squadron (322ECSS) essentially
provides the combat support functions for
units using the base.
> upgrades to all mess kitchens, and
> provision of mains water supply to
RAAF Base Tindal
redevelopment stage 5
Most of the existing base facilities were
constructed in the 1980s and were not
designed to support current activity levels.
Some 20 years after their construction,
many of the facilities were in need of
extensions and refurbishment and did not
comply with current standards.
The scope of works for the redevelopment
project includes:
> new tanker maintenance and liquid dry
breathing oxygen facilities
> a new in-flight catering facility
> security upgrades
central emergency power station
> extensions to, and refurbishment of,
the aircraft maintenance annexes, fire
station, passenger terminal and the
322ECSS warehouse
the 75SQN ordnance loading aprons to
service compliant emergency showers
and eyewashes, cold drinking water,
fire hydrants and toilet facilities.
Supporting local
industry capability
These two infrastructure projects,
managed by Defence Support Group’s
Infrastructure Division, represent a
combined capital investment of $122.9
million: $58.7 million for the redevelopment
and $64.2 million for the AEW&C aircraft
facilities.
Both projects are being delivered by
a single managing contractor, Leighton
Contractors.
Airborne
Early Warning
and Control Aircraft
It is the first time this form of contract
has been used by Defence in the Northern
Territory.
The Airborne Early Warning and Control
(AEW&C) aircraft are operated by No.2
Squadron which is home-based at RAAF
Base Williamtown. The AEW&C project
provides facilities which will enable 2SQN
to use RAAF Base Tindal as a forward
operating base for exercises, training and
contingency operations.
It also provides significant opportunities
for local industry through packaging of
works to meet industry capacity locally.
The AEW&C project includes:
> new taxiways and parking aprons
> hydrant refuelling to the aprons, and
> dedicated command, control and
maintenance facilities.
The project also includes two aircraft
shelters (one enclosed and one open) which
have been specifically designed for the AEW&C
aircraft based on the 737 BBJ airframe, but
with larger wings and heavier undercarriage.
This delivery system provides significant
benefits to Defence and the base in terms of
programming and coordination of the works.
Prior to construction, significant effort
was placed on consultation with Territory
industry, including Katherine-based
contractors.
A large number of sub-contracts were
awarded to local businesses, including the
major civil works package, benefitting the
local Katherine economy.
Facilities are being progressively
handed over for use and all construction
is expected to be complete by May
this year.
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“We don’t posture ourselves specifically to respond to natural disasters, but then again,
our general level of readiness and our agility allows us to respond quickly to any requests,”
cover story: the calm after a storm
– The Head of Military Strategic Commitments, Air Vice Marshal Kevin Paule
The
CALM after a STORM
Defence at the frontline to rebuild and recover
By Michael Weaver and Hugh McKenzie
again, our general level of readiness and
our agility allows us to respond quickly to
any requests,” AVM Paule said.
A request for Defence assistance
generally comes when a state or territory
can no longer manage the situation.
The Commonwealth assesses the range
of assets at its disposal – one of those
being Defence – with the specifics of
the request being handled by Emergency
Management Australia (EMA).
“It’s a combination of the type of
disaster that we are facing and the nature
of the request. In many cases, the nature
of the request from the state up through
EMA will be reasonably specific,” AVM
Paule said.
“The type of response you invariably
see is muscle-work on the ground. In the
case of the Queensland disaster relief,
we saw a large amount of manpower
employed for sand-bagging, evacuation,
search and rescue to assist people clean
up and, after the disaster recovery phase,
in engineering inspections of bridges and
culverts for example.
He said large-scale disaster relief
operations invariably led to a request for
air transport.
Soldiers and engineers clear the train line that runs through Grantham during Operation Queensland Flood Assist.
Photo: Petty Officer Damian Pawlenko
I
n the midst of Defence’s response to
Cyclone Larry in March 2006, soldiers
from the 2nd Battalion The Royal
Australian Regiment had been tasked to
reach a small community that had been
cut off, only to find much tension and
stress among the locals.
The negativity soon evaporated after
some basic infrastructure had been provided,
but as Private Corey Lindsay said at the
time, “A lot was achieved by reassurance”.
The men and women of Defence
again provided that same reassurance
to disaster-hit communities when they
were deployed to rescue, rebuild and help
communities recover in their time of need
following floods in Queensland, Victoria
and Western Australia and Cyclone Yasi in
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DEFENCE MAGAZINE
north Queensland.
To ensure ADF assets are deployed
to the right place at the right time is a
reality that brings many areas of Defence
together, with the Military Strategic
Commitments (MSC) Division initially
taking the lead in coordinating Defence’s
role in a whole-of-government response.
The head of MSC, Air Vice-Marshal
Kevin Paule, told Defence Magazine that
the Defence response to the disasters in
Queensland quickly became Operations
Queensland Flood Assist and Yasi Assist,
which saw more than 3000 personnel
deployed, along with a range of aviation
assets and specialist skill sets.
“We don’t posture ourselves specifically
to respond to natural disasters, but then
“Another request was for underwater
and debris clearance of the Brisbane River
and Morton Bay using some of Navy’s
hydrographic ships during the flood
crisis.”
For about 180 hospital patients and
staff in Cairns, the Air Force provided
an aero-medical evacuation capability
at particularly short notice to get them
out of harm’s way to Brisbane ahead of
Cyclone Yasi.
“That was quite a specific request
because the states knew Defence has
aero-medical evacuation capabilities that
can be brought to a task at particularly
short notice, even if they weren’t on
standby for the specific event,” AVM Paule
said.
“The type of asset we might make
available is largely dependent upon the
particular type of crisis, but as we have
expereinced from previous operations,
we know what type of asset is likely to
be required.”
Lessons from previous natural disasters
play a significant part in the response
effort, and this was something the
commander of Joint Task Force 664,
Brigadier Stuart Smith, was able to utilise
for Yasi Assist.
One of the regional mayors told BRIG
Smith that the Yasi response after two
days was at the same point that Cyclone
Larry was after seven.
BRIG Smith said the first priority was
very strong and wide liaison by pushing
people out to get involved with all
the government and non-government
agencies, collect information and confirm
priorities.
“You need to have a very clear
understanding of what an end-state is
and what the conditions are for that endstate otherwise you find yourself dwelling
on the mission,” BRIG Smith said.
“We set about measuring everything like
how many kilometres of road we’d cleared,
how many tonnes of food supplies we’d
delivered, how many ration packs we’d
sent to evacuation centres, how many
people we’d evacuated from hospitals.”
He said it was important to
communicate upwards and manage
expectations downwards.
“Many soldiers had left their own
damaged homes to go forward and I had
to manage their expectations particularly
about how long they’d be away on the
operation.”
the attitude of everybody within the task
force.
“I’ve had the most amazing feedback
from the Premier all the way down to
people we assisted who’ve written and
thanked me for the wonderful people
who helped them strip out their house
and get their lives back together,” BRIG
McLachlan said.
Many other agencies are involved,
with MSC primarily an agency for
interdepartmental engagement and advice
to the Chief of the Defence Force and
Secretary.
AVM Paule said MSC’s primary level
of interaction was with the Australian
Government Crisis Committee (AGCC),
consulting with all the relevant agencies
and bringing both information and
requests back to Defence for CDF,
Secretary and the Strategic Command
Group.
For Cyclone Yasi, Defence was one of
almost 20 Federal Government agencies
that responded to the crisis.
Within Defence, Joint Operations
Command, the Defence Community
Organisation and Joint Operational
Support Staff within Defence Support
Group played significant parts.
“I think operations ran very smoothly
and from all of the commentary I’ve
heard, the Queensland Premier’s
Department, the Premier and ministers
that visited have spoken very highly of
Defence’s ability to respond to the crisis,
and the support Defence was able to
provide on the ground,” AVM Paule said.
“One of the things that works is quickly
standing up a joint task force so you’ve
got a commander and headquaters that
can be located close to the agencies he
needs to support and consult with.”
It is also no surprise that senior
military officers have been appointed
by state or federal governments to lead
reconstruction task forces well after the
initial response is complete.
In the same vein that General (rtd)
Peter Cosgrove led a task force to get
north Queensland back on its feet after
Cyclone Larry, Major General Mick Slater
has been appointed by the Queensland
Government to lead the rebuilding phase
following the floods.
“Military officers of the seniority
that have been appointed to lead these
task forces have many, many years of
experience and they’ve been exposed to
a robust manning process, know how to
issue instructions and coordinate effort,”
AVM Paule said.
“The military mind knows who to
contact and it’s just from being in a
senior position that culminates in having
all the attributes to do a good job.”
Similar stories emerged from Operation
Queensland Flood Assist, which left an
enduring imprint on BRIG Paul McLachlan,
who commanded Joint Task Force 637,
after taking over from Colonel Luke Foster.
“The biggest part of it was the scale
and just how many people had been
affected and that’s where the ADF
response was very valuable to other
agencies because we’re configured to
understand what is happening on the
ground,” BRIG McLachlan said.
“We were able to provide specialist
capabilities which helped move the
recovery on much faster than a lot of
people thought possible.
He said his “enduring faith in the
quality of our people” was justified by
Aviation maintainers from 817 Squadron dash inside the hangar as heavy rain sets in at Roma airport during
Operation Queensland Flood Assist. Photo: Petty Officer Damian Pawlenko
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21
cover story
cover story
Defence leads the way
on road to recovery By Hugh McKenzie and Michael Weaver
The resilience of Australians is always tested in the aftermath of a natural disaster, and historically, the
Australian Defence Force has played a significant part in rescue and reconstruction efforts. Here, we look at
the approaches to natural disasters, starting with Cyclone Tracy in 1974 and moving through to this year
when two of Australia’s biggest natural disasters hit Queensland.
Cyclone Tracy – 1974
M
ajor General Alan Stretton
recalls flying into cyclonedevastated Darwin and making
an emergency landing on a runway lit by
car headlights and kerosene flares.
Ninety per cent of the city had been
destroyed by Cyclone Tracy in 1974 and
MAJGEN Stretton thought it looked as
though it had been hit by a nuclear bomb.
People were coming out of the ruins
having essentially rescued themselves.
