AIRF

Vol. 53, No. 16, September 1, 2011 The official newspaper of the Royal Australian Air Force
RCE
DOUBLE
HONOUR
AP-3Cs fly
20,000hrs
Fifth C-17
on track
Casper hits
the road
P3 P5
11 Th
P8-9
Air Force pair
awarded for their
bravery in SIEV 36
rescue mission
Full story
P2
REWARD FOR
COURAGE: SGT
Sharon Jager, of
3EHS at RAAF Base
Darwin, reflects on her
involvement in the SIEV
36 rescue operation
in 2009 off Ashmore
Reef. SGT Jager and
Melbourne-based
reservist LAC Thomas
Norton (below left)
have been recognised
for their efforts in the
rescue in a Group
Bravery Citation, along
with one Army and 15
Navy members. Photos:
AB James Whittle (main)
and LS Paul McCallum
2 September 1, 2011 RCE AIRF
Editorial team
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david.edlington@defencenews.gov.au
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Mobile: 0400 003792
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john.martin@defencenews.gov.au
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ons
Disc
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News
Graham McBean
CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Brown has
congratulated two Air Force person-
nel recognised by Governor-General
Quentin Bryce for their contribution to
the rescue effort in the SIEV 36 trag-
edy in 2009.
Air Force members SGT Sharon
Jager and LAC Thomas Norton
were recognised in a Group Bravery
Citation with 15 Navy and one Army
personnel in the awards announced on
August 22.
SGT Jager is a senior medical
assistant with 3 Expeditionary Health
Squadron at RAAF Base Darwin and
LAC Norton is a Melbourne-based
reservist carpenter.
The two members were assigned
to the Transit Security Element (TSE)
as part of Operation Resolute on
Patrol Boats Armidale and Childers
in 2009 when SIEV 36 exploded
on April 16 near Ashmore Reef off
Western Australia.
LAC Norton was on board Patrol
Boat Childers when about 8am he saw
the boat explode.
I was due to go back to the [SIEV
36] at 8 oclock but we were delayed
for a few minutes, LAC Norton said.
The boat just disappeared into
flame it just completely disappeared
in a fireball.
SGT Jager had been on board
SIEV 36 since about midnight and
was blown from the boat when the
ship exploded.
In the water, SGT Jager fought for
her life. Her life vest did not inflate
CPL Bradley Joseph Bendeich
(Army)
AB Quinton Royston Boorman
LS Kirsty-Lee Brown
PO Thomas Raphael Dawe
CPO Dean Andrew Faunt
AB Tomas David Gallant
PO Paul Christopher Hetherington
SGT Sharon Louise Jager
LS Matthew Thomas Keogh
AB Jason Cordell List
AB Michael Alexander Lordon
CPO Shane Gregory McCallum
LS Maria Therese Mathews
LS Adrian Carl Medbury
LAC Thomas Stephen Norton
AB Mathew Ross Pierce
LS Daniel Anthony Ryan
MIDN Christopher Alexander Saville
THE Air Force Balloon is drifting
its way home after spending four
weeks in remote Australia as part
of Arnhem Drifter 2011.
The balloon and its crew, head-
ed by Central Flying School bal-
loon pilot SQNLDR Phil ODonnell,
have been travelling through
Arnhem Land, the Kimberley
Ranges and central Australia to
bring aviation to remote communi-
ties.
Arnhem Drifter, which began
on July 28 and was due to end on
August 31, provides young people
the opportunity to experience the
magic of flight, and allows them
to have a hands-on experience
with one of Air Forces key flying
assets.
Pictured left is Broke-Leg
and Catherine, students of the
Ngalangangpum School at
Warmun, who took a tethered
ride in the balloon in the remote
Kimberley region of WA.
Drifting
home
Air Force News was highly
commended at the 2011
Pacific Area Newspaper
Publishers Associations
(PANPA) Newspaper of the
Year awards in Sydney on
August 18.
We were recognised in
the category for non-daily
newspapers of between
10,000 and 25,000 circula-
tion.
PANPA is the peak body
for the newspaper industry
in Australia and this years
awards attracted more than
1000 entries, the largest on
record.
properly and she was being pushed
under water as people clambered for the
Navy RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat).
