Navy Victoria Network December 2014 News

News & Articles of Interest

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29 Dec 2014	Alliance of Defence Service Organisations (ADSO) update 05/2014.....
22 Dec 2014	Smaller Government Measures Tranche 3 On 15 December 2014, building on earlier Budget measures, the Government announced a third tranche of Smaller Government reform which relates to the streamlining of government bodies. For DVA, this means around 20 advisory groups in the health, research and commemorations areas will either cease, sunset, merge with new arrangements, or be subject to review. More.....
22 Dec 2014	Young Endeavour sets sail on world voyage The Royal Australian Navy operated Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour set sail from Sydney today for a 12-month voyage, circumnavigating the globe. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Darren Chester, attended the departure from Fleet Base East, and spoke with members of the Royal Australian Navy crew and the 24 young Australians who will sail the ship on the first leg, to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. More.....
22 Dec 2014	NVN's December newsletter NOTE from Webmaster: If you are a member and haven't been receiving your monthly newsletters by email, the email address you supplied on joining is incorrect or out of date. To correct this, contact the webmaster at: and he will copy and amend your address.
21 Dec 2014	Minister for Defence – Statement I am grateful for the trust and confidence of the Prime Minister to be Australia’s fifty-first Minister for Defence. Since being appointed Shadow Minister for Defence in 2008, I have diligently gone about serving my party and its leadership. I thank the men and women of the Australian Defence Force for their commitment to protect and defend our great nation, for their service and their sacrifice. More.....
20 Dec 2014	Vietnam Veterans Family Study Update The link below is a letter from the Repatriation Commissioner, Major General Mark Kelly AO DSC. This letter provides information on the completion of the Vietnam Veterans Family Study. Included is a Fact Sheet outlining the key findings of the study. Read the letter & Fact sheet..... NOTE: The study reports can be accessed via www.dva.gov.au/vvfs.
20 Dec 2014	Australian operations in Iraq continue to press ISIL Since air operations commenced against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the militants operating in Iraq have been targeted by more than 500 coalition air strike missions including more than 180 sorties by Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornets. Chief of Joint Operations Vice Admiral David Johnston said the Australian Air Task Group (ATG) remained a key contributor to coalition air operations. More.....
19 Dec 2014	HMAS Bundaberg decommissioned HMAS Bundaberg was decommissioned from Royal Australian Navy service at a small ceremony in HMAS Cairns on 18 December. The Armidale Class Patrol Boat sustained extensive internal and external damage as a result of a fire during routine maintenance in Brisbane in August. More.....
19 Dec 2014	Keeping Watch gives at the right time As Christmas approaches, four families in need have been provided with some welcome relief to ease the hardships of caring for seriously ill loved ones. Operating as an arm of the Royal Australian Navy Relief Trust Fund (RANRTF), Keeping Watch, the Navy’s own charity, has celebrated its first birthday by meeting its prime objective - giving to those in need. More.....
19 Dec 2014	Falls prevention support for the veteran community If you are a Gold or White Card holder you can access aids or appliances to help you maintain independence in your home through the Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP). Aids or appliances prescribed through the programme can include: More.....
19 Dec 2014	Additional Local Grants awarded to honour First World War servicemen and women The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC, Senator the Hon. Michael Ronaldson has today announced a further 415 grants totalling more than $3.4 million under the Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program, and additional funding towards seven grants already awarded. More.....
18 Dec 2014	Long line of duty for HMAS Huon Navy personnel have come to the rescue of sharks trapped in abandoned longlines recently, whilst on patrol east of Ashmore Island. HMAS Huon, a Coastal Mine Hunter, discovered five abandoned longlines approximately two to three nautical miles inside the Australian Fishing Zone. The longlines retrieved were believed to be from foreign fishing boats suspected of fishing north of Australian waters and had drifted into the Australian Fishing Zone. Each line was approximately 400 meters in length with up to 25 hooks. More.....
18 Dec 2014	New Look Veterans' Affairs Website Launched Improving access to information in an easy to navigate format has guided the re-development and improvement of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) website which was launched today by the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Senator the Hon. Michael Ronaldson. More.....
17 Dec 2014	Letter to Prime Minister from Senator Jacqui Lambie Dear Prime Minister I bring to your attention a media statement by the Defence Force Welfare Association (DFWA) (see attached) which reports that the Defence Department has, “imposed married quarter rent increases up to 4.2% to take effective from early 2015, in addition, charges imposed on members living in barracks will increase by up to 2.5% for lower standards.” More.....