There was very little organisation, no
communications, no reticulated water,
no sewerage, no television and no radio.
With a population of 45,000 and no
water or sewerage, the risk of disease was
enormous and to avoid it the population
had to be reduced.
MAJGEN Stretton took the decision to
evacuate 35,000, leaving 10,000 as the
nucleus of a new Darwin.
The Australian Defence Force gave its
best support, with Army supplying all the
stores requested and the Air Force flying
people out and stores in. The Navy also
arrived with a fleet to assist the citizens
of Darwin.
Operation Sumatra Assist – 2004/5
Following both the 2004 Boxing
Day Tsunami and the March 2005
earthquake, the Department of Defence
was an important part of the Australian
Government’s national humanitarian relief
effort to Indonesia.
Defence’s support for the tsunami relief
effort was known as Operation Sumatra
Assist. The earthquake relief effort
was dubbed Operation Sumatra Assist
Phase Two.
Sadly, nine ADF members lost their
lives in a tragic helicopter accident on
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DEFENCE MAGAZINE
April 2, 2005, during Operation Sumatra
Assist Phase Two.
Major General Dave Chalmers took
command of Operation Sumatra Assist to
support Banda Aceh and Meulaboh, where
the major challenge was simply managing
the crowd of volunteers, aid organisations
and military forces.
MAJGEN Chalmers said the mission of
Combined Joint Task Force 629 was to
provide emergency relief, save lives and
reduce threats to survivors and to enhance
Australia’s relationship with Indonesia by
respecting its sovereignty and cultural
sensitivities.
A 120-strong Anzac Hospital based
on the First Health Support Battalion,
including 30 New Zealand medical
personnel, worked with Germans,
Singaporeans and Indonesians. It provided
surgical capacity of eight operations a day
and included a nursing ward.
HMAS Kanimbla transported heavy
earth-moving machinery, carried
engineers, provided hotel services doing
laundry and providing hot meals. Kanimbla
also put daily work parties ashore
where Army engineers provided water
purification, debris and drain clearance,
and camp sanitation.
The Combined Joint Task Force
distributed 1200 tonnes of supplies,
carried 2500 displaced people, assisted
with 70 aero-medical evacuations,
provided 3700 medical treatments,
performed 290 operations, produced
4.7 million litres of clean water, cleared
10,000 cubic metres of debris, handcleared kilometres of drains and moved
16 fishing boats.
Operation Larry Assist – 2006
When the eye of Cyclone Larry crossed
the coast near Innisfail between 6.20am
and 7.20am on March 20, 2006, the
response, with assistance from Queensland
Emergency Services, became a blueprint
for natural disasters to follow.
Many of the units involved in the relief
effort were redeployed from the field and
refitted in order to assist.
The Commander of Operation Larry
Assist, Major General Mick Slater, said the
plan was simple – sustain and protect.
Water, food and shelter was the priority
in material terms, along with troops and
engineering equipment to clear debris
blocking roads and endangering the
population.
“The aim was to stabilise the
situation until the civil authorities could
consolidate and fully manage the situation
without Defence support,” MAJGEN Slater
said at the time.
At the height of the operation, some 400
ADF personnel were involved on the ground.
During the first four days of Op Larry Assist,
they delivered 75,000 litres of bottled water
and 15.5 tonnes of tarpaulins.
Higher-level coordination and command
was run out of a joint task force
headquarters located at 3rd Brigade in
Townsville. The State Disaster Coordination
Centre was responsible for the tasking.
An air-bridge into Innisfail by RAAF
Hercules and Caribous was established.
As the relief effort gained momentum,
soldiers from the Cairns-based 51st Far
North Queensland Regiment, assisting
in Babinda, were joined by soldiers from
the 3rd Battalion with the 3rd Combat
Engineer Regiment support. Black Hawks
from 5th Aviation Regiment and School of
Army Aviation flew the troops in. Three
Iroquois were also on line, as well as a
Chinook for heavy lift.
Reconnaissance and aid drops to areas
cut-off from help became one of the main
operational roles.
The 1st Battalion’s Reconnaissance
Platoon was active in the Atherton
Tablelands, reporting on damage in remote
communities that the helicopters could
not access because of heavy cloud.
Elsewhere, a field kitchen prepared
more than 1500 fresh meals for displaced
locals. Shower facilities were also
provided to bridge the gap until water
could be reconnected.
One of the subtle aspects of the
uniformed presence was the stabilising
effect. For example, as the initial
emergency eased, schools became the
focus for engineers who repaired roofing,
boarded up broken windows, reconnected
water services, cleared fallen trees and
made powerlines safe.
Operation Vic Fire Assist – 2009
Defence’s contribution to the Victorian
bushfire relief effort saw seven weeks of
operations in support of the Victorian
government and peaked around 850
personnel.
Under the transition to recovery and
reconstruction, emergency services
originally provided by the ADF were
transitioned to local councils, state
government agencies and commercial
contractors. This transfer of responsibility
was phased in during a number of weeks
and communicated clearly to the local
communities.
MAJGEN John Cantwell was appointed
as the interim head of the Victorian
Bushfire Recovery and Reconstruction
Authority (VBRRA). He, along with a small
team of military staff, helped establish
the Authority until the former Victorian
Police Commissioner, Christine Nixon,
assumed the lead role.
Defence provided emergency sleeping
arrangements for fire-affected families
and emergency workers. Emergency
workers were also accommodated at
Defence establishments RAAF Base East
Sale, Simpson Barracks, Watsonia and the
Puckapunyal Military Area.
Defence provided major support to
the Kinglake Relief Centre through the
provision of kitchen facilities, health
and sanitation support, as well as water
distribution and rubbish disposal.
A local Dirranbandi boy is captivated by the arrival of an Australian Army 5th Aviation Ch-47 Chinook helicopter with basic
necessities for his isolated township in south-west Queensland. Photo: Corporal Rachel Ingram
In the first fortnight after the bushfires,
troops searched about 120 square
kilometres of fire-damaged areas, which
included around 1300 houses.
The Joint Task Force teams conducted
thorough and methodical searches of 817
premises, while the Engineer Support
Group, including seven heavy plant
machines and two chainsaw sections,
constructed more than 75 kilometres of
fire breaks and cleared 35 kilometres of
roads. They also helped clear unsafe trees
from the affected communities.
Specialist engineers assisted police with
hazardous search tasks, including training
searchers in safe procedures.
An Air Force AP-3C Orion aircraft
provided aerial imagery of bushfireaffected areas during the first two weeks.
Two Navy A109 helicopters provided
rapid movement of personnel around the
region.
A wide range of other Defence logistic
support was provided to the relief effort to
enhance the supply of aid into the area.
Medical and counselling teams to support
Joint Task Force personnel and residents
in some of the affected communities were
also deployed by Defence.
peration Queensland
O
Flood Assist – 2011
Following the surge in ADF support to
the civil-led response to the flood crisis in
Queensland, the Commander of Joint Task
Force 637, Colonel Luke Foster, handed
over command to Brigadier Paul McLachlan,
Commander of the Brisbane-based 7th
Brigade.
Queensland Fire and Rescue Service and the Australian Army’s
C Squadron 5th Aviation Regiment Aircrew assist with the loading
of temporary accommodation onto a CH-47 Chinook helicopter
bound for Condamine, Queensland. Photo: Corporal Rachel Ingram
The Chief of Joint Operations Command,
Lieutenant General Mark Evans, said the
significant increase in the ADF commitment
to Operation Queensland Flood Assist
and the nature of future ADF support
necessitated a transfer of command.
BRIG McLachlan said taking over a
standing Joint Task Force meant he and his
team had enough time to conduct a close
analysis of the Emergency Management
Framework. They looked at where liaison
teams were needed and where the standing
liaison teams were located and whether
they needed reinforcing or relocating.
“That worked really well for us
because the excellent liaison teams
that were already in place had formed
great relationships, but there were other
places that were more relevant to the
reconstruction effort,” BRIG McLachlan said.
At the peak of the flood crisis, the
ADF provided more than 1900 regular
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cover story
“I guess we had a feeling of confidence
that we were ready and certainly I had a
feeling of having been there before,” BRIG
Smith said.
The thing that stuck in his memory was
the rapid response of the soldiers, not only
those who were already on standby but
those put on standby to push north for the
recovery effort.
The biggest challenge facing his
command was confirming the priorities that
emergency services needed done because it
was a support operation.
“You really have to liaise in great detail
and communicate what your capabilities are
and then ask what the priorities are so you
can direct your effort,” BRIG Smith said.
From February 2-14, the ADF provide
a range of support to cyclone-affected
communities. This included:
The enormous task of making roads passable again in West End, Brisbane is tackled by Army Reserve soldiers from
the 9th Battalion Royal Queensland Regiment. Photo: Corporal Janine Fabre.
and Reserve personnel, 19 helicopters,
seven fixed-wing aircraft, 17 Bushmaster
vehicles, Navy clearance divers, three
Navy vessels, numerous trucks and plant
equipment including graders, bulldozers
and excavators.
Helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft flew
more than 1000 hours, transported more
than 680 tonnes of stores and carried
more than 1400 passengers, both military
and civilian.
Many stories of heroic rescues also
emerged from the mid-January period
when Navy and Army helicopter crews
rescued more than 200 people despite
arduous weather conditions and visibility
down to less than two kilometres.
For many of the ADF’s operational
veterans, the aftermath in devastated
areas was among the worst sights they
had encountered.
Operation Cyclone Yasi Assist – 2011
The Commander of Joint Task Force
664 (Operation Cyclone Yasi Assist),
Brigadier Stuart Smith, was Chief of
Staff to Major General Dave Chalmers on
Operation Sumatra Assist and already had
experience of a major natural disaster.
BRIG Smith said that troops were
already on standby at Lavarack Barracks
under emergency support plans as Tropical
Cyclone Yasi developed in intensity.
Based on information from the
Bureau of Meteorology, he and his team
formulated a broad plan which would
put them in a position to deal with the
post-cyclone recovery effort. They issued
orders for the plan and then hunkered
down for the cyclone and were able to
respond quickly.