If not for the actions of Navy
RHIB crew in dragging her back on
board, SGT Jager was in very real
danger of drowning.
For LAC Norton, who was now on
the water in a RHIB, SGT Jagers pro-
fessionalism after being rescued was
inspirational.
She [SGT Jager] nearly drowned,
the poor girl, and when they did fish
her out of the water she was soaking
wet and she started giving medical aid
to the people who were dragged out of
the water, he said.
While LAC Norton said he was
very flattered to be recognised by
the citation, he downplayed his role as
I just did what I was told.
But SGT Jager was equal l y
impressed by LAC Nortons efforts.
She said after they had returned to
the patrol boats there was little pro-
tection on the vessels from the sun
and people had severe burns.
We started giving people fluids
and he [LAC Norton] started to hold
the fluid bags, SGT Jager said.
We were tying sheets and blan-
kets and doona covers together and he
became the umbrella pole for hours
on end.
The citation reads the ADF person-
nel on the escort vessels and the SIEV
reacted swiftly and professionally.
The escort vessels continually
manoeuvred their crafts and rescued
as many survivors as possible, the
citation reads.
Ultimately, all nine Defence
force personnel on board the SIEV
at the time, and 44 passengers and
crew of the vessel were recovered.
Sadly, dozens of casualties
Recognised
for bravery
occurred sustaining horrific injuries
and five people died.
CAF praised the efforts of the two
airmen.
I congratulate them on their
award, and encourage them to accept
it with pride, AIRMSHL Brown said.
Air Force personnel are doing
an outstanding job on Operation
Resolute every day.
I am pleased to see LAC Norton
and SGT Jager recognised for their
outstanding contribution, above and
beyond what is required by our per-
sonnel.
More information on Op Resolute is
available at www.defence.gov.au/op/
borderprotection/general.htm
THE RECIPIENTS
MUTUAL ADMIRATION: SGT
Sharon Jager. Photo: AB James Whittle
FLATTERED: LAC Thomas
Norton. Photo: LS Paul McCallum
FLASHBACK: The terrible scene of the SIEV 36 tragedy as it
unfolded on April 16, 2009. Photo: LCDR Brett Westcott

FLATTERED: LAC Thomas

MUTUAL ADMIRATION: SGT
Full wrap-up in the next edition
Photo: FSGT Glen McCarthy
3 September 1, 2011 RCE AIRFF
Jaimie Abbott
THE milestones just keep on coming
for the Air Forces AP-3C Orions.
In July, the Orions commem-
orated the fifth anniversary of
Operation Resolute, the ADFs
contribution to the whole-of-gov-
ernment effort to protect Australias
borders and offshore maritime
interests.
Now the aircrafts Middle East
detachment has marked 20,000
hours of operational missions.
The achievement was recorded
on August 15 as one of the two
deployed Orion aircraft flew an
overland mission in search of insur-
gents in southern Afghanistan.
Twenty thousand hours equates
to 833 days of 24-hour operations
or 2 years of continuous flying.
When the Orion arrived back
at Al Minhad Air Base after the
milestone mission, Australian and
British firefighting trucks provided
a traditional water canon welcome.
Det achment Commander
SQNLDR Darren Lines said he was
proud to have played a small part.
This is a remarkable achieve-
ment that is testament to the pro-
fessionalism, dedication, and mis-
sion focus of the team, he said.
About 2800 personnel have
deployed to the Middle East in
support of AP-3C operations since
2003.
T h e A i r C o mp o n e n t
Commander, GPCAPT Paul
Nicholas, also praised the hard
work done by 92WG detachments.
The combined efforts of the
AP-3Cs and the wider RAAF team
have enabled the Air Component to
support coalition land operations in
Iraq and Afghanistan and maritime
operations in the Arabian Sea and
surrounding maritime areas of the
Middle East, GPCAPT Nicholas
said.
