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 of information of interest, not just to the extended navy community of Victoria,
serving and ex-serving, but also to the wider Australian navy community.
Latest News for our Navy Network

Download the JANUARY edition of our newsletter BROADSIDE
 
 
  17 February
HMAS Hobart joins Indonesia fleet review, Exercise Komodo 25
HMAS Hobart has arrived at the Port of Benoa, Bali, for Indonesia’s two most important maritime events for 2025.  The International Fleet Review will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the formation of the Indonesian Navy, while Exercise Komodo 2025 will bring together 15 nations for multilateral maritime training.  Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AO, RAN said the broad global support for these events is testament to Indonesia’s growing maritime standing.   More.....
17 February
DroneShield joins AUKUS export framework
DroneShield, a global leader in counter-drone defence technology has officially been registered with both the United States and Australian government under AUKUS, enabling the export of most military and dual-use goods, technologies, and services to the United States and the United Kingdom without the need for an export license.  This development marks a significant milestone in enhancing defence trade and cooperation between AUKUS partners.   More.....
14 February
Working to protect undersea infrastructure
Royal Australian Navy deployable undersea warfare forces have joined the US Navy and Royal Navy in furthering subsea and seabed warfare (SSW) in an AUKUS Pillar II Undersea Warfare advanced capabilities event at Norfolk, Virginia.  SSW focuses on Navy understanding and exploiting the entire water column from the surface to ocean floor to monitor, protect and defend Australia’s undersea critical infrastructure.   More.....
14 February
Carrier USS Harry S. Truman Hull Pierced in Collision, Heading to Port for Repairs
The hull of aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) was pierced above the waterline during a Wednesday collision with a merchant tanker just north of the entrance to the Suez Canal, USNI News has learned.  The bow of bulker MV Besiktas-M collided with the starboard quarter of Truman, leaving a small gash in the side of the carrier above the waterline and piercing the hull, according to two Navy officials.   More.....
14 February
Lessons learned from 50 years of service
During the open day at the 2025 Australian Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart, project officer for STS Young Endeavour Commander Gavin Dawe shared his lessons learned from 49 years’ service in the Navy.  It’s not uncommon for 12-year-olds to hero worship their older siblings.  However, for Commander Gavin Dawe, the admiration of his older brother led to almost half a century of service to his country.   More.....
14 February
Claims processing data – January 2025
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) continues to process outstanding claims as quickly as possible, to deliver much needed help to veterans and families sooner.
As part of our commitment to routinely, publicly, and meaningfully reporting on claims processing progress, each month DVA releases updated data via the claims processing page.
A snapshot of January 2025:   More.....
13 February
Parliament passes new veterans’ legislation
On 13 February 2025, the Parliament passed the Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2024 (the VETS Act).  The Government developed the improved legislation in response to the Interim Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, which recommended the Government simplify and harmonise the framework for veteran rehabilitation, compensation and other entitlements.  The legislation means that from 1 July 2026, the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) and the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) will close to new compensation claims.  More.....
13 February
Young Endeavour flies flag at Royal Hobart Regatta
Tasmania’s River Derwent was transported back to the glorious “Age of Sail” during the Australian Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart this month.  Cannon fired in celebration and thousands packed the banks of the Derwent to welcome more than 400 wooden vessels and 11 tall ships to mark the beginning of the biennial event, the biggest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.  While the HMB Endeavour replica led the parade of sail, third in the line representing Navy was STS Young Endeavour, which is in Tasmania as the naval flagship for the 187th Royal Hobart Regatta.  More.....
12 February
Navy Recruit School sizzles for children in need
Iconic Australian institutions combined for a good cause when members of the Royal Australian Navy Recruit School ran a Bunnings sausage sizzle at Hastings in Victoria to support the Living the Dream Foundation.  Recruit School instructor and event organiser Leading Seaman Lachlan Bucknell said the event was a great success and well attended by the local community.  “This is the first time Recruit School has undertaken this kind of initiative and we were eager to make a positive impact in the community as well as support such a great organisation,” Leading Seaman Bucknell said.  More.....