>total of about 3300 ration packs,
including 2800 in the Cairns district and
almost 490 in the Innisfail district
>Almost 75 tonnes of stores to the
Townsville, Innisfail and Cairns districts
>Removing debris from about 260km of
road in the Townsville district, almost
130km in the Innisfail district, and 35km
in the Cairns district
>Clearing the yards and grounds of more
than 105 community properties in the
Innisfail district and 90 in the Townsville
district
>Cutting and clearing trees from almost
230 sites and clearing debris from almost
150 houses in the Innisfail district
>Collecting and dumping more than
320 tonnes of debris from the Innisfail
district
>Conducting door knocks of about 5000
homes in the Townsville district and more
than 450 homes in the Innisfail district.
The small town of Grantham shocked
everybody who had been in there,
including people who experienced
East Timor early in operations, and an
engineer corporal who was part of the
tsunami response.
“I want to thank each and every
person who was involved in Queensland
Flood Assist for their dedication and
professionalism for helping the people
of south-east Queensland,” BRIG
McLachlan said.
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(L-R) Sappers Luke Hubbard and Jake Temple work in unison with bobcat driver Darren Paech from A&C Bobcat
Hire cleaning up the Tully State School playground. Photo: Corporal Melina Mancuso
cover story
Coordination
Left: Corporal Kim Gray, Loadmaster with 5th
Aviation Regiment Detachment looks out across
the floodwaters at Rockhampton. Photo: Corporal
Janine Fabre Above: The devastated marina at Port
Hinchinbrook where Royal Australian Navy clearance
divers and Queensland Police divers searched for
sunken infrastructure and vessels destroyed in
Cyclone Yasi. Photo: Corporal Melina Mancuso
the key, says EMA
By Natalie Alexander
A
rmed conflict and operations are
a key part of Defence’s role, yet
recent months have shown that
when disaster strikes, its purpose moves
far beyond military action.
The Australian Defence Force
contributed widely to the nation’s
emergency response to the floods
predominantly in Queensland and Victoria
and Cyclone Yasi in February this year,
with about 2500 personnel deployed to
various parts of Australia.
The ADF’s broad presence in providing
humanitarian assistance to affected
communities raises the profile of
Defence’s role in times of emergency
and the challenges of a whole-ofgovernment response.
A spokesman from Emergency
Management Australia (EMA) said
maintaining a high level of situational
awareness is crucial when managing
an emergency response.
“Departments and agencies need to be
well coordinated so that their different
perspectives do not prevent a consistent
and holistic understanding of a disaster,”
he said.
The EMA spokesman said various
issues influence a multi-level disaster
response, including the deployment of
response and recovery assets, effective
communications, and coordination and
inter-operability.
Communications is one area where
Defence can make a significant
contribution, as disasters such as
cyclones, floods and fires can destroy
communication channels.
FAST FACTS:
“The Australian Defence Force has
the scale, skills, and capabilities –
such as portable communications
systems and heavy plant – to quickly
establish a presence in disaster-affected
communities,” the EMA spokesman said.
However, a specialist in emergency
management and Senior Fellow at the
ANU College of Law, Dr Michael Eburn,
said while the ADF was generally called
upon during a disaster, it had no specific
mandate in emergencies.
“The ADF will only respond when
requested to do so by the affected state
or territory,” Dr Eburn said.
Under the Commonwealth Disaster Plan
(COMDISPLAN), Federal assistance can be
received when state-level resources are
not sufficient.
“The Commonwealth can draw upon
all its resources, including Defence,
which can provide vital assets in terms
of human resources, heavy-lift, medical
teams, imaging, communications and the
like,” he said.
While Defence’s emergency response
operations have largely wound down
in Queensland, the ADF’s official
commitment is to continue providing
resources to humanitarian operations
while maintaining its military and
operational capacities worldwide.
>Emergency Management Australia is
managed by the Attorney-General’s
Department.
>The EMA is the Federal Government’s
channel for coordinating emergency
management at the national level.
>Under Commonwealth law, there
is no single minister appointed to
coordinate the Commonwealth’s
response to a disaster.
>Under COMDISPLAN, Commonwealth
assistance is available when an
emergency or disaster is of such
significance that the normal
resources available to the State
are insufficient to meet the needs
created by the disaster.
>Under COMDISPLAN, each state
and territory has a nominated
officer who is authorised to contact
Emergency Management Australia
seeking Commonwealth assistance.
The request is passed to the
Attorney-General for approval; if
approved it is then passed to the
relevant Commonwealth agency for
ministerial approval and to provide
the required assistance.
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cover story
DCO
steps
in at a time of need
By Hugh McKenzie
N
EVER in his wildest dreams
did Director General Defence
Community Organisation (DCO)
Michael Callan expect a parent of a
deployed member to sob their thanks for
taking an interest during the Queensland
floods.
“We had an inkling early on, as the
waters began to rise, that we’d become
involved with those deployed members who
couldn’t be there to help their families.
“Locating families and making sure they
were all right was a major undertaking for
DCO,” Mr Callan said.
During the crisis DCO mounted a callcentre capability at their headquarters in
Canberra.
DCO used the National Welfare
Coordination Centre at HQ JOC as the
coordination point for incoming calls.
DCO found itself acting in an assessment
and information exchange situation, putting
people in touch with the agencies they
needed.
This is not unusual; it is part of the
DCO model.
“In cases where it was obvious that a
family was not able to help itself, we would
do that for them and alert the appropriate
agencies to the problem. That was a major
lesson learned.
“We kept the three services and HQJOC
informed of progress in contacting
families,” Mr Callan said.
An early crisis for DCO was loss of contact
with three members in Queensland.
Rising water had knocked out
communications, which made it difficult
for DCO to operate effectively.
Most of the staff managed to make their
way to evacuation centres and continued
their work locating Defence families there.
“A key lesson for us is that a lot of
the information in PMKeyS is out of date
and that made it really difficult to find
families and it became time consuming
because we’d have to cross check two or
three sources.”
DCO put together a community crisis
plan that listed all the agencies families
would need during and after the floods.
At the flood peak DCO was in contact
with 700 families all in one day.
Tasks included organising emergency
accommodation to extending car hire
arrangements, all done with ordinary
phones, mobiles and computers.
“If I had a wish list it would to
tell everyone to get their PMKeyS entries
up to date. I can prepare for anything,
I can turn on the head of a pin to
provide services but it’s pointless if
the information is out of date,”
Mr Callan said.
“That’s what slowed us down and made
things very difficult, so that’d be top of
the wish list.”
Communities
covered by levels of
Defence assistance
By Michael Weaver
Defence’s recent provision of numerous
resources and assets to flood-affected
areas of Queensland, Victoria and
Western Australia, plus assistance to
north-east Queensland in the aftermath
of Cyclone Yasi is an example of what is
known as Defence Assistance to the Civil
Community (DACC).
Broadly, there are two types of DACC
support – emergency and non-emergency –
with three further categories of assistance
allocated to each respective tasking.
“If I had a wish list it would to tell everyone to get their
PMKeyS entries up to date. I can prepare for anything, I
can turn on the head of a pin to provide services but it’s
pointless if the information is out of date.”
– Director General Defence Community Organisation, Mr Michael Callan
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DEFENCE MAGAZINE
The area of Defence responsible for
facilitating all DACC support is Joint
Operational Support Staff (JOSS), which
comes under the direction of Defence
Support Group. There are JOSS offices in
each capital city and Townsville.
DACC category two support was
initiated to provide assistance as part of
Operations Queensland Flood Assist and
Yasi Assist.
“Sometimes the differences between
DACC categories are who is able to
authorise the commitment of Defence
resources, so in one case it might be a
local commander providing emergency
response of a short duration to save life
or limb, under DACC category one,” AVM
Paule said. Some initial Defence response
to the Queensland floods was of this type.
“Another category, DACC category two
might be similar to the flood assistance
package where a large body of Defence
assets were provided over a lengthy
period of time, and that would require
CDF or ministerial approval.”
DACC support of a non-emergency
nature include assistance to other
government departments, authorities or
organisations, commercial enterprises,
non-profit organisations, or individuals
or bodies in the general community. This
includes Defence assets being employed
for public events of significance such
the Brisbane Festival’s Riverfire event,
the NRL Grand Final and the Australian
Formula One Grand Prix.
FAST FACTS:
>DACC should be regarded as the
exception, not the rule.
>Defence resources are intended to be
used for Defence purposes.
>Provision of assistance should not
compete with the private sector.
>The aims of the requesting organisation
should be identified and it must be
appropriate for Defence to assist.
>Non-emergency DACC is more likely to
be approved where training benefits for
Defence exist.
“We come from the community and the opportunity to serve that community is
rewarding for us all.”
– Officer Commanding the 4th Reserve Response Force, Major Paul Middleton
Left: A Sea Hawk helicopter from 816 Squadron
airlifts feed to the livestock on a farm near Leitchville
during the Victorian Flood Assistance.
Padre Andrew Delbridge, who travelled
with the deployed force, was able
to engage with members of affected
communities, providing counselling and
guidance, but equally important was his
ability to discuss issues with soldiers.
ADF heeds the
call in Victoria
According to the Officer Commanding
1st Platoon, Lieutenant John Smith,
Padre Delbridge helped them reflect on
some of the devastation they were seeing
and contributed to the morale of the
platoon.
By Major Ian Toohill
Not for the first time, the sight of an
Army truck boosted residents’ morale.
“We come from the community and
the opportunity to serve that community
is rewarding for us all, sometimes it’s
just the presence of the Army that
inspires confidence in rural and regional
communities,” MAJ Middleton said.
The Officer Commanding the Task Group
relocated to Swan Hill, Major Kim Engler,
said the main support had been sandbagging, transporting civilian volunteers
and inspecting levee banks.
T
he Officer Commanding the 4th
Reserve Response Force (RRF),
Major Paul Middleton, called for
volunteers to conduct rapid impact
assessments of flooded towns across
north-western Victoria on February 18.
His troops had assisted the SES in
the 2010 floods in the Echuca/Shepparton
area.
Once Emergency Management Australia
made a request for assistance, 100
members of the 4th Brigade moved to the
Army depot in Bendigo and from there
three independent platoons spread out
across the region to conduct assessments.