17 Dec 2014	Governments Christmas Present To ADF Families - Higher Rents & Charges Only weeks after providing a paltry 1.5% pay increase to members of the ADF, the Government is now imposing charges for some married quarter rents well above the 1.5% ……...exactly what the Defence Force Welfare Association feared would occur. More.....
15 Dec 2014	Navy's newest recruits in the Defence Indigenous Development Program wear their uniform with pride Navy Recruits from the Defence Indigenous Development Program (DIDP) have again been proud ambassadors for Navy, this time at the inaugural Remembrance Day service in the Yungaburra’s Afghanistan Avenue of Honour. The service, held approximately one and a half hours south-west of Cairns, was attended by senior Defence members, war veterans and other community guests. More.....
15 Dec 2014	HMAS Cerberus Executive Officer Handover The end of the year is a busy time for everyone, but often for Navy families it means a change of posting. This was the case for HMAS Cerberus Executive Officer, Commander Mike Oborn, and his replacement Commander Melanie Verho. It is tradition for Navy’s ships and establishments to call a Clear Lower Deck for ship's company to gather and hear of important news and to witness significant occasions. So the men and women of Cerberus gathered to farewell Commander Oborn and meet his successor. More.....
14 Dec 2014	Navy Steam Club delivers Christmas The HMAS Cerberus Navy Steam Club’s 1923 Foden Steam Wagon made a delivery of a different sort as the club joined forces last week with the St Vincent de Paul Society’s ‘Vinnies Christmas Appeal’. In spectacular style, the Foden wagon travelled the streets of Melbourne city with their precious cargo of 1,300 children’s toys destined for the joyful hands of Victorian children who otherwise may not have experienced all that Christmas has to offer. More.....
14 Dec 2014	Navy League of Australia (Vic Div) December newsletter......
13 Dec 2014	HMAS Toowoomba completes Middle East Region deployment HMAS Toowoomba completed a successful Operation MANITOU maritime security deployment to the Middle East Region today (Saturday 13 December 2014) and is heading home to Perth. Deployed as part of Australia’s Joint Task Force 633, Toowoomba conducted security patrols as part of the international community’s Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and Combined Task Force (CTF) 150. More.....
12 Dec 2014	Change of Australian military command in the Middle East Commander of Australia’s Joint Task Force 633 (JTF633) in the Middle East Region (MER) Major General Craig Orme, AM, CSC has officially transferred command to Rear Admiral Trevor Jones, AO, CSC, RAN. Major General Orme said there was no greater role than to command Australian sailors, soldiers, airmen and airwomen on operational service. More.....
12 Dec 2014	Naval History Society of Australia (Vic Div) President's December musings.
11 Dec 2014	Improving Primary Care Mental Health Treatment For Veterans The Abbott Government is strengthening the support available to general practitioners to identify and treat Australia’s veterans with mental health issues with the release today of a new online training program. More.....
11 Dec 2014	Chief of Navy's Christmas Message Navy has achieved a great deal this year. We have made great strides to introduce new capabilities, with the commissioning of HMAS Canberra, completion of two more Anzac upgrades and the arrival in Australia of the first Seahawk Romeos. We will see much more of them in 2015; they are game-changers. More.....
09 Dec 2014	Creating a sustainable naval shipbuilding industry The Abbott Government is committed to investing in a safe and secure Australia. As part of this commitment – and building towards the release of the Defence White Paper – the Government today announces a three point plan that will create a sustainable naval shipbuilding industry that supports shipbuilding jobs. Firstly, the Government will work with industry to fix the Air Warfare Destroyer program. Secondly, the Government will create a sovereign submarine industry and avoid a submarine capability gap. Thirdly, the Government will create a naval shipbuilding industry around a fleet of future frigates – provided industry productivity continues to improve. This plan recognises the significant value to our nation of a skilled naval shipbuilding workforce. Conscious of the financial disaster left to us by the former government, we will continue to ensure that our Navy is served with the best capability at the best price. Announcements about specific programs will be made in due course.
09 Dec 2014	Additional shipbuilding expertise to be inserted into the Air Warfare Destroyer program The Government has taken the next major step to put the $8.5 billion Air Warfare Destroyer program back on track to deliver critical capability for the Royal Australian Navy. Following a competitive procurement process, BAE Systems, Navantia SA and Raytheon Australia will take on increased roles in the Air Warfare Destroyer program for an interim period. Their increased involvement will drive immediate improvements in shipbuilding performance. More.....