For t he past ei ght year s,
t he Or i on cr ews have con-
duct ed overl and Int el l i gence
Surveillance & Reconnaissance
(ISR) tasks in Afghanistan and
Iraq, mari t i me pat rol s of t he
Persian Gulf and North Arabian
Sea and more recently, coun-
ter-piracy missions in the vicin-
ity of Somalia, working close-
ly with the US-led Combined
Maritime Force and other inter-
national task forces.
Commander Surveillance and
Response Group AIRCDRE Jim
Brown said the AP-3C Orion has
an extremely versatile aircraft.
During Middle East operations, it
can transmit real-time surveillance
pictures, providing essential situ-
ational awareness to commanders
on the ground.
It is also capable of performing
a multitude of roles including anti-
submarine warfare, anti-surface
warfare, maritime surveillance,
Naval fleet support and search and
survivor supply.
Upgr aded s ens or s have
i ncreased 92WGs abi l i t y t o
include overland ISR and today
about 70 per cent of sorties in the
Middle East are conducted over-
land, AIRCDRE Brown said.
Many of our AP-3C Orion
people have done multiple deploy-
ments to the Middle East. I under-
stand the impact this commitment
has on personal lives and I believe
it is important to recognise and to
thank their families for the support
they provide.
The Orions are deployed from
RAAF Base Edi nburgh. The
detachment in Al Minhad Air Base
in the United Arab Emirates is
made up of not only aircrew and
maintenance personnel, but intelli-
gence, imagery analysts, operations
officers, logistics and many other
combat support personnel.
perations
TO MARK the occasion of reaching
20,000 flying hours, the detachment
unveiled nose art on the aircraft which
clocked the magic number.
Designed by committee, the artwork
was painted on the pilots side of the air-
craft (which is tradition) by detachment
member LAC Derek Lamb.
Detachment Commander SQNLDR
Darren Lines said LAC Lamb had the
task of applying the concept diagram to
the aircraft and did an amazing job with
limited resources.
Derek is a 92WG aircraft structural
fitter who happens to be extremely tal-
ented with paint. We were very fortunate
that he was here, otherwise the nose art
would be stick men in the medium of
grease pencil, SQNLDR Lines said.
The nose art depicts the 92WG Sealion
gripping a globe displaying the Middle East
Area of Operations symbolising the quiet
achievers in the MEAO. There are also four
banners displaying the names of the opera-
tions that have been supported: Operations
Bastille, Falconer, Catalyst and Slipper.
There are four ribbons displayed symbolic
of the support provided to Australian and
coalition forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and the
maritime environment.
20,000 hours
up in Middle
East mission
Another day, another achievement for our Orions
PROUD NEW ADDITION: Above, the new nose art on the
Orion and, right, GPCAPT Paul Nicholas, artist LAC Derek
Lamb and SQNLDR Darren Lines.
Passing with flying colours
PROUD NEW ADDITION Ab th t th
THATS A BLAST: Australian and
British fire trucks provide a traditional
water canon welcome home at Al
Minhad Air Base. AP-3cs have now
clocked up 20,000 hours in the MEAO.
Photo: LTCOL Michael Harris
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4 September 1, 2011 RCE AIRF News
DEFENCE and the Australian com-
munity are mourning PTE Matthew
Lambert who was killed in action in
Afghanistan on August 22.
The Townsville-based 2RAR
infantry soldier was a member of
the third rotation of the Mentoring
Task Force.
PTE Lambert was on a night
mentored patrol with elements of
the Afghan National Army and
other coalition forces in the Khas
Uruzgan region, 85km north-
east of Tarin Kot, when he was
critically wounded after what is
believed to have been an IED deto-
nated.
An ISAF soldier was also seri-
ously wounded in the same incident.
PTE Lambert began his journey
home on August 26 with a simple
ceremony in Tarin Kot. The sol-
diers casket was then carried on an
Australian Light Armoured Vehicle
to a waiting 37SQN C-130.
CO MTF 3 LT-COL Chris
Smith said PTE Lambert was a
highly professional and disciplined
soldier.
PTE Matthew Lambert never
failed to impress me with his drive,
personal philosophy and profes-
sionalism, LTCOL Smith said.
PTE Lambert was the 29
th
Aust ral i an sol di er ki l l ed i n
Afghanistan during Operation
Slipper and the eighth Australian
soldier killed this year.