The Commander the 4th Brigade,
Brigadier Robert Marsh, said after being
appointed coordinator of all Defence
assistance in the state, the platoons
covered hundreds of kilometres in an area
spanning 25 per cent of Victoria.
The assessments provided immediate
advice to government agencies about relief
and early recovery requirements.
“We have really seen the effects of these
devastating floods now and it is great
to be able to help out and contribute to
the efforts of the SES and police, not to
mention the local residents whose morale
seems so high despite their losses,”
Private David Wong said.
For the residents of some isolated
towns, members of the Reserve Response
Force were the first outside contact they
had seen since the flood crisis began.
“On Australia Day we had a platoon
at Lake Boga assisting almost 300 local
volunteers strengthening the levee by
laying 20,000 sandbags in six hours,” he
said. “As the flood peak approached we all
stepped up to 24-hour operations.”
The enhanced levee bank protected 300
private properties.
A 30-strong naval contingent with two
Sea Hawk helicopters were re-deployed
from Queensland to Victoria under
4th Brigade command.
They completed more than 40 flying
hours, delivering among other things
16,000kg of stock feed to starving
animals.
“The worst of Mother Nature brings out
the best of human nature, as we have
seen during the ADF assistance to floodaffected communities, 4th Brigade is proud
to have been able to help and remain
ready to do so again whenever required,”
BRIG Marsh said.
WWW.DEFENCE.GOV.AU/DEFENCEMAGAZINE
>
27
for your information
Industry study
course takes you
inside Defence
The Defence and Industry Study Course
(DISC) is a unique program that takes
industry executives, senior contractors
and other leaders inside Defence for a
close-up look at how it does business.
The program is designed to increase
understanding about Defence’s strategic
priorities, force sustainment needs and
major procurement timelines. It also
aims to forge closer and more productive
relationships between Australian Defence
Force and the people working to meet
their critical capability needs.
Comprising three one-week modules,
DISC combines workshops and briefings
on Defence’s strategic policy directions
and procurement priorities, with
interactive site visits and hands-on
activities.
Green light
for national finals
Above: Students from last year’s F1-in-Schools world finals show their delight after participating in the annual event.
T
wenty-seven school teams from
grades five to 12 will contest the
Defence Materiel Organisation
sponsored F1-in-Schools Technology
Challenge at Eastern Creek in Sydney from
March 15-17.
The teams are state/territory winners
and a selection of wildcards selected
for their potential to excel at the national
finals.
The apprentice and professional
category winners at the national finals
will go on to represent Australia at the
world finals, most probably in London
in September.
The competition challenges students
to design, engineer and race miniature
F1 race cars. Internationally, some 30
countries participate with the world
champion team winning the Bernie
Ecclestone Trophy and London University
scholarships.
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DEFENCE MAGAZINE
Australian teams have a history of
success, winning in 2006 and finishing 2nd
and 5th last year, following a 2nd, 3rd and
4th in 2009.
DMO sponsors the competition as part
of the Government’s commitment to
skilling Australian defence industry.
Participation in the competition is a
strong motivator for students to study
related subjects and look to careers in the
engineering and technology sectors.
The DMO intranet site features a short
video encapsulating activity at the 2010
world finals held in Singapore.
Further details can be found in
a Defence Magazine article from
Issue 6/2010 on p22, or via the
link at: http://www.defence.
gov.au/defencemagazine/
editions/2010_06/mag.
pdf#nameddest=dmo
These span visits to major defence
installations to participating in routine
training exercises with troops.
Miles Paul from engine manufacturer
Cummins South Pacific participated
in the study course during 2010, and
said the packed program gave him a
comprehensive understanding of Defence’s
business and priorities.
“Participating in the DISC
2010 program really improved my
understanding of the Defence business
as a whole, from parliamentary
accountability responsibilities to the
soldier on the ground, as well as from the
manufacture of arms and ammunition to
the role they play on the battlefield,”
he said.
“I’ve had the privilege of experiencing
an immense diversity of Defence
activities and installations, and this has
given me a better understanding of the
ADF’s capabilities. I’ll be able to respond
to my customers better because I can
picture what is happening on their side
of the fence and more clearly understand
their needs.“
The course is open to Australian
citizens who are senior managers of
companies doing business with the
Australian Defence Organisation, senior
members of the ADF, or executive and SES
Defence employees and contractors in
equivalent roles.
To find out more or submit your name,
visit the website www.disc.gov.au.
for your information
Navy officer presides over
the Law Council of Australia
Policy on lost
medals relaxed
The Government will relax the
policy on the replacement of medals
to enable those lost during recent
natural disasters to be replaced.
Following the devastation caused
by the recent natural disasters across
Australia, including the Queensland
and Victorian floods, Cyclone Yasi
and the Western Australian bushfires,
items of great personal value such as
service medals may have been lost,
damaged or stolen.
Above: The recently appointed President of the Law Council of Australia, Lieutenant Commander Alexander Ward, is
also a Navy Reservist. Photo: Geoff Comfort
L
ieutenant Commander Alexander
Ward added the title of President
of the Law Council of Australia
to his portfolio after he commenced his
presidential duties on January 1 this year.
The Law Council of Australia is the
umbrella body for the majority of legal
practitioners in Australia. Its constituent
members are the law societies and bar
associations in each jurisdiction (16 in
total) and the large law firm groups.
It has worked directly with Defence
Support Group’s Defence Legal and the
Federal Government on military justice
issues including the Australian Military
Court, Lane v Morrison difficulties and
subsequent developments.
The Law Council has developed a good
rapport with Defence Legal, especially as
it represents a considerable number of
lawyers in all jurisdictions.
LCDR Ward was elected into this
prestigious role after fulfilling a range of
executive roles on the Council. LCDR Ward
also has strong family connections with
the legal profession and the Australian
Defence Force.
His father Kevin was a lawyer, along
with his brothers, and LCDR Ward’s
grandfather was a King’s Council, who
dealt with constitutional matters.
Kevin Ward also fought in the RAAF in
World War II, and then became a Legal
Officer in the Australian Army Legal Corps.
LCDR Ward intended to become an army
officer (armour), however he got into law
and entered civil litigation practice as a
barrister and solicitor in South Australia
(fused profession).
He became involved in legal politics,
being President of the Law Society of
South Australia from 2004-2005 and
then moving up to the Law Council of
Australia. He now practises exclusively
as a barrister.
After a brief stint in the Army
Reserve as an infantryman in 1999,
LCDR Ward joined the Navy Reserve as
a legal officer.
“This has been a fantastic experience,
travelling the country providing relief
manning in Navy, Army and Air Force
bases,” LCDR Ward said.
He has undertaken work for prosecution
and defence of Defence Force Discipline
Act 1982 matters in all the various
military jurisdictions. More recently,
he has had the opportunity to be
Guard Commander on such occasions as
Anzac Day, Australia Day and Vietnam
Veterans Day.
LCDR Ward regards himself as a
barrister practising in law and also
a Defence lawyer. He undertakes his
duties for the Law Council of Australia
in both roles.
The Parliamentary Secretary for
Defence, Senator David Feeney,
said the Government recognises the
importance these awards represent
to the members who earned them
and the families who treasure them.
“Government policy for many years
has been medals can only be issued
to the ADF member who earned
them,” Senator Feeney said.
“This usually means that medals
cannot be replaced if they are lost
or destroyed after the ADF member
has died.”
To apply, please visit website
www.defence.gov.au/medals
and complete the form ‘Application
for the Replacement of Posthumous
Service Awards due to Natural
Disasters’.
Current serving members are
advised to complete application
form ‘AD808 Application for the
Issue of Replacement Medals and/
or Clasps’ to enable their own
medals to be replaced.
Applicants should be aware that
Defence is only able to replace
medals dating back to World War I.
Medals for conflicts prior to this war
are no longer in production.
Further, Defence is only able to
replace original medals. Replica
medals purchased on a commercial
basis cannot be replaced.
“Defence Legal is becoming more
recognised for the services it provides,
and the more visible it can be in the legal
community, as well as the community at
large, the better,” he said.
Further information and application
forms may also be obtained by
contacting the Directorate of
Honours and Awards toll free
on 1800 111 321.
WWW.DEFENCE.GOV.AU/DEFENCEMAGAZINE
>
29
aps news
Young Endeavour Youth Scheme
wins Prime Minister’s Award
By Jennifer Reilly
T
Left: Youth crew demonstrate the teamwork required aboard the STS Young Endeavour. Right: Accepting the Prime Minister’s Award for
Excellence in Public Sector Management is (L-R): Rear Admiral Allan Du Toit, Ms Jennifer Reilly, Mr Stephen Moss and Mr Murray Henstock.
he Young Endeavour Youth
Scheme has been awarded the
2010 Prime Minister’s Award for
Excellence in Public Sector Management,
the first time a Defence unit has won the
top honour.
The award is the pinnacle of recognition for
public sector work groups, units and teams
across all levels of public administration
in Australia. The Scheme beat a field of 26
nominees to take out the Gold Award at a
ceremony in Canberra late last year.
Congratulating the team of civilian,
military and Reserve staff that won the
Award, the Minister for Defence Science and
Personnel, Warren Snowdon, said the Young
Endeavour Youth Scheme had changed
countless young lives over the years.
“Since 1988, more than 11,000
Australians have undertaken a voyage in
Young Endeavour. This award is a tribute
to all those who work to provide young
people with this extraordinary adventure
at sea,” Mr Snowdon said.
The Scheme provides a challenging
development program for Australian
youth in the national sail training ship
STS Young Endeavour, which was gifted
to Australia by the United Kingdom on
the occasion of the Bicentenary. The
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DEFENCE MAGAZINE
program develops teamwork, leadership,
communication skills and confidence,
as well as interpersonal relationships
between youth crew members.
Led by Navy staff, each 11-day voyage
offers young people the opportunity to
push themselves outside their comfort
zone and work as a team to sail a tall
ship along the Australian coast. In
addition to individual rewards, the
experience has an enduring legacy
with each participant’s subsequent
contribution to society.
