Navy Victoria Network July 2012 News

News & Articles of Interest

31 July 2012	HMAS Melbourne transfers maritime security operations to HMAS Anzac HMAS Melbourne has departed the Middle East Area of Operations after a successful six-month deployment as part of Operation SLIPPER. More.....
27 July 2012	WARNING ORDER - Op Aware Two Situation. Following the successful series of protest rallies on 12 July 2012, organised by the Alliance of Defence Service Organisations (ADSO) to coincide with the first payment of our huge CPI increases (!!!!!), the ADSO is organising Operation "AWARE 2". This will involve a series of activities leading up to Vietnam Veterans' Day (18 August) but there will be no planned activities scheduled for Vietnam Veterans' Day. More.....
26 July 2012	WWII Veteran LCDR W. E. (Eric) Thompson V.R.D. R.A.N. (Rtd) set to celebrate his 99th birthday. Eric Thompson was born in Cheshire, U.K. on 12 August 1913 and is pictured in this NT newspaper article authored by Conor Byrne in February of this year. He continues as an active member of the Box Hill NAA Sub-section and, I wonder whether he is now our oldest NAA member Australia wide? http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2012/02/15/288951_ntnews.html Eric celebrates his 99th Birthday on 12 August this year. To that end - with considerable help and assistance from W.A. Secretary, Douglas Valeriani, we have arranged to have a Naval Association Plaque/Shield manufactured to mark the occasion. We plan to make the presentation during our regular monthly meeting on Tuesday 7 August 2012 at Box Hill RSL, 28 Nelson Rd Box Hill Vic 3128 commencing at 1830 followed by dinner at 2000. National President, Russell Pettis has accepted our invitation to make the presentation. Members from other Sections are most welcome to attend.
26 July 2012	HMAS CANBERRA - 70th Anniversary Commemoration Service This year marks the 70th Anniversary of the sinking of HMAS CANBERRA 1 at Savo Island with the loss of 84 personnel on the 09 August 1942. On August 7, 1942, Allied forces landed on the island of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, an event that many deem to be the first step in a battle that was to become the turning point in the Pacific War. If you, a family member, or a friend is going to the Solomon Islands with any thought of commemorating the sacrifice made by the servicemen and women who fought in this iconic Second World War campaign, you (or they) need to be aware that there will be serious events taking place to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the battle. On the 7th August, the US Defense Force and many USA Veterans will be in the Islands and conducting services of significance. On the 9th August, two HMA Warships will be in the Solomons and depending upon numbers you (or they) may be able to board one of these vessels for the purpose of conducting a wreath laying service over the sacred sea bed where the CANBERRA lays today. Should you know of anyone that will be interested in the above commitments, please advise them to contact Edward Boyle by email at so that he might inform the RAN Adviser - Solomon Islands, who will make the appropriate arrangements. Get rolling this is a time short opportunity! "Lest we forget"
26 July 2012	RIMPAC 2012 Twenty-two nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC exercise from 29 June to 3 August, in and around the Hawaiian Islands. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2012 is the 23rd exercise in the series that began in 1971. View the video.....
24 July 2012	HMAS Farncomb celebrates successful sinking at RIMPAC The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Collins Class submarine HMAS Farncomb has successfully sunk a target ship, the 12,106-tonne former USNS (United States Navy Ship) Kilauea in Hawaii. More..... View the video.....
23 July 2012	View our July newsletter. NOTE from Webmaster: If you are a member and haven't received your June newsletter by email, it means the email address you supplied on joining is incorrect. To correct this, just email the and he will copy and amend your address.
20 July 2012	On The Record: Energy Diversity by Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, AO, CSC, RAN. I am writing to correct some misleading reporting in recent days by Andrew Bolt regarding the provision of energy through the Carnegie wave generator programme at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia. More.....
20 July 2012	Click here for Operational Service Medal Declaration
20 July 2012	Operational Service Medal - Border Protection Signal issued by Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, AO, CSC, RAN. Today the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Minister Snowdon, announced that the Government has determined a new award, the Australian Operational Service Medal (OSM) will be established to replace the Australian Active Service Medal (AASM), Australian Service Medal (ASM) and campaign medals. More.....
20 July 2012	Operational Service Medal - New Medal of Recognition for Defence The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, together with the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, AO, CSC, RAN, today unveiled a new medal of recognition for Australia’s defence force. The Australian Operational Service medal will for the first time recognise the efforts of Navy personnel carrying out border protection work. More.....
20 July 2012	PUBLIC AFFAIRS GUIDANCE – Australian Operational Service Medal On Thursday 19 July 2012 Minister for Defence Science and Personnel The Hon Warren Snowdon, with Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Ray Griggs AO CSC, will formally announce Her Majesty The Queen’s decision to introduce the OSM and that this medal will phase out/replace the Australian Active Service Medal (AASM), Australian Service Medal (ASM) and campaign medals. More.....