PTE La mbe r t s pa r t ne r,
Ellesse, said he was the love of
her life.
He was the most special man
in my life and we had planned our
whole life together, she said.
Matty made me a better per-
son, he is my best friend and I
wi l l always l ove hi m. Mat t y
always protected me and was the
best part of my life; he was my
everything.
PTE Lambert has been award-
ed the AASM with clasp ICAT,
Afghanistan Campaign Medal,
Australian Service Medal with
clasp Timor-Leste, Australian
Defence Medal and the Timor-
Leste Solidarity Medal.
A COMMEMORATIVE service will
be held at the site allocated for the
Australian Peacekeeping Memo-
rial on Anzac Parade in Canberra
at 11am on September 14.
The day will mark the 64th
anniversary of Australias first
contribution to a UN peacekeep-
ing mission in 1947.
The Canberra National
Memorials Committee has
approved a site for the memorial
on Anzac Parade. The memorial
will be a focal point for national
parades and remembrance
ceremonies in recognition of
Australian peacekeeping.
The approved project design
has now progressed to the pro-
totype stage. The design features
two black polished monoliths
separated by a passage of light
leading to a courtyard for individ-
ual reflection and commemorative
activities which outline the story
of Australian peacekeeping.
The memorial committee,
chaired by retired MAJGEN Tim
Ford, continues to widen its mem-
bership base and to extend its
fundraising campaign.
MAJGEN Ford said further
support from veterans of peace-
keeping, from businesses and
from the broader Australian com-
munity is being sought.
For more details on the project, visit
www.peacekeepingmemorial.org.au
Peacekeepers commemorative service
He was my
everything
HOMEWARD
BOUND: PTE
Matthew Lambert
starts his journey
home being flown
out of Afghanistan
on a C-130.
Sad farewell for digger in Afghanistan
HIGHLY REGARDED:
PTE Matthew Lambert.
BYE, MATE: Right,
close mates say their
final goodbyes after
the ramp ceremony.
Photos: AB Jo Dilorenzo
5 News September 1, 2011 RCE AIRFF
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02 6123 2930
Eamon Hamilton
A WINTER wonderland in New Zea-
land has delivered a chance training
opportunity for junior Hercules crews.
The record snow dump across
New Zealand in mid-August coin-
cided with 285SQNs latest C-130H
conversion trainer to the country.
An Antarctic cold front,
described as a once in a lifetime
event, rolled over the Land of the
Long White Cloud on August 15 as
the C-130H crew was in Blenheim
on the South Island.
FLTLT Glen Nelson, a Qualified
Flying Instructor with 285SQN,
explained each Hercules conversion
course normally spends a week fly-
ing in New Zealand.
This provides aircrew with experi-
ence of working in different airspace
and dealing with challenging terrain.
We dont go there for cold
weather training, but it was definite-
ly good exposure for the students,
FLTLT Nelson said.
On August 16 the C-130H took
off from Blenheim in snowy condi-
tions and headed for Christchurch.
It was the first aircraft to arrive
in the city after a 20cm fall had
closed the citys airport.
The students were exposed to
dealing with inclement weather, as
well as taxiing in the snow, FLTLT
Nelson said.
He said the crew could see snow
blanketing the country, right down to
the beaches as they departed home.
Up to 14 students and instruc-
tors were on the trainer, including
pilots, navigators, flight engineers
and loadmasters.
Australian Hercules crews are no
strangers to cold conditions during
operational tasks. In the past 12
months, RAAF Hercules have trav-
elled to Canada and Norway, while
conditions in Afghanistan winters
routinely fall below freezing.
THE purchase of Air Forces fifth
Globemaster is set to be a record-
breaking affair.
A41- 210, due t o ar r ive i n
Australia by the end of September,
has been acquired in record time by
the Defence Materiel Organisations
(DMO) C-17 Acquisition Program
Office.
It took just three months from
when the acquisition program began
to when the letter was officially
signed to buy the new C-17A.
Instrumental in achieving this
was DMOs C-17 Project Manager
WGCDR Warren Bishop, Capability
Development Groups Airlift Desk
Officer WGCDR Colin ONeil, and
Air Force Headquarters Airlift Desk
Officer WGCDR Wayne Bradley.