Rear Admiral Allan Du Toit, who accepted
the award on behalf of Navy, said the
program has equipped a generation of
young people to realise their individual
potential and their ability to make a
positive contribution to their community.
“The Scheme operates in a dynamic
environment, and continues to evolve and
refine the methods it uses to promote the
ship, select youth crew, and deliver the youth
development program,” RADM Du Toit said.
“In doing so, it aims to maximise
opportunities for the widest range of
young Australians to participate in a
challenging and rewarding program which
translates, over time, into more enduring
social skills and sustained social capital.”
Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Russ Crane
said the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme
can be rightly proud of its award.
“The Scheme is at the forefront of
Navy’s community engagement strategy.
This Award recognises the excellent work
they have carried out with Australian
youth,” VADM Crane said.
More information on the Young
Endeavour Youth Scheme can be found
at: www.youngendeavour.gov.au.
The award is the
pinnacle of recognition
for public sector work
groups, units and teams
across all levels of
public administration
in Australia. The
Scheme beat a field of
26 nominees to take
out the Gold Award at
a ceremony in Canberra
late last year.
aps news
Students gain inside
experience in Defence
finances By Craig Iverach
Communication & media
functions strengthened
“I have come to the Department of
Defence through the CIT Pilot Industry
Engagement Work Experience Program and
my position at the moment is Business
Activity Statement (BAS) compliance officer
in the Defence Tax Management Office,”
Mr Yarbakhsh said.
F
our very keen students from the
Advanced Diploma of Accounting
course at the Canberra Institute
of Technology (CIT) had the rare
opportunity for some inside experience
in Defence.
“This has been a great opportunity
to learn the ropes of the APS. I have
been warmly welcomed and people have
been very willing to teach me the work
and give me the chance to stretch my
knowledge.
“I would highly recommend the program
to other students.”
With one of the largest public sector
discretionary budgets, Defence goes about
managing an annual budget of around
$26b and assets in excess of $67b.
This was the first time CIT accounting
students have undertaken work experience
in Defence, and both organisations look
set to continue the arrangement.
Ms Coady Laurie, Ms Stephanie Carbone,
Ms Daisy Sunaryo Smith and Mr Abbas
Yarbakhsh enjoyed some fast-paced
work experience between November and
December last year in the Chief Finance
Officer Group (CFOG) and in the Office
of Secretary and Chief of the Defence
Force Budget and Financial Management
directorate. It turned out to be an
invaluable experience for them all.
Assistant Secretary Financial
Professionalisation, Controls and Skilling,
Ms Dianne Leak, presented each of the
students with a certificate of participation
after completing the program.
One of the students, Mr Abbas
Yarbakhsh, moved to Australia from Iran
more than five years ago and has since
completed an Advanced Diploma of
Accounting at CIT.
Above: CIT Students
with their Certificates of
Participation from the left:
Ms Stephanie Carbone, Ms
Coady Laurie, Ms Daisy Sunaryo
Smith, Mr Abbas Yarbakhsh and
at the rear Mr Craig Iverach,
Program Manager. Right:
Acting Assistant Director
Tax Management, Mrs Irena
Stevens, explains the DTMO
Quality Assurance spreadsheet
to Mr Abbas Yarbakhsh.
Working in Defence finance is a
great way to commence or continue a
professional finance career with many
opportunities for challenging work and
further study.
There are many ways to pursue a finance
career in Defence, with further information
under skilling on the CFOG website.
Defence’s media operations and strategic
communication capabilities have recently been
strengthened to better support ministers and
senior Defence leaders in media-related activities.
The former Ministerial Support and Public
Affairs division has been revamped as the
Ministerial and Executive Coordination and
Communication Division. MECC will be the
departmental focus for issues management
and media engagement.
One of the most visible changes is the
creation of two new branches, from the former
Public Affairs branch.
A new Communication and Media Branch,
headed by Celia Perkins, will focus on daily
media operations, media engagement, and a
renewed focus on digital and social media,
including a significant project to update the
Defence Minister’s web presence and upgrading
Defence’s online imagery capability and digital
convergence.
Ms Perkins and her team will work
closely with Groups and Services to improve
responsiveness to media enquires, and to better
meet the expectations of ministers and Defence
leaders for media support.
The monthly Defence Magazine, fortnightly
Service newspapers and digital media section will
stay in the Communication and Media Branch.
Defence’s strategic communication
objectives will be handled by a new Strategic
Communication Branch in the VCDF Group,
headed by Brigadier Alison Creagh.
StratCom will focus on developing coherent
and targeted strategic communication plans,
including in support of operational deployments.
The branch will also comprise uniformed public
affairs officers deployed on operations, embedded
at HQJOC and the 1st Joint Public Affairs Unit,
and will include training and support functions.
The management of complex and sensitive
portfolio issues will also be enhanced through
the new Strategic Issues Management Branch,
headed by Marc Ablong, working in close
collaboration with Groups and Services. The
Issues Management Team will focus in particular
on working with Groups and Services to develop
briefing material for ministers on critical issues
likely to impact in both the near and longer term.
The existing functions of Ministerial and
Executive Support Branch and Freedom of
Information and Information Management
Branch will continue in their existing roles.
These changes took effect on January 20.
WWW.DEFENCE.GOV.AU/DEFENCEMAGAZINE
>
31
intelligence and security
DIGO celebrates
a decade By Jacqueline Saunders
Left: DIGO Canberra
staff at Russell Offices.
Director, Mr Steve
Meekin, and the longest
serving members are
foremost. Right: Vik
Sabaliauskas (left) and
Nick Hinneberg (right)
cut the 10th anniversary
cake at DIGO’s
Geospatial Analysis
Centre in Bendigo.
“Today DIGO performs real work that has a real impact on our
national interests and security,” the Director of DIGO, Mr Steve
Meekin, said.
Director DIGO made a formal presentation to Canberra-based staff,
who were able to meet Deputy Secretary Intelligence and Security,
Mr Steve Merchant, as well as the other leaders from the Defence
intelligence and security agencies, some of whom have played a
pivotal role in shaping DIGO into the organisation it is today.
“DIGO has come of age,” Mr Meekin said, as he reflected on
the journey that DIGO has travelled to become Australia’s premier
imagery and geospatial organisation. “We are respected within
Defence, and amongst our allied partners, for providing quality
imagery and geospatial intelligence products and services.”
T
he corridors, offices and tunnels of the Defence Imagery and
Geospatial Organisation (DIGO) were alive with the sound
of joyful children and proud parents and partners as DIGO
kicked off its 10th birthday celebrations with a family open day late
last year.
Face painting, a barbecue lunch, family photos, ‘safe cracking’,
tunnel tours, and 3D demonstrations of the vital work DIGO
people do, were all part of the deal for staff and families who
were welcomed into DIGO offices for a rare look inside one of
Defence’s key intelligence agencies.
DIGO is Australia’s foreign geospatial intelligence organisation
which provides geospatial intelligence in support of Australia’s
defence and national interests. Families at the open day were given
unclassified briefings on how DIGO supports Australian Defence Force
operations, national counter terrorism efforts, emergency response
assistance and mapping.
DIGO now operates from two sites, in Canberra and Bendigo,
and boasts a diverse workforce of Australian Public Servants
and ADF members, including 460 Squadron, Air Force’s targeting
intelligence squadron.
The family open day was followed by a formal presentation to
staff from the Director and a cake cutting ceremony on
November 8 2010 – the actual date of DIGO’s 10th anniversary.
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DEFENCE MAGAZINE
On DIGO’s establishment in 2000, the Government and the
Defence leadership recognised imagery and geospatial intelligence
as a critical asset, a knowledge edge, and a near-real time capability
that could have a profound affect on operations, ADF platforms and
weapon systems.
DIGO’s objective was to provide timely, global imagery and
geospatial information to national and Defence decision-makers, and
most importantly, bring strategic intelligence into sharper focus.
“It is testament to the DIGO community, past and present, that
this objective has been achieved and we should be proud as an
Organisation to have fulfilled this goal for Australia,” Mr Meekin said.
“One of our key strengths is our culture. DIGO values its people,
they are the foundation of our business. Our collaborative work
ethic and passion for our trade makes DIGO a great place work.
“This must be true, because today we have many staff who
also celebrate 10 years of working at DIGO.”
DIGO can now list many great successes, but its people are
now looking forward to the challenges of the next decade.
“The next 10 years for DIGO will be exciting,” Mr Meekin said.
“It will be shaped by a strategic landscape that sees great
change in our region and dramatic technological advances that
will bring new challenges and opportunities.
“Our commitment to our mission and our people will remain
unchanged, and as we navigate this new future I am sure we will
be just as proud in another 10 years.”
intelligence and security
Clear vision set for future
geospatial capability By Brian Sloan
I
f you are in uniform, or support
someone who is, chances are that
geospatial information and services
contribute to your daily work.
The Defence White Paper 2009 identified
that future operations of the Australian
Defence Force will be shaped by advances
in military technology.
These new technologies are increasingly
reliant on geospatial information and
services (GI&S) in order to achieve their full
operating potential.
But it’s not only the Defence inventory
that has a critical dependence on GI&S.
Defence’s specialists and analysts, both
ADF and APS, provide support to military
operations in theatre, national security,
border protection, counter terrorism efforts,
counter proliferation, critical infrastructure
protection, disaster recovery, and Defence
estate and personnel management.
In today’s knowledge economy, creating
an environment in which Australia can
achieve a knowledge edge through
geospatial information superiority is
essential.
This future knowledge edge was the
backdrop for an important milestone for
the Defence geospatial community. On
December 16, 2010, the Vice Chief of the
Defence Force (VCDF), Lieutenant General
David Hurley, and the Deputy Secretary
Intelligence and Security, Mr Steve
Merchant, co-signed the Defence Geospatial
Strategy 2010.
“The signing of the Strategy represents
the culmination of a long period of
consultation and a significant effort by my
staff in, who worked so well with all the
relevant stakeholders, to bring the strategy
to fruition,” Mr Merchant said.
“It also represents an excellent example
of coordination and cohesion between
all the Defence geospatial agencies and
supporting groups.
“I am delighted that LTGEN Hurley agreed
to jointly endorse this important document.