09 Dec 2014	Reform of Air Warfare Destroyer Program - Joint Press Conference The Government has taken the next major step to put our $8.5 billion Air Warfare Destroyer program back on track to deliver critical capability for our Royal Australian Navy. After a competitive tendering process, BAE Systems, Navantia SA and Raytheon Australia will take on increased roles in the Air Warfare Destroyer program for an interim period, which will go to the end of July 2015. The increased involvement will drive immediate further improvements in shipbuilding performance. More.....
08 Dec 2014	Veterans' Affairs' failures exposed in Australian Public Service Commission Capability Review Australia's military veterans are getting sub-standard health and welfare services by a Veterans' Affairs Department that is financially unsustainable, disjointed and slow. A Capability Review by the Australian Public Service Commission has found Veterans' Affairs has big problems with its culture, leadership and equipment, affecting the health and welfare of its clients, veterans and their families. More.....
06 Dec 2014	Armed Merchant Cruisers / Landing Ship Infantry (AMC/LSI) Association December newsletter.....
05 Dec 2014	Looting of WWII warships foiled by Malaysian Navy The Royal Malaysian Navy’s Naval Region Command 1 (Mawilla 1) foiled an attempt by a group of Vietnamese fishermen to loot British World War Two warships about 60 nautical miles from Tanjung Gelang, near Kuantan, on 27 November 2014. More.....
05 Dec 2014	Veteran Support Continues Over The Christmas Period With the Christmas and New Year period fast approaching, I would like to share with you the Department of Veterans’ Affairs service arrangements for the Christmas/New Year period. All DVA offices, including all Veterans’ Access Network (VAN) and Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS) offices will close at close of business on Wednesday, 24 December 2014 and will reopen on Friday, 2 January 2015. While the offices may be closed, veterans and their families can continue to access many of the key DVA services by: More.....
05 Dec 2014	Review Confirms Priorities For DVA Today, the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) released its Capability Review report of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). A Capability Review is a forward-looking, whole-of-agency review that assesses an agency’s ability to meet future objectives and challenges. I welcome the release of this report. More.....
04 Dec 2014	Space Surveillance Telescope – a first for the ADF The Australian Government has agreed to spend $63 million to deliver facilities to support the installation of a Space Surveillance Telescope at the Harold E Holt Naval Communications Station at Exmouth, Western Australia. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Darren Chester, said Parliament had approved the project which includes the construction of an enclosure facility around the Space Surveillance Telescope and associated supporting infrastructure including roads. More.....
04 Dec 2014	Defence Minister welcomes the commissioning of HMPNGS Lakekamu Today in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, a ceremony was held to mark the commissioning of the Landing Craft Heavy HMPNGS Lakekamu into service with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force. HMPNGS Lakekamu was formerly the Royal Australia Navy Landing Craft Heavy HMAS Labuan, which was decommissioned from Australian service at a ceremony in Cairns last month. More.....
04 Dec 2014	New generation of Indigenous Australians get a feel for military life A group of 34 Indigenous men and women will today reach a personal and professional milestone when they complete the Defence Indigenous Pre Recruitment Course (IPRC) at HMAS Cerberus. For six weeks participants from all over regional Australia focused on key areas of development including Indigenous and military cultural appreciation; health and life skills; military familiarisation training; language, literacy and numeracy; and career awareness and preparation. More.....
03 Dec 2014	Anzac Portal Brings Wartime History To Life Three Second World War veterans joined students from Canberra’s Melba Copland College at Parliament House today to share stories about wartime experiences during the launch of the Anzac Portal. Personal stories, historical information and educational resources have been masterfully brought together within a new website commemorating not just the Centenary of Anzac, but the Century of Service that it spawned. More.....