In January, as 36SQNs C-17As
were central in the task of provid-
ing disaster relief for the Queensland
floods, an Integrated Project Team
(IPT) was established to acquire a
fifth aircraft under the US Foreign
Military Sales (FMS) Program.
A Letter of Request was released
to the US Government seeking price
and availability for the aircraft on
February 10, and on March 16, gov-
ernment approval was granted.
As Defence only had a small win-
dow of opportunity to buy the aircraft,
the US Air Force requested its govern-
ment process the request urgently. Just
seven weeks later, on April 1, the US
Government responded with a Letter
of Offer and Acceptance.
Less than a week later, on April
Nearly here: fifth C-17A
6, staff at the Australian Embassy
in Washington DC signed the Letter
of Offer and Acceptance on behalf
of Defence in the presence of the
Air Attach and incoming DCAF,
AI RCDRE Leo Davi es, DMO
Counsellor Defence Materiel David
Marshall, and US Government and
US Air Force officials.
An existing C-17A on the Boeing
Long Beach production line was later
selected to become A41-210.
On August 25, the aircraft took
off from Long Beach for its first
post production test flight on sched-
ule.
WGCDR Bishop praised the
efforts of everyone involved in the
speedy acquisition.
He said the aircraft was sched-
uled to be flown home to RAAF Base
Amberley by a 36SQN crew, led by
CO WGCDR Paul Long, in mid-Sep-
tember.
There will be no special ferry
flight for the fifth jet, as it is expect-
ed to return to Australia with a
standard load programmed by Air
Mobility Control Centre so the
jet will begin work immediately,
he said.
An acceptance ceremony will
be held as soon as possible after it
arrives at Amberley.
FINISHING TOUCHES:
A41-210 at the Long Beach
California plant, in RAAF
livery, with a few of the people
responsible for the program
so far from left, top row
of ladder, Gavin Hopman
(C-17 Project) and MAJ Joel
Lane (USAF); second row,
Marilyn Johnson and Liz
Pace (Boeing C-17 Program
Management); ground:
WGCDR Warren Bishop (C-17
project manager), Ward Kerr
(Boeing C-17 Sustainment),
Rick Wilson (USAF Australian
C-17 program manager) and
Kurt Gentry (Boeing C-17
Engineering).
Photo courtesy Boeing
LAND OF THE LONG SNOW CLOUD
WINTER WONDERLAND: C-130H student aircrew and instructors from 285SQN, inset,
experienced big snowfalls when they conducted a regional training mission in New Zealand.
Photos: Phil Brown
Hercules crew flies into
New Zealands cold front
6
September 1, 2011 RCE AIRF
News
Michael Weaver
SECRETARY of Defence Dr Ian
Watt will become the Govern-
ments key adviser when he leaves
the department to become Secre-
tary of the Department of Prime
Minister and Cabinet (PM&C).
Dr Watt will enter what he
expects will be the final phase
of his public service career at
PM&C on September 5, after
notching up just more than two
years at Defence.
Dr Watt said he definitely
thought Defence would be his
last public service position, how-
ever with the current Secretary
of PM&C, Terry Moran, retir-
ing, Dr Watt was offered what is
acclaimed as the highest bureau-
cratic role in the Australian
Public Service.
I dont think you can aspire
to a job like that [as Secretary of
PM&C], Dr Watt said.
I am greatly honoured to
be appointed to the position of
Secretary at PM&C, but I leave
Defence with considerable regret.
The position of Secretary of
Defence has been both challeng-
ing and rewarding. I have enjoyed
my time here and I will miss the
people that I have worked with
during the last two years. The
people of Defence, military and
civilian, achieve many marvel-
lous things for the country and it
has been a privilege to have been
a part of that.
Dr Watts successor is Duncan
Lewis, whose long and successful
career in the ADF included post-
ings as commander of the Special
Air Service Regiment from 1990-
1992, and later as commander
Special Forces in 2001.
Mr Lewis is also well known
as the National Security Adviser
and will bring a wealth of experi-
ence to Defence.