Through our respective responsibilities
as the Joint Capability Authority and
the Capability Coordinator for Geospatial
Information, we have a key interest in this
Strategy because it covers almost every
Defence capability.”
The Strategy is a comprehensive guide
for the capability development and
coordination activities that need to occur
during the next five years.
The vision is to create an integrated,
coordinated Defence geo-domain supporting
Australia’s security and national interests
through geospatial information superiority.
“The coordination of geospatial
information collection and production
capabilities, and the delivery of this
capability to the ADF and wider Defence
customers, is fundamental to network
centric warfare,” Mr Merchant said.
“To safeguard our people involved in
operations it is vital that Defence has
the most accurate geospatial information
possible. The Strategy aims to guarantee
reliability, redundancy and responsiveness,”
Mr Merchant said.
“We can only achieve the objectives
laid out in the Strategy by working across
organisational boundaries.”
Capability developers manage the various
contributing and interdependent projects.
“Additionally, in the future, Defence
will play an increasingly important role
for whole-of-government national security
support, as we progress towards the
acquisition of Australia’s first remote
sensing satellite.”
The pervasive impact of GI&S on
Defence’s daily military and business
operations means that the Defence
Geospatial Strategy is relevant for almost
everyone in Defence.
Systems, platforms, simulations,
munitions, people, personnel systems,
estate and envonmental systems, just to
name a few, rely on trusted GI&S.
Above: Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Lieutenant
General David Hurley (left) and Deputy Secretary
Intelligence and Security, Mr Stephen Merchant sign
the Defence Geospatial Strategy. Above Right: The
Defence Geospatial Strategy cover.
the internet this way may have reduced
location accuracy and issues with reliability,
consistency, completeness or currency.
The levels of precision now demanded
by commanders and Defence business
managers cannot always be delivered by
the various well known providers of internet
mapping applications.
Many of these providers are using, or
moving to, non-authoritative third party
information. Information sourced on
The Defence Materiel Organisation
delivers the right systems to the Chief
Information Officer Group’s Single
Information Environment.
Defence geospatial specialists and
analysts use GI&S to create easy-to-use,
trusted and authoritative products and
solutions tailored to the unique needs of
their commanders.
The Defence Science and Technology
Organisation researches state-of-the-art
concepts for leading-edge capabilities.
And leaders and planners focus on early
forecasting of their requirements against
any likely future threats.
Mr Merchant said the Defence Geospatial
Strategy is the unifying document that
describes how Defence will achieve its
ambition to develop geospatial information
superiority over our adversaries.
“VCDF and I are keen for as many people
in Defence to understand the importance
of this joint capability and the ramifications
for us all if we do not strive to achieve
the vision.”
WWW.DEFENCE.GOV.AU/DEFENCEMAGAZINE
>
33
Chief Information Officer Group
Get Connected
Mobile ICT services to be
enhanced
D
efence’s mobile information
communication technology
(ICT) and internet connectivity
services are being enhanced to provide
improved access to a greater number
of users.
An increasing number of Defence
employees have a vested interest in
services such as the Blackberry and
DREAMS (Defence Remote Electronic
Access Mobility Service) tokens, as both
are vital tools to the way we work.
Being able to utilise the Defence
Restricted Network from home or a remote
site, with the use of a DREAMS token
has allowed more Defence employees
to improve their work-life balance.
Blackberries have also assisted greatly
in this area.
In order to improve Defence’s mobile
ICT and internet utility, the Chief
Information Officer Group is enhancing
these services and providing more units
to its stakeholders.
The Chief Information Officer Group
is enhancing mobile ICT services such
as Blackberry and Defence Remote
Electronic Access Mobility Service
(DREAMS) tokens.
An increasing
number of Defence
employees have a
vested interest in
services such as
the Blackberry and
DREAMS tokens, as
both are vital tools
to the way we work.
Some of these include:
> Increasing the number of DREAMS
(Defence Remote Electronic Access
Mobility Service) tokens: In late 2010,
the number of DREAMS tokens was
increased from 6000 to 12,000. Access
to the additional DREAMS tokens is
available through your Group point of
contact. A further increase to 30,000
tokens is planned for later in 2011.
> Increased availability of Blackberry:
Until late 2010, the issue of Blackberry
devices was restricted to predominantly
SES/Star rank officers. CIOG is now
able to support up to 2000 Blackberry
handsets. This has allowed ADF
commanders and other key personnel
to also be issued with a Blackberry.
Highly mobile Defence personnel are
also eligible for issue on a user-pays
basis. The Blackberry camera function
was activated on all existing and future
units at the end of February.
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> Secure Mobile Device: CIOG is trialling a
secure ‘Blackberry-like’ device with the
capability to provide secure telephony
and access to classified email, calendar
and (potentially) web. Wider rollout
of these devices will be considered
following the trial.
The use of the internet is essential to
Defence business with demand growing
every year.
Improved internet connectivity is at the
top of most CIOG stakeholders’ wish list,
along with the ability to cease the need
for a separate username and password
every time internet access is required.
To meet this demand, CIOG is working to
improve the delivery of internet services to
its stakeholders through the provision of
a new internet gateway service, delivered
in partnership with an industry provider.
The new gateway service will provide
all Defence internet services by the end
of 2011.
CIOG has recently implemented a
solution that removed the requirement for
DRN users to provide a separate username
and password each time internet access
is required.
To order Defence ICT equipment,
please go to the CIOG website and
choose ICT Services or phone the
ICT Service Desk on 133 272.
PEOPLE STRATEGIES AND POLICY
Is everybody happy?
Survey shows increase in satisfaction
By Amy Kelly and Leonie Gall
A
ccording to the 2010 Defence
Attitude Survey (DAS) results,
ADF and APS members are happier
than ever with their pay packets.
The proportion of ADF members who
were satisfied with their salary made an
impressive jump from 38 per cent in 2008
to 50 per cent in 2010. APS satisfaction
increased from 52 per cent to 61 per cent
during the same period.
Defence commitment also remained
high with 86 per cent of ADF respondents
indicating they felt proud telling others
they were a serving member. A further 77
per cent of APS respondents said they felt
proud to be a Defence employee.
Director General Workforce Planning,
Air Commodore Tony Needham, said
information received from the DAS was
important.
Resource Metric System (HRMeS). This
system is also accessed by those responsible
for personnel policy development,
evaluation and implementation.
“The survey presents both ADF and APS
Defence personnel with the opportunity
to voice their opinions on a wide range
of employment related topics that are of
interest to Defence senior leadership.
The data is updated on a rolling basis
to maintain a 30 per cent sample for
reporting and allowing for breakdowns
by group and service.
“The data collected in the DAS allows us
to analyse the attitudes and opinions of
the workforce and inform policy decisions
with data on how a range of aspects of
employment in Defence are perceived.”
Defence-sponsored childcare, free
medical and dental, spouse employment
assistance and subsidised housing
continue to rate as important to
respondents’ decisions to stay in the ADF.
In general, job satisfaction was high
among ADF respondents with 70 per cent
indicating they are satisfied with their
current job.
Also encouraging was the proportion
(86 per cent) of ADF respondents who
had a clear understanding of how they
contribute to their unit’s/section’s goals.
Following an extensive review in
2008-09, the DAS is now administered
entirely online three times a year to a
10 per cent random sample of Defence
APS and ADF personnel.
DAS results are fed directly to senior
leaders across Defence via the Human
AIRCDRE Needham thanked those
who took the time to provide valuable
feedback in the DAS.
“With your support we have seen a
positive increase in response rates since
August 2009, compared to previous
years,” AIRCDRE Needham said.
“If selected to participate in future
administrations of the DAS, I strongly
encourage you to contribute to this important
project and have your feedback heard.
“Only then can we know how to
improve personnel policies and initiatives
to better meet your needs.”
Results from the 2009 and 2010 DAS
are now available in the Human Resource
Metric System.
First conducted in 1999, the DAS survey
has been held every year since 2001 and
is Defence’s primary means of monitoring
organisational climate.
The 2011 Defence Attitude Survey was
launched on February 11.
For further information, please visit
the Directorate of Strategic Personnel
Policy Research intranet site via:
http://aurora.cbr.defence.gov.au/
DSPPR/default.shtml
Alternatively, email the DAS project
manager at:
[email protected]
Queries about HRMS can be directed to:
[email protected]
• The information collected in the DAS is
primarily used to inform the development
and evaluation of new and existing
personnel policies in areas such as
conditions of service, job satisfaction,
family mobility, career management and
retention. Ultimately, this contributes
to the development and evaluation of
personnel initiatives, with the overall aim
of improving service and employment
conditions, and responding to the needs
and interests of Defence personnel.
• The DAS also provides an avenue for the
analysis of trends and changes within
Defence’s organisational climate over
time. This assists our senior leadership
to identify areas in which Defence is
performing well and also to identify areas
where there is room for improvement.
WWW.DEFENCE.GOV.AU/DEFENCEMAGAZINE
>
35
AIR FORCE
AIR FORCE
The new paint scheme represents significant risk mitigation when operating
the Hawk in ‘see and avoid’ airspace, such as Pearce and Class G airspace.
The Lead-in Fighter prototype has been
executed largely on the basis that Air
Force need to reduce operational risks
associated with ‘see and avoid’ flight
operations in Pearce.
Lead-In Fighter Logistics Management
Unit (LIFLMU) funded the actual painting
which was managed by BAE Systems
Australia, who are the Engineering
Authority for the Hawk 127.
The decision to go with gloss is in
keeping with the best value solution,
given the increase in service life of gloss
making any repaint last longer.
Finally, the actual preparation and
painting was conducted at Tullamarine
airport in Melbourne in a temporary paint
shop facility. DSTO advice is that the increase in
durability and longevity of gloss versus
matt finishes is around 15 per cent. “The efforts of DMO, through LIFLMU to
get the funding and support for the repaint
are very much appreciated,” WGCDR Hake
said.
“Also, many thanks to BAE Systems for
arranging the repaint over the period of
operational standby so that the jet was
not offline for too long.”
A27-30 will remain at Williamtown
until it goes to the Avalon Airshow later
this month as a static display. It flies to
Pearce and operate as a 79SQN jet for
normal training missions.