03 Dec 2014	Chief of Navy response to reporting on 730 ABC 3 December 2014 \| On the Record Last night the ABC’s 7.30 aired a story about Navy members deployed on Operation RESOLUTE and the impact of border protection operations on their health and wellbeing. Our Navy people are often asked to undertake difficult and challenging work, there is no doubt that border protection work is amongst the most arduous. Yet I continue to be impressed by the way that our people go about these difficult tasks, conducting themselves with great compassion, professionalism and dignity. Australians should be proud of their efforts over more than a decade of border protection operations. This work does have an impact on our people, which is why we have a tailored mental health support program for those involved in border protection operations. This program includes regular screening and follow up mental health support where required. I believe it is a first class system that is part of a broader approach to mental health across the ADF. Border protection operations are complex and dynamic operations which require high levels of professionalism by our commanders and their crew. At the forefront of their thinking is the preservation of life at sea. This is intrinsic to mariners the world over and the men and women of the Royal Australian Navy exemplify this mariner approach. T.W. BARRETT VADM Chief of Navy
03 Dec 2014	Statement on Afghanistan and Iraq I speak today to update the Parliament and the Australian people about Australia’s missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since my last statement on 11 December 2013, there have been significant developments in Australia’s mission in Afghanistan, and this year has seen the commencement of the ADF mission in Iraq. More.....
02 Dec 2014	Labor’s Defence record reveals hypocrisy The future submarine program is a significant national investment in a vital defence capability and it is important that we get it right. The Government is committed to delivering the most capable replacement submarines, at the best price with the least risk to our nation’s future security. Unlike Labor, that is what we will do. More.....
01 Dec 2014	Welcome News That Government Restores Some ADF Entitlements Removed With Pay Deal The Alliance of Defence Service Organisations (ADSO) thanks the Government for today announcing that it has revoked its previous support for the need to offset the 1.5% per annum pay offer made to ADF members with ‘productivity initiatives’ that removed some leave, food and travel entitlements. These entitlements will now be restored. More.....
01 Dec 2014	Australian Defence Force allowances to be restored The Government has notified the independent Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal (DRFT) that the changes to Australian Defence Force allowances are not supported by the Government and asked that the changes be discontinued. More.....
28 Nov 2014	Veteran Creativity On Show In Victoria Veterans from across Victoria put pen and paint to paper showcasing their artistic talents as part of the 2014 Story Writing & Art Competition (SWAC) at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital. Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs in Victoria, John Geary, congratulated this year’s winners and all those who submitted entries. More.....
28 Nov 2014	HMAS Canberra joins the fleet Governor General of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove, AK, MC (Retd), together with the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Mr Tony Abbott, MP, were the guests of honour today as Australia’s first Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) was welcomed into service in the Royal Australian Navy. The Australian White Ensign was raised for the first time, signalling that HMAS Canberra III was formally commissioned into the Fleet. More.....
28 Nov 2014	HMAS Canberra, among the best in the world The commissioning of HMAS Canberra, a 27,000 tonne Landing Helicopter Dock, provides the Royal Australian Navy with one of the world’s most capable and sophisticated amphibious assault ships, Defence Minister David Johnston said. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony held at Garden Island, Sydney, Senator Johnston said HMAS Canberra was the largest warship ever built for the RAN and her introduction to the RAN fleet marked a “very proud day for the men and women serving in the senior service”. More.....
28 Nov 2014	ADF Assistance Trust If you know someone in the Defence community who is struggling to meet financial commitments as a result of incapacity, death or injury, we may be able to help. The Australian Defence Force Assistance Trust is a charity helping current and former members of the Australian Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as their families following the death or severe injury of their loved one as a result of service with the ADF, particularly in recent conflicts. More.....
27 Nov 2014	Cyber Security Review The Australian Government will review Australia’s cyber-security strategy to better protect Australia’s networks from cyber attack. The review, to report within six months, will explore how industry and the government can work together to make our online systems more resilient against attacks. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet will lead the Cyber Security Review assisted by a panel of experts. More.....
26 Nov 2014	Navy training aimed at building resilience among indigenous youth HMAS Cerberus has hosted young players, coaching and support staff from the AFL Flying Boomerangs squad as part of a personal development and leadership program for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders between 14-15 years old. The players were introduced to training, Navy style, through program designed to test and strengthen their resilience. More.....
26 Nov 2014	CDF statement regarding Defence Abuse Response Taskforce Report The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, has welcomed the reports tabled in Parliament today by the Defence Abuse Response Taskforce. In thanking the Taskforce for its ongoing work, Air Chief Marshal Binskin acknowledged the Honourable Len Roberts-Smith for the dedicated and professional manner in which he has approached these difficult matters. More.....
26 Nov 2014	Defence Abuse Response Taskforce report The Government has received the final report of the out-going Chair of the Defence Abuse Response Taskforce (DART), the Honourable Len Roberts-Smith RFD QC, and his report on Defence Abuse at the Australian Defence Force Academy. Both reports were tabled in Parliament today. 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