11 February
Young officers lead in Anti-Submarine Warfare
Newly qualified officers of the watch, Sub-Lieutenants Mollie Murton and James Lara, have achieved a significant career milestone by completing advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) training with the United States Navy (USN).  The eight-week program was undertaken during HMAS Brisbane’s recent five-month deployment at US Naval Base San Diego and gave the officers hands-on experience with the state-of-the-art Advanced Tactical Employment Trainer (ATET).  More.....
11 February
US, Australia, and UK forces conduct joint combined operations
The U.S. Navy (USN), Royal Australian Navy (RAN), and Royal Navy (RN) joined together to conduct a link exercise, a coordinated maneuvering exercise, and a variety of other combined operations in the South China Sea, Feb. 6-7.  Participating units included the USN Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65), the RAN Hobart-class guided-missile destroyer HMAS Hobart (DDG 39), the RN River-class offshore patrol vessel HMS Spey (P234).  More.....
10 February
SECDEF: White House Supportive of AUKUS, Australia Makes $500M Payment
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles at the Pentagon on Friday and affirmed the U.S. commitment to the alliance between Australia, the U.K. and the U.S.  A Pentagon readout said that Hegseth welcomed Australia’s $500 million contribution under AUKUS to the U.S. submarine industrial base as a key element of advancing defense industrial collaboration between the two countries and strengthening the bilateral alliance with Australia.  More.....
10 February
Australia needs Australian AI
Australia must do more to shape its artificial intelligence future. The release of DeepSeek is a stark reminder that if Australia does not invest in its own AI solutions, it will remain reliant on foreign technology—technology that may not align with its values and often carries the imprints of its country of origin.  This reliance means that Australian user data and the economic benefits derived from it will continue to flow offshore, subject to foreign legal jurisdictions and foreign corporate priorities.  More.....
09 February
A spectacular start to the Invictus Games
Team Australia joined roughly 5,000 attendees at last night’s spectacular opening ceremony for the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, which for the first time will incorporate winter sports including skiing, snowboarding, wheelchair curling and biathlon.  The combined Australian team of 33 current and former serving military personnel, enjoyed the full show of live music – featuring Chris Martin and Katy Perry, the Parade of Nations, stunning performances and moving stories to mark the start of the games.  More.....
09 February
Team Australia kicks off Invictus at full throttle
Following a touching welcome to Canada at the airport – including traditional drums, hearty hellos, bonjours from volunteers, and a DJ spinning Aussie tunes – as Team Australia landed in Vancouver on a Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A a few days earlier, the warm Invictus spirit continued, making the Aussies feel right at home despite the frigid conditions.  More.....
07 February
Veteran homelessness funding rolls out
The Australian Government is delivering on their election commitment to address veteran homelessness, with the roll out of $30 million through the Veterans’ Acute Housing Program.  With veterans three times more likely to experience homelessness than the general population, this Program is intended to support veterans experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.  Ten ex-service organisations and veteran-aware community housing providers from around the country will share in $30 million to support both capital works and specialist wraparound services.  More.....
06 February
Iran accepts delivery of homegrown drone carrier ‘Shahid Bahman Bagheri’
On February 06, 2025, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps' (IRGC) accepted the delivery of the new homegrown drone and helicopter carrier ship Shahid Bahman Bagheri during a ceremony in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.  According to Iranian media, the new carrier has been delivered to the naval fleet of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in a ceremony held in Bandar Abbas.  The carrier, which is based on a converted commercial vessel, underwent a transformation over a period of approximately two years to become a multi-purpose naval platform.  More.....
OUR FEBRUARY HERO
Commander Arthur Stanley STOREY DSC*
Arthur Stanley Storey was 13 years old when selected to enter the Royal Australian Naval College in 1923 as one of 12 Cadet Midshipmen. His peers were quick to note that his initials provided a ready foundation for the nickname “Donk”.  It was an early measure of the man to be, that he happily adopted the pseudonym for use in all company for the rest of his life.