20 July 2012	NCCV Newsletter Click here to view the Naval Commemoration Committee of Victoria's July newsletter 'Rogue's Yarn'.
20 July 2012	Australian Navy explores alternative fuel use with United States The Royal Australian Navy has signed an agreement with the US Navy to explore the increased use of environmentally friendly fuels. Australia’s Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, AO, CSC, RAN and the US Secretary for Navy, Ray Mabus, have signed a Statement of Cooperation which recognises the potentially significant benefits research into alternative fuels can bring. It acknowledges the importance of the project, both for the environment and for national security. More.....
17 Jul 2012	Grants Light Up Veterans Walk Seymour's Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk will soon be lit at night after the Gillard Government has provided a grant of $150,000. Federal Member for McEwen, Rob Mitchell, today joined committee members and volunteers and Mitchell Shire from the commemorative walk to announce the funding through the Saluting Their Service Commemorations Program. More.....
17 Jul 2012	Funding Boost for Veteran Health and Wellbing Initiatives The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Warren Snowdon, today announced funding for 62 projects that will benefit the health and welfare of veterans across Australia. Mr Snowdon said the funding is part of the Australian Government’s Veteran & Community Grants program, which provides support for ex-service and community organisations. More.....
17 Jul 2012	Paper Presented to the Perth Counter-Piracy Conference Distinguished participants, ladies and gentlemen. Australia is a country with significant Indian Ocean as well as Pacific interests. The security of the Indian Ocean and the waters beyond goes to the heart of Australia’s national interests, and indeed the interests of the region. More.....
17 Jul 2012	Wave Energy comes to Garden Island, Perth The Department of Defence and Carnegie Wave Energy have signed power supply and grid connection agreements which will allow Defence to purchase all the electricity produced by a wave power facility to be established on Garden Island, the home of HMAS Stirling. More.....
17 July 2012	The Prime Minister says: Post and vote on OurSay! "At 11:00 AM, July 21st, the people who have asked the three most highly voted questions will be invited by OurSay to join the Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Julia Gillard MP, in an internationally-broadcast Google+ Hangout conversation to discuss the government’s agenda for the future and what it means for the people of Australia on a personal level. More.....
17 July 2012	Preparation For Possible Future Protest Rallies SITUATION As many of you will be aware, the Alliance of Defence Service Organisations (ADSO) coordinated a series of small, but very successful, protest rallies outside the offices of several politicians, including the offices of Wayne Swan and Penny Wong, on Thursday 11th July 2012, to coincide with "payday" when many of you would have received that massive increase to your ComSuper pension following the 0.1% increase as a result of a rise in the CPI!!! More.....
17 July 2012	Military Superannuation Pension Indexation – A Reminder of the Issue The core issue is the employment "contract". Military superannuation, a condition of military employment, required a compulsory contribution from pre-tax pay. In return, military superannuation pensions would be indexed to maintain purchasing power. That condition has been breached for over two decades. More.....
14 July 2012	HMAS Anzac to assume Middle East Patrols Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Dr Mike Kelly AM MP, and the Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Timothy Barrett AM CSC RAN joined family and friends on the wharf at Garden Island, Sydney today, to farewell HMAS Anzac as she sailed for her third tour of duty. More.....
10 July 2012	HMAS Farncomb relishes RIMPAC 2012 The crew of the Royal Australian Navy’s Collins Class submarine HMAS Farncomb are preparing to test themselves in a realistic warfare scenario, off the coast of Hawaii. More.....
10 July 2012	Defence Capability Plan Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today released the 2012 Defence Capability Plan (DCP). The DCP contains those priority projects planned for either first or second pass approval over the four year Forward Estimates period. More.....
08 July 2012	Article in Townsville Bulletin..... DEAR Prime Minister, It's been a difficult week for those of us in the extended Australian Defence community, serving and retired. There's a personal dimension to Australia's 33rd Afghanistan combat fatality because he comes from a respected military family known to many. More.....
06 July 2012	Australia plays lead role in Pacific Rim Nation Exercise in Hawaii The world’s largest Maritime exercise has officially begun with elements of the Australian Navy, Army and Air Force joining the military forces of 21 other nations in Hawaii. Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012 has brought together 25 thousand sailors, soldiers and airmen who will spend the next five weeks participating in a series of complex and realistic warlike scenarios. More.....
06 July 2012	How is this fair, Prime Minister? Veterans have been stunned to learn that their superannuation pensions will increase by just 0.1 per cent on Sunday 01 July, despite aged and service pensions increasing by 0.9 per cent on 20 March. More.....