Likewise, Dr Watt will take
advantage of his experience at
Defence at PM&C.
I will go to PM&C with a bet-
ter appreciation of the challenges
facing major line agencies, which
will help me provide advice on
whole-of-government issues, Dr
Watt said.
He said his time at Defence has
been interesting, almost beyond
measure and was very cognisant
of the challenges he leaves behind.
You work for a t erri fi c
organisation, Dr Watt said.
Theres some big challenges
ahead, but I ask you to grasp
those challenges and Defence
will be a better place.
DEFENCE Science and Personnel Minister
Warren Snowdon announced a $3 million
boost to the Partner Education and Employ-
ment Program on August 11.
The increase effectively doubles the
amount of program funding available for
education and employment support to
Defence families.
Under these expanded arrangements,
the partners of our junior personnel will be
eligible to apply for a one-off payment of up
to $3000 to access vocational training and
other education opportunities to assist them
become job-ready, Mr Snowdon said.
Applications for the expanded Partner
Education and Employment Program will
be available from the Defence Community
Organisation website every November,
beginning this year.
Mr Snowdon made the announce-
ment when he met the national executive
of Defence Families of Australia (DFA) in
Canberra during the organisations annual
national conference on August 9.
He said 2011 was a significant year for
DFA, marking its 25th year representing
Defence families.
Defence Families of Australia plays a
key role in providing Defence families with
a voice.
It brings the views of Defence families
to Defence leadership and to me and
ensures that matters that are important to
families are heard.
Mr Snowdon said discussion covered a
wide range of issues important to Defence
families and he welcomed the DCA feed-
back.
Applications are available at www.defence.
gov.au/dco and further information on DFA is
available at www.dfa.org.au
Mixed feelings on move
DRAWING ON EXPERIENCES: Dr Ian Watt chats
with Air Force members at Al Minhad Air Base last
year. Photo: CPL Chris Moore
Partner funding
doubles to $3m
Tindal
tackles
bushre
threat
Expeditionary Combat
Support Squadron fire fighter
LAC Bryan Barber operates
a drip torch at RAAF Base
Tindal as part of an annual
plan to reduce the amount of
ground fuel within the Airside
Restricted Zone during the
Bushfire danger period.
Photo: LAC Terry Hartin
IN BRIEF
Battle of Britain first
FOR the first time, former enemy nations
that took part in the Battle of Britain will be
represented at commemorations alongside
Australian veterans. The representatives will
attend a wreath-laying ceremony to mark the
71st anniversary of the battle at the Western
Courtyard of the Australian War Memorial
in Canberra on September 15, starting at
10.30am. DCAF AVM Neil Hart will provide
the address, Air Force Chaplain Mark Willis
will offer prayers and music will be provided
by Air Power Brass. For more information,
contact retired SQNLDR Mal Davies on (02)
6231 6074, or email carmal@grapevine.net.
au; or Naomi Murphy on 04029 58344 or
email naomi.murphy1@defence.gov.au
COL Green, 102, dies
THE founding librarian at the Australian
Defence College and WWII veteran, COL Vane
St. Laurence Green, OBE, died in Canberra on
August 7, aged 102. COL Green saw active
service as an infantry officer in the Middle
East and Papua New Guinea during WWII.
His achievements in the field of military
education have been of profound significance
to the generations of students that have
passed through the College at Weston Creek
in Canberra.
Chief Scientist leaving
THE Department of Defence will be seek-
ing a new Chief Defence Scientist and head
of the Defence Science and Technology
Organisation (DSTO) when Professor Bob
Clarke leaves in October. Professor Clarke
was appointed the Chief Defence Scientist in
October 2008. He brought with him signifi-
cant national and international expertise and
a strong reputation as an eminent scientist in
the field of quantum computing. Deputy Chief
Defence Scientist Dr Ian Sare will act as Chief
Defence Scientist until Professor Clarkes
replacement is appointed.
Deal with UK lab
The Defence Science and Technology
Organisation and Britains Defence Science
and Technology Laboratory have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding for recipro-
cal access to each others science facilities
and equipment. The Memorandum provides
for sharing information between the two
organisations on current facilities and capa-
bilities as well as plans for developing future
facilities for research and testing, thereby
developing greater cooperation on science
and technology. Sharing these defence
research facilities will also enable the two
countries to reduce each organisations oper-
ating costs.
EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE
INCIDENTS
For further information contact the EO Incident Cell
on (02) 6266 4394
or JLC.EOIAC@defence.gov.au
HAD AN EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE INCIDENT?
ACCIDENT
DANGEROUS OCCURRENCE
UNAUTHORISED/NEGLIGENT DISCHARGE
DEFECT/MALFUNCTION
SECURITY
Report all EO Incidents using the new EO 016 form available on Webforms
For the new EO Incident reporting policy and procedures
refer to eDEOP 101 on the DRN
7 News September 1, 2011 RCE AIRFF
Healthcare
views sought
Liane Nuttycombe
THE final evaluation phase of a
Government initiative trialling the
provision of basic healthcare to
ADF families is under way.
ADF members and families
are encouraged to have their say
regarding the current and potential
future delivery of healthcare to
ADF families.
The trial began in May 2009
and is scheduled to end on June
30 next year.
The trial provides access to free
basic healthcare for ADF families
living in remote and regional loca-
tions.
An estimated 16,000 depend-
ants are eligible to participate in
the trial.
Feedback from ADF families
participating in the trial, as well
as from Defence families in other
Defence locations, is essential to
ensure families are adequately
represented when Joint Health
Command provides trial outcomes
and recommendations to the
Government.
To participate in the survey follow
the link provided on the ADF Family
Health website at www.defence.gov.
au/health/Dependant_Healthcare/i-
healthcare.htm or contact ADF
Family Health on (02) 6266 3547.
LAC Bill Solomou
AUSTRALIAS ground communica-
tions capability in Afghanistan may
receive a major enhancement, judging
from a recent trial at the Woomera Test
Range.
Tests in July have proven the
Airborne UHF Transponder for Radio
relay (AUTRY) system a huge success.
Involved in the testing were Air
Force, Army, Defence Science and
Technology Organisation (DSTO),
Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO)
and contractor staff.
Wi t h AUTRY fi t t ed and t he
Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)
operating at altitude, clear and stable
encrypted communications between
handheld radios was verified at ranges
well in excess of that required to cover
the entire Australian area of operations
in southern Afghanistan.
AUTRY will be integrated on the
RPA, and the aircraft will have the
ability to not only undertake surveil-
lance imagery but also act as a flying
UHF repeater.
Maritime Patrol Systems Program
Offi ce Deput y Chi ef Engi neer
SQNLDR Rob Saunders was impressed
with the outcomes.
So far AUTRY has exceeded all
expectations, he said.
AUTRY will now provide ground
forces with the ability to communi-
cate over larger distances using UHF,
instead of satellite communications.
The proj ect was i ni t i at ed by
DSTO and the Command Control
Communications and Intelligence
Division in 2003. Since then a small
team led by Dr Weimin Zhang has
conducted a number of flight tests on
smaller Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
(UAVs).
The large coverage area is due
to the size and altitude of Heron, Dr
Zhang said.
The beauty of AUTRY is that it
does not require a special antenna and
radio for ground forces.
The AUTRY units are manufactured
by Australian company RF Industries.
A cut-down version has also been
installed on Scan Eagle UAVs used by
the Army. Some AUTRY units have
been sold to the US Department of
Defense for use with Aerosonde UAVs.
Coming
in loud
and clear
AUTRY TRIALS:
The Heron at the
Woomera Test
Range where it was
tested by Air Force,
Army, DSTO, DMO
and contractor staff.
Photos: LAC Scott
Woodward
Thumbs up after Heron
trials go well at Woomera

The beauty of AUTRY is that it does

not require a special antenna and
radio for ground forces.
Dr Weimin Zhang
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8 September 1, 2011 RCE AIRF News
LAC Bill Solomou
EVERY two years, members from
324 Combat Support Squadron
(324CSS) deploy on a special
mission.
The detachment travels to
Pulau Aur, Malaysia, on a four-day
mission to maintain memorials
at an F-111 crash site and to visit
the local Teluk Berhala School.