Arthur was born on 23 March 1909 at Leicester, England, son of Edith Horne, a draper’s assistant. The identity of his father is unknown.  Mother and son migrated to Australia and settled at Blacktown, Sydney.  In 1913 Edith married William Henry Storey, a bootmaker born at Nagambie, Victoria.

Commander Storey's experience in WWII was widespread, it included service with the British Home Fleet during which he was well within the Arctic Circle at Jan Mayen Island; with the Mediterranean Fleet at Crete, Syria; and with the Malta and Tobruk convoys.  With the Seventh Fleet in New Guinea and Philippine Operations and with the British Pacific Fleet in operations at the Ryukyu Islands, at Formosa(Taiwan), and the Japanese archipelago.
Read all about this seemingly unknown hero, a man who survived nine Kamikaze attacks.....
06 February
Australia, Japan, Philippines, and United States Conducted Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity
The combined defense and armed forces of Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States, demonstrating a collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific, conducted a multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, Feb. 5.  This builds upon previous MCAs and our continuing operations together, which strengthen the interoperability of our defense/armed forces doctrines, tactics, techniques, and procedures.  More.....
06 February
Hegseth to host Australian leader in first visit with a foreign peer
Australia’s defense minister will visit the Pentagon on Friday, marking the first time U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will meet with a foreign counterpart, according to multiple people familiar with the planning.  Richard Marles, the deputy prime minister and defense minister of Australia, will arrive at a moment of uncertainty for U.S. allies. Over the last four years, America has deepened its military ties to partners across the Indo-Pacific in an effort to better compete with China.  Nowhere has that been clearer than in Australia, where the United States has opened new basing agreements, expanded military drills and signed AUKUS, a deal to share nuclear-powered submarines.  More.....
06 February
Applications open for Navy operated STS Young Endeavour
Applications are now open for 2025 youth development voyages in the Navy operated tall ship STS Young Endeavour.  The program will see the brigantine circumnavigate Australia for the final time, before the introduction into service of a new, state-of-the-art vessel in the coming years.  “A voyage in Young Endeavour is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for young Australians aged 16-23 to build valuable leadership and teamwork skills, helping them to increase their self-confidence and apply resilience in their everyday lives,” said Commanding Officer STS Young Endeavour, Lieutenant Commander Andrew Leupen.  More.....
05 February
Royal Navy to escort Dunkirk Little Ships on commemoration voyage
Royal Navy warships will escort the legendary ‘little ships of Dunkirk’ back to France in May for 85th anniversary commemorations of the World War 2 evacuation.  More than 70 of the small craft are expected to sail from Ramsgate in Kent to the French port, shepherded by a Royal Navy ‘guard of honour’ of around half a dozen vessels.  In doing so, they will recreate a journey which saw 338,000 British and allied troops rescued in late May and early June 1940 as the Nazis advanced rapidly across Europe.  More.....
05 February
Help shape the DVA claims process and other services
DVA is calling on veterans and families to take part in the annual Client Benefits Client Satisfaction Survey (CBCSS).   Since 2020, this survey has gathered firsthand insights into the claims process and helped to enhance the quality and efficiency of services provided to the veteran community.
Why participate?
Your feedback is crucial in helping us understand your experiences with claims lodgement and processing. By sharing your thoughts, you can contribute directly to the improvement of support services for veterans and families.  More.....
05 February
Captain takes command in Middle East
Command of the only permanent ADF headquarters outside of Australia has changed hands, with Captain Brett Westcott, RAN, officially taking the helm of Headquarters Middle East on December 9.  Being entrusted with the leadership of such a vital mission was a privilege according to Captain Westcott, who took over from Colonel Scottie Morris during a ceremony held at Camp Baird in the UAE.  “We have an enormous legacy in this region. The ADF has been in the Middle East since 1914 in one way or another, and we still have people deployed here on many operations,” he said.  More.....
05 February
Defence Data Standards boost Navy capability
Navy is using data and analytics to improve the lethality and survivability of the fleet, enabled by new Defence Data Standards making Defence’s data more accessible and usable.  No two ships, even of the same type, are identical. Each has unique operational characteristics, and quality data is required for a commander to capitalise on a vessel’s best attributes.  Characteristics like a vessel’s acoustic and magnetic signatures, weapon systems performance and state of battle-worthiness is all information that supports decision advantage.  More.....
04 February
Trailblazing veteran waltzes into 100 years