06 July 2012	Kel Ryan is currently undertaking a doctoral study through James Cooks University Cairns to: “Explore the manner in which the issues of the Defence Force Family will be addressed into the 21st Century.” Background Veterans of Australia’s overseas military campaigns and those who served in the Defence Force but did not deploy to operational areas are represented by over 100 organisations. These organisations are commonly referred to as ex-service organisations or ESOs’ and in many instances seek support from the same decreasing pool of potential members. I am seeking positive contributions from a wide a range of ESOs and individuals. Read an abridged version of Kel's PhD Proposal.....
06 July 2012	Melbourne Port Division HMAS Lonsdale Inaugural Reunion. Expressions of interest required by 20th July 2012. Click here for full details
06 July 2012	Navy League of Australia - Victorian Chapter Click here to view the League's July newsletter.
05 July 2012	SPS Cantabria deployment agreement signed Spain and Australia have agreed today that the Combat Supply Ship Cantabria will operate with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) from February to November 2013. This deployment will be the longest and most extensive that the Navy ship will have made to date. More.....
05 July 2012	Launch of the Second Amphibious Ship Landing Helicopter Dock Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced the launch of the second Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) at the Navantia shipyard in Spain. More..... Watch the launch.....
04 July 2012	‘Spy’ Radar Arrays arrive in Adelaide Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare announced the arrival in Adelaide of the first two state of the art ‘SPY’ radar array faces that will be installed on the Air Warfare Destroyers (AWDs). More.....
04 July 2012	Adelaide company wins $3.25 million work on Air Warfare Destroyers Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare and Member for Port Adelaide Mark Butler today announced the award of a $3.25 million contract to construct the three masts for the Air Warfare Destroyers (AWDs) to Adelaide based company, MG Engineering. More.....
02 July 2012	Defence Capability Plan Reform Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced further reforms to the Defence Capability Plan (DCP) based on consultation with Australian Defence Industry. More.....
01 July 2012	AUSTRALIA’S WORST MARITIME DISASTER MARKED 70 YEARS ON A new memorial marking Australia’s worst maritime disaster, the sinking of the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War, was unveiled at a ceremony at the Australian War Memorial today. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Warren Snowdon, and Minister for School Education, Peter Garrett, said today marks 70 years since 1,054 Australian prisoners of war (POWs) and civilians lost their lives in the tragedy. More.....
01 July 2012	Defence signs $1.3 billion health services contract Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, has announced a new $1.3 billion contract between Defence and Medibank Health Solutions (MHS), to provide health care services to ADF personnel across Australia. The MHS agreement is for an initial four year term. More.....
01 July 2012	New Collins Class Submarine support contract signed Minister for Defence Stephen Smith, Minister for Finance and Deregulation Penny Wong and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that a new maintenance and support contract for the Collins Class Submarines had been signed. More.....
01 July 2012	The Deployment of Spanish Armada Ship Cantabria to Australia in 2013 The Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith, today announced that the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) would participate in a unique deployment to Australia of the Spanish Armada Ship, SPS Cantabria, with a series of training exercises in Australia from mid-February until November 2013. More.....
01 July 2012	Ocean Shield arrives in Australia Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that the Navy’s newest ship, Australian Defence Vessel Ocean Shield, had arrived in Australia. More.....
01 July 2012	Article in Brisbane Courier Mail THOSE contemplating taking advantage of the depressed market for luxury toys and buying a boat should note the example set by the Royal Australian Navy - and then ensure they do not repeat it. Last year, to the beating of drums and the sounding of trumpets, Defence Minister Stephen Smith announced that our Senior Service was buying Her Majesty's Ship Largs Bay for $100 million. More.....

Anzac Centenary Events
2014 - 2018

The Anzac Centenary (2014 – 2018) will shine a spotlight on the commitment and sacrifice of those who served in the First World War.

Across Victoria, there will be a number of commemorative events marking key dates throughout the Centenary.

OCTOBER 2015

ANZAC Naval Commemorative Ball - 17 October 2015
The Naval Commemorative Committee Victoria, invite all serving ADF personnel, Australian and Allied Veterans along with family and friends, to attend the ANZAC Naval Commemorative Ball on Saturday 17 October 2015 at (New Venue) The Atrium, Flemington Racecourse, 448 Epsom Rd, Flemington (10 Minutes from the CBD). Dance to the Music of the RAN Dance Band. The Ball is open to all serving and former members of the ADF, NZDF, Reserves, Cadets, families, friends, Police, Emergency Services, our Allies and the General Public.
Full details at: http://www.anzacball2015.org/p2 and http://www.anzacball2015.org/p6

Navy Ball Flyer.....
Navy Ball Information page.....
Navy Ball Booking Form.....

Should you wish to register an event, go to the Anzac Centenary website.

News & Articles of Interest

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Anzac Centenary Events 2014 - 2018

Anzac Centenary Events
2014 - 2018