A number of similar trials have been
conducted by foreign forces with the
NATO Flying Training Centre (NFTC) in
Canada painting their Hawks all-over
gloss deep blue, potentially to increase
visibility when operating in snowy
conditions.
The RAF has also chosen to paint their
Hawk trainers all-over gloss black to
increase visibility.
“Some have suggested that the all-over
black scheme would be good for the RAAF
too,” WGCDR Hake said.
Hawks Go Two Tone
By Flight Lieutenant Skye Smith
H
awk A27-30 is sporting a
new colour scheme aimed at
increasing visibility and reducing
the potential risk of a mid-air collision.
The decision to trial the new paint
scheme followed an assessment of
operational risk of Hawk operations in
Pearce Airspace in 2010.
The Commanding Officer of 76
Squadron, Wing Commander Chris Hake,
said Headquarters 78 Wing took the
initiative to trial a revised colour scheme
that would increase the contrast of the
Hawk with usual operating backgrounds
and make it easier to see.
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“The existing Hawk paint colour uses
the same paint colours as the F/A-18
Hornet, however, the Hawk is much
smaller than the Hornet and it’s safe
to say that the grey camouflage is very
effective,” WGCDR Hake said.
“The new paint scheme represents
significant risk mitigation when operating
the Hawk in ‘see and avoid’ airspace, such
as Pearce and Class G airspace.”
A27-30 uses the existing Hawk
camouflage pattern, but with different and
darker colours. A gloss finish has also been
incorporated into the design to increase
the durability of the surface finish.
DSTO was engaged to provide advice on the
colour requirements to increase visual contrast
ratios against sky backgrounds for the Hawk,
as increasing the contrast enhances the ease
of visually acquiring the aircraft.
“If the trial paint scheme shows that
we have met the requirement to increase
the visibility of the Hawk then Air
Force may choose to repaint the fleet in
the new scheme starting with the Pearcebased Hawks,” WGCDR Hake said.
“78WG has not yet commenced the
formal assessment of the trial paint
scheme, but subjectively from airborne
and ground observers the repainted
Hawk is much darker against a blue sky
background and therefore easier to spot.
The gloss also reflects the sunlight with
a noticeable glint from the paint.”
“However, HQ 78WG assessment is
that the combination of light and dark
colours delivers contrast against both light
and dark backgrounds, while increasing
visibility significantly in the horizon band.
“We knew that the commemorative
paint schemes on Hawk A27-16 (Black
Panther scheme) and A27-21 (79SQN red
60th anniversary paint scheme) increased
visibility significantly compared to the
all-over light grey scheme.”
The DSTO theory backed up Air Combat
Group’s anecdotal experience with those
aircraft, and so far the experience with
A27-30 is supporting the DSTO calculations.
In addition to the normal operation of
the aircraft at 76SQN and 79SQN, each
unit will undertake a small number of
assessment flights to quantify the expected
increase in visual detection ranges.
“The execution of the paint trial was a
real team effort,” WGCDR Hake said.
Headquarters Air Combat Group
approved the paint scheme in
consultation with HQ78WG. A DSTO paint
expert was consulted in regard to the
optimum colours and paint formulations.
On the BAE tarmac with a new paint scheme, Hawk A27-30 is sporting a new colour scheme aimed at increasing
visibility and reducing the potential risk of mid-air collision. Photos: Leading Aircraftwoman Katharine Pearson
WWW.DEFENCE.GOV.AU/DEFENCEMAGAZINE
>
37
education and training
Joint education
comes of age
Officers close the books on
25 years of study
By Colonel Chris Field
education and training
A
n educational milestone has
been reached by the Australian
Defence Force (ADF), with
two of its officers becoming the first
to graduate from the Joint Officer
Education Continuum, an achievement
that has taken 25 years of service to
complete.
Colonel (COL) Scott Clingan and Group
Captain (GPCAPT) Joe Iervasi graduated
on December 7, 2010 from the Centre for
Defence and Strategic Studies (CDSS),
which was the third and final stage of the
program that also included studies at the
Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA)
and the Australian Command and Staff
College (ACSC).
For COL Clingan, an Artillery officer,
it’s been many years since graduating
from ADFA in 1986 and ACSC in 2000.
ADFA
He said the Joint Officer Education
Continuum provides an opportunity
for ADF officers to ‘grow up’ together,
starting with the first stage at ADFA.
“At ADFA our initial friendships were
formed. These friendships then shaped
the level and type of engagement
officers have with each other over their
subsequent careers and lives,” he said.
Beyond these friendships, COL Clingan
said officers in the program share a
common bond and baseline level of
experience.
“These common understandings have
delivered, in war and peace, significant
advantages in ADF cooperation at the
tactical and operational levels,” he said.
GPCAPT Iervasi, an F-18/A pilot who
graduated from ADFA in 1987 and ACSC
in 2000, shares COL Clingan’s opinion of
the program.
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DEFENCE MAGAZINE
“These dealings have smoothed the
path to getting things done in the
increasingly complex environments in
which the ADF operates.”
The sentiments of the two graduates
are echoed by Rear Admiral (RADM) James
Goldrick, Commander of the Australian
Defence College (ADC) and the officer
responsible for joint training in the ADF.
He said the JSSC and its successors
began a movement in joint education
that continues to gain momentum,
particularly now with its increasing focus
on inter-agency and whole-of-government
activities.
“It will be fascinating to see what the
years ahead bring and how the ADF will
need to adapt to meet new and emerging
challenges,” he said.
“I am certain that the ADC and its
graduates will be closely involved in
supporting that journey.”
“I have seen the evidence of increasing understanding
between the Services over my career, and it is important
to remember just how far we have come in that time.”
– Commander Australian Defence College, Rear Admiral James Goldrick
He said COL Clingan and GPCAPT
Iervasi have demonstrated that trust
and friendship occupy a central place in
creating an effective leadership within
the ADF.
Importantly, RADM Goldrick said the
success of COL Clingan and GPCAPT
Iervasi is a testament to the many other
achievements forming part of the ADF’s
joint education story.
“This is not to say that we think the
same, but rather we have a common
understanding about who we are and
where we’re going,” GPCAPT Iervasi said.
“I have seen the evidence of increasing
understanding between the Services
over my career, and it is important to
remember just how far we have come in
that time,” he said.
“Today there are many other ADF
officers, and sailors, soldiers, and airmen
and airwomen, who are being educated at
the ADF’s joint schools,” he said.
He said this mutual understanding
between officers also contributes
significantly to Joint/Integrated
capabilities.
“Our first real effort at joint education,
the Joint Services Staff College (JSSC),
had only been in existence for four years
when I joined the Navy in 1974.”
He said it is at the higher command
level where these common experiences
and friendships culminate into a coherent
senior leadership group.
Above: The Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies 2010 graduates and staff. Opposite: Defence and Strategic Studies Course graduates, Colonel Scott Clingan and Group
Captain Joe Iervasi, who are also graduates of the Australian Command and Staff College and Australian Defence Force Academy. Photos: Phil Vavasour
“Over our approximately 25 years of
service, we have had many dealings with
course mates from ADFA, ACSC and CDSS,”
GPCAPT Iervasi said.
“Proof of the benefit of this joint
education is the prowess the ADF
demonstrates each day on operations
worldwide in complex, austere, and
demanding environments.”
WWW.DEFENCE.GOV.AU/DEFENCEMAGAZINE
>
39
DEFENCE Support Group
DEFENCE Support Group
Defence puts its
energy into efficiency
Defence’s energy requirements
>
W
ith more than 21,000 individual facilities and a combined floor area of around
6,000,000m2, Defence accounts for more than half of all stationary energy used
by the Australian Government.
> Defence is also one of the most diverse agencies, with facilities ranging from
accommodation, laboratories, docks, to airstrips and messes.
> Operational requirements are constantly changing due to new troop deployments,
training activities and procurement of new equipment. At some bases, energy
requirements can fluctuate more than 50 per cent month-to-month depending on
operational requirements.
Electrical
sub-metering
at Defence
With electricity prices forecast to
double during the next 10 years and
network constraints driving higher
network and demand charges, Defence
could face a $120 million increase in its
total annual electricity spend by 2020.
In response to these challenges,
Defence is implementing a national
strategy for energy efficiency
improvement to achieve reduced costs
and greenhouse gas emissions. At the
heart of the national strategy is the
roll-out of a national sub-metering and
performance management and reporting
system.
Reducing energy consumption is one
area where savings can be achieved
and contribute to the Strategic Reform
Program, along with reducing electricity
consumption to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions.
Previous efforts to set gross
consumption reduction targets have had
limited success due to a lack of reliable
information on how electricity is used
across the Defence estate.
Taking action on
electricity
A trial installation of 320 new electrical
sub-meters has been completed, with
each meter connected to a national
energy and carbon reporting platform
called CarbonScopeTM. This system allows
Defence personnel and contractors to
view, analyse and benchmark performance
of individual buildings or groups of
buildings by facility type.
The Energy and Sustainability Officer in
Defence Support Group, Mr Ben Bryant,
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said information can be organised at a
whole-of Defence level, and also viewed
down to the individual meter.
“Without sub-metering, we didn’t know
what we didn’t know, which meant energy
efficiency efforts were merely a guess.”
Mr Bryant said the capabilities of the
new system allow building information
to be loaded up so that facility and
environment managers can look at
electricity usage by floor area for a range
of facility groups and facility types (see
figure two).
In the future, other key performance
indicators may be incorporated such
as mega joules per meal served, or per
training day.
Through the system, Defence
stakeholders can access historical
30-minute interval data up to the
previous day. Tariff information is being
loaded into the system to support
demand management planning and
business case development for new energy
efficiency initiatives.
The system enables comparison of
current performance versus expected
performance. This allows identification of
areas where equipment or control systems
may have failed.
The benefit to Defence is that
stakeholders can have a high degree of
visibility of electricity performance and
trends, which allows everyone to take
the initiative on electricity reduction
measures regardless of background or
level of technical expertise.