Family, friends and HMAS Moreton personnel turned out in force to help celebrate a remarkable milestone, Murielle Ahern’s 100th birthday.  Ms Ahern was born in Boonah, Queensland, on January 22, 1925, and worked with the US military before enlisting into the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS) during WW2.  She is now one of the few remaining veterans of the Second World War.  More.....
04 February
US military trials ship-mounted laser against UAV targets
The US military has released details surrounding the trial of a new naval laser system against unmanned targets.  The HELIOS LWS, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, was trialled aboard Arleigh Burke Class destroyer USS Preble, according to new details from the FY2024 Annual Report for the Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation.  The surface Navy laser weapon system is designed to provide layered defence, dazzle airborne threats, defeat unmanned aerial systems and fast inshore attack craft, using available ship power without the need for an energy magazine.  More.....
03 February
Recognising ADF personnel on Indo-Pacific operations
The Australian Government has introduced a new award to recognise the service of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel in the Indo-Pacific region.  For decades the ADF has operated throughout the Indo‑Pacific in support of a more peaceful, stable and prosperous region. In an increasingly complex strategic environment, these operations are critical to protecting our national interest and keeping Australians safe.  Recognising this, ADF personnel of all ranks who have completed 30 days of operational service on certain ADF operations in the region will be eligible for the Australian Operational Service Medal Indo-Pacific.  More.....
03 February
Strengthening Indo-Pacific maritime safety
HMAS Hobart joined eight nations off the coast of Indonesia from January 20 to 24 for the fifth iteration of Exercise La Perouse.  A French-led multilateral training activity, La Perouse involved 13 ships and more than 30 aircraft practising maritime cooperation missions.  Australia joined forces with France, Canada, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and United States.  More.....
03 February
Can you access the Booked Car with Driver service?
DVA has simplified the access requirements for the Booked Car with Driver (BCWD) service.  Veteran Gold or White Card holders with eligibility under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) who meet the threshold access criteria can access the BCWD service, where DVA arranges transport to take clients to attend treatment that is covered by their Veteran Card.  More.....
03 February
Supply ship Jacques Chevallier makes port in Darwin
The supply ship Jacques Chevallier of the French carrier strike group (CSG) including the aircraft carrier FNS Charles De Gaulle, its embarked air wing and its escort vessels recently stopped over at Darwin.  Thanks to strong relations with Australia and direct access to the port of Darwin, the supply ship restocks its supplies of material and fuel to replenish at sea the aircraft carrier and its escorts to ensure the operations at sea.  More.....
01 February
Defence takes delivery of first Arafura Class OPV
Defence has formally accepted the first of six planned Arafura Class offshore patrol vessel (OPV), NUSHIP Arafura, for further test and evaluation ahead of delivery to the Royal Australian Navy.  NUSHIP Arafura, the first Arafura Class OPV, has been officially delivered under Project SEA 1180. Built by Luerssen Australia at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia, this milestone marks a key achievement in the government’s ongoing commitment to enhancing Australia’s naval capability.  The Arafura Class OPV program will deliver six vessels to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), replacing the Armidale Class patrol boats and forming part of a broader Navy Minor War Vessel Fleet.  More.....
01 February
Welcome sea change for Air Force chef
An Air Force chef got a literal sea change when he put his hand up to join the crew of HMAS Brisbane on an interchangeability deployment to the United States.  Leading Aircraftman Jin Seo spent almost three months living and working like a Navy chef onboard Brisbane as she test-fired a Tomahawk missile – a first for Australia – and conducted exercises with the US Navy near San Diego.  It was the aviator’s first time on a Navy ship and his first visit to the US.  “Cooking on the ship was quite different, but all the basics were similar,” Leading Aircraftman Seo said.  More.....
01 February
‘More work to be done’ to lower barriers to tech-sharing for AUKUS Pillar II, Australian official says
The AUKUS nations have made progress in loosening regulatory barriers when it comes to the exchange of defense technology for the alliance’s Pillar II initiative, but an Australian official said much more red tape still needs to be cut.  “If we’re going to step into this endeavor, we’ve got to be committed to creating opportunities to accelerate and getting technology into the hands of our warfighters,” Commodore David Frost, naval attache in the Royal Australian Navy, told an audience here at the West conference on Thursday.  More.....
BROADSIDE - JANUARY 2025 Edition
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DIARY OF EVENTS
(What's happening around Victoria)
Please refer to our Calendar
for full details of the coming
events listed below.

09 Feb – 11:00  – National Servicemen’s Day service – Shrine – Sanctuary

10 Feb
– 11:00 HMAS Voyager Commemorative Service – Shrine – Sanctuary

19 Feb
- 10:00 - Darwin Defenders Commemoration - Shrine - WWII Forecourt




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