The Defence Sub-meter Program
Manager, Bronwyn Butterfield, said results
of the trial have been positive in terms
of identified savings and stakeholder
engagement. Regional personnel are
already starting to use the sub-meter
reporting system to identify new energy
Figure 1:
Defence’s
projected
business as usual
electricity costs
(‘000 000)
efficiency opportunities, many of which
are simple behaviour or control system
changes that do not require any capital
investment.
“The ability to see and analyse the
sub-meter data on a data base such
as the CarbonScopeTM system has been
powerful, and validated the business case
for the Defence Sub-meter Program,” Ms
Butterfield said.
“It has demonstrated the capacity for
us to find real and immediate energy
savings from Defence facilities on a daily
basis.”
Electricity prices are rising due
to a range of factors, including:
> m ajor investment in
our national electricity
infrastructure needed to keep
pace with growing demand
> volatility in the wholesale energy prices resulting in higher retailer margins
> new mandatory environmental charges, such as cost increases of renewable
energy and energy efficiency targets
Next steps
> scarcity of water and higher prices for gas, water and coal driving up the
During the next few years, Defence
expects to complete a roll-out of more
than 2000 electrical sub-meters, all
connected to the national host.
> the potential introduction of a price on carbon.
The next steps include setting
performance benchmarks for facilities
groups and exploring potential energy
efficiency targets.
Tenants of any sub-metered Defence
facilities are encouraged to access their
electricity usage data and work with
their staff and Defence Support Group to
improve the efficiency of building usage
and operation.
More information
Further information about
Defence’s energy efficiency program,
is available at: http://intranet.
defence.gov.au/environment/energy_
management/main.htm or contact:
EnvironmentAndHeritage@defence.
gov.au.
costs of generation, and
Figure 2:
Facility groups and
facility types used
Figure 3:
GJ/M2 per annum
for administration
buildings at Garden
Island
CASE
STUDY ONE:
A Defence environment
manager at Garden Island NSW
is now able to determine which
ships are properly powering down
when in berth at Christmas.
Ensuring all ships are properly
powered down can save Defence
$170,000 per annum. No capital
investment is required.
CASE
STUDY TWO:
A simple desktop review has
identified opportunities to
improve shut down procedures
at a mid-sized administration
building at Laverton in Victoria.
During the Christmas period,
the building achieved a shut
down load of 120 kilowatts
while normal weekend and after
hours loads only reduce to 160
kilowatts. Improving weekend and
after hours shut down procedures
at this building will save Defence
more than $20,000 per annum. No
capital investment is required.
CASE
STUDY THREE:
A simple timer control was
installed to fix a problem where
a small office air-conditioning
system was running on the
weekend. This worked for a
few weeks, and the timer was
then manually overridden by
a contractor resulting in 24/7
operation of the air-conditioning
plant. The CarbonScopeTM
reporting system allowed the
Defence environment manager
to pick up on the problem and
correct it.
Without sub-metering and userfriendly analysis tools, Defence
could have wasted $14,000 per
annum. No capital investment was
required.
WWW.DEFENCE.GOV.AU/DEFENCEMAGAZINE
>
41
THE LAST WORD
THE LAST WORD
“…anyone can get post traumatic stress symptoms.
They are a natural response to a traumatic event.
PTSD doesn’t mean you’re soft, it means you’re human.”
Singer lends
his heart
to soulful project
By Michael Weaver
The Chief of Army launched a poignant DVD on post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), called Dents
in the Soul, late last year. Renowned singer-songwriter John Schumann played an integral role in
the project and took time out to speak with Defence Magazine.
Q
How did your involvement in
Dents in the Soul first come
about?
I think it was August 2009. I was
driving to Renmark (on the River Murray
in my home state of SA) to hear a
couple hundred school kids perform my
commissioned work – four songs about
the explorer, John McDouall Stuart. Major
Margaret Goodman rang me to ask my
permission to use I Was Only 19 in a
DVD on PTSD which the Mental Health
Directorate was about to produce. One
thing led to another and in a couple of
months I was in Canberra working directly
with ‘Major Marg’ and Scot McCann from
Defence Publishing Service.
My role increased incrementally
until I found myself writing some of
the narrative, fronting the camera and
interviewing the various members who
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DEFENCE MAGAZINE
had agreed to tell their stories. I have
to say I loved almost every minute the
project, particularly my conversations
with the soldiers. As well as my friendship
with ‘Major Marg’ and Scot, I became
mates with some of the blokes and we
still keep in touch via phone and email.
There was some talk of doing
something similar to Dents in the Soul
for the Navy, the Air Force and for
ADF families. I’d be delighted if that
happened and delighted if I was asked to
participate again. We’ll just have to wait
and see.
The project took a bit longer than it
should have and key personnel seemed
to be changing every month or so. ‘Major
Marg’, the driving force, was transferred
to Brisbane and some of the other people
who were working on it got shunted
hither and thither.
Q
The project really got back on the rails
again when Colonel Stephanie Hodson got
hold of it and assigned Majors Michelle
McInnes and Gary Dodd to keep the
momentum up. We eventually launched
it with the Chief of Army at Lavarack
Barracks in December 2010.
Is it heartening for you to see
that I Was Only 19 still strikes
such a chord with the Army
and also the wider community?
I was surprised, very heartened and
very humbled to see that ‘19’ is still held
in high regard and respect by serving ADF
members, particularly the young blokes.
Almost every soldier I met had a ‘19’
story –where they heard it first, who they
were with, what it means to them. While
I’m delighted, I’m also surprised because
the song is now almost 30 years old.
As far as the wider community is
concerned, I think the support and
reverence ordinary Australians have for
‘19’ is that it’s their way of saying sorry to
our Vietnam veterans – “sorry we didn’t
think how us marching down city streets
protesting must have looked to you from the
rice-paddies of Vietnam; sorry we didn’t stop
to ask you how you were feeling when you
came home; sorry we didn’t understand that
this was a different war from the one our
fathers fought; sorry we didn’t pay attention
when you tried to tell us you were crook;
sorry we let the government work you over”.
For me, I Was Only 19 has been an
amazing gift. You can’t imagine what a
pleasure it is to be recognised out of the
blue by a veteran or a veteran’s family
member and be thanked so warmly and
genuinely. You can’t imagine what it’s
like to be an honorary part of the veteran
community, knowing you have a bunch of
mates who’ll be there for you when the
wind’s blowing in the wrong direction.
There’s no amount of money or success
that even comes close.
trash your life and the lives of those
around you. The sooner you get help, the
better the outcome.
The other key message for soldiers is
that Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie and
the other senior leaders have said that
owning up to PTSD doesn’t mean the end
of your Army career. They are genuine
about reforming the culture and the way
the organisation approaches soldiers with
psychological injuries. If I didn’t think
they were fair dinkum, I wouldn’t have
lent my song or my face to the project.
Q
What feedback have you
received about the DVD,
particularly from soldiers?
The feedback has been really fantastic.
Apparently, the demand for the DVD has
been so great they’ve run out and they’re
burning more. One bloke said to me “Thank
God it’s not death by Powerpoint. It’s a
real documentary with stories and music
– like something we’d watch on TV if we
were home”.
Q
As narrator of the DVD,
what has been your personal
experience with PTSD, and
what message have you been able
to put forward?
I got PTSD when I assisted at the scene
of a fatal road accident after a Redgum
concert. The victims were wearing Redgum
t-shirts they’d bought at the gig that
day. I was pretty knocked about by the
experience. Fortunately, it dawned on me
early what was wrong with me. I had PTSD
(after all I’d written a song about it).
My family doctor, a mate with an
interest in psychology, helped me
through over a period of about three
months. The thing is I got help early
and I got better.
I suppose my message is that
anyone can get post traumatic stress
symptoms. They are a natural response
to a traumatic event. PTSD doesn’t mean
you’re soft, it means you’re human. But
the other reality is that sometimes we
can’t just ‘get over’ trauma but with
treatment we can ‘get past’ it. The other
message is that PTSD doesn’t have to
Above: (L-R) Major Lester Mengel from Army Headquarters, Mrs
Judith Mengel, John Schumann, Chief of Army Lieutenant General
Ken Gillespie and Sergeant McQuilty Quirke (front) at the launch
of the Dents In The Soul DVD at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville.
Photo: Corporal Mark Doran Opposite: John Schumann with a
Black Hawk loadmaster during a Forces’ Entertainment Tour of East
Timor in December 2009. Photo courtesy of John Schumann
Interestingly, psychologists from outside
the ADF are looking at Dents in the Soul
and seeing it as a real alternative to
the “suck it up, princess” culture. A few
people in some of the state SES, police
and fire departments have seen the DVD
and they’ve tried to get something like it
produced for their own people.
In contrast, the Army is to be
congratulated for confronting the failures
of the past and having a go.
Q
In light of your many live
performances for soldiers, how
gratifying is it to interact with
them in a social environment?
Playing for and interacting with soldiers
is really very gratifying. My band, The
Vagabond Crew, toured East Timor in
November 2009 and I can’t tell you how
much fun that was for all of us. It was the
experience of a lifetime. We were treated
like honoured guests by everyone. The only
frustration was that we didn’t get to play
enough! We only did three gigs.
Q
How is 2011 shaping
up for you?
2011 is looking pretty interesting.
John Schumann & the Vagabond Crew
went down pretty well in East Timor so
we’re slated to go to Afghanistan
sometime this year – but we can’t
say when, of course. There was some
talk of launching the DVD at other
Army bases around the country and,
as I said earlier, some other talk of
doing something similar to Dents in
the Soul for the Navy, the Air Force
and for ADF families.
Outside of the ADF, I’ve been
approached to perform some
morale–building concerts around
the Queensland flood areas with
the band. I’ve got an album to
record for the ABC which is overdue,
some songs to write for the SA
Schools Music Festival and the band
is booked to play a few festivals
around the country as well. If that
isn’t enough, I’ve been having some
conversations with a publisher
about a book. I also hope to get
some ‘desert time’ in my 4WD
though I don’t like my chances.
Dents in the Soul is available via
the Defence website at:
http://www.defence.gov.au/health/
DMH/PTSD_DVD.htm
WWW.DEFENCE.GOV.AU/DEFENCEMAGAZINE
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Airshow at Avalon
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> Interview with the Commander
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East, Major General Angus Campbell
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