This year the trip was con-
ducted from July 20-24.
On April 18, 1999, F-111
A8-291 of 6SQN, which was on
a night maritime strike exercise,
crashed into the peaks of Pulau
Aur, an island about 65km from
the port of Mersing on the east
coast of Malaysia. Pilot FLTLT
Anthony Short and navigator
SQNLDR Stephen Hobbs were
killed instantly.
Twelve months after the crash,
a party of friends and colleagues
of the crew travelled to Pulau
Aur to erect memorials in their
honour.
Two memorial plaques were
placed on the island. One was
positioned beside the actual crash
site and a second near the flag
pole at the school in the main vil-
lage of Kampong Teluk Berhala.
324CSS have assumed cus-
todianship of the two memorials,
and have a responsibility to main-
tain and preserve the sites in a
presentable condition.
FLTLT Leann McKeown, who
participated in the latest clean-up
campaign, said the wreckage was
slowly being overtaken by the
jungle.
There were parts where
trees had grown around so that
you could see both sides [of the
wreckage] jutting out of a tree
trunk, she said.
The plaque at the crash
site and the area around it was
cleared and the plaque was pol-
ished. The memorial at the school
takes pride of place and is kept
in immaculate condition by the
teachers and students.
Andrew Stackpool
TOWNS on the long haul between
RAAF bases Amberley and Edinburgh
received an unexpected visitor between
August 8 and 12 when retired F-111C
A8-132 was transferred to Edinburgh
for permanent display.
The aircraft was partially disassem-
bled and loaded on to a low-loader and
semi-trailers, and then reassembled at
Edinburgh.
It is the third aircraft earmarked for
preservation after the fleet retired in
December last year.
The first two, A8-272 and A8-125,
were t ransferred t o t he RAAF
Museum at Point Cook on May 20,
2009, and May 24 this year.
The aircraft left Amberley at 3am
and travelled via Coonabarabran, West
Wyalong, Balranald and Waikerie.
Well-wishers along the route were
given ample opportunity to inspect it
as it stopped at Goondiwindi, Narrabri,
Gilgandra, Dubbo, Hay and Mildura.
A8-132 was used as a flight tri-
als aircraft by the Aircraft Research
and Development Unit (ARDU) at
Edinburgh between 1979 and 1988.
It arrived in Australia on July 27,
1973.
ARDU conducted more than 30
major trials with the aircraft before
it returned to the fleet and resumed
duties as a strike aircraft. It logged
4991 flying hours and retired on May
24 last year.
It has been repainted from its as
retired gunship grey finish to the cam-
ouflage upper and white lower colour
scheme it wore while attached to the
unit.
The F-111 disposal project man-
ager from the Disposal and Aerial
Target s Offi ce, WGCDR Davi d
Abraham, said the use of A8-132 as
the test bed for a large number of trials
activities by the then ARDU makes it
one of the more historically significant
F-111 aircraft within the Air Force
fleet.
The 82WG F-111 disposal team
was established in December last year
with the specific purpose of supporting
the F-111 disposal project in the tech-
nical preparation of aircraft and other
assets for disposal.
The processes to prepare the air-
craft for display included removing
flammable and explosive materials,
draining the fuel tanks and lines,
applying anti-corrosive chemicals,
cleaning the aircraft, and removing
and boxing the wings, stabilisers, fin
and radome.
WGCDR Abraham paid tribute
to the elements that came together to
make the transfer a success.
I am very proud of the collective
effort undertaken by various units and
contractors at Amberley to prepare,
transport and reassemble A8-132, he
said.
Peter Cavanagh, one of the deputy
project managers within the F-111 dis-
posal project, said A8-132 was nick-
named Casper by the F-111 workforce.
It got the nickname partly because
of the white paint scheme and partly
because the aircraft was seldom seen
at Amberley, Mr Cavanagh said.
The aircraft would only return
when it needed maintenance that
couldnt be performed at Adelaide or,
as suspected by ground crew, the air-
crew were chasing some respite from
ARDU.
They got their kicks
324CSS goes back to crash site
JUNGLE CREW: At
the monument on the
mountain, from left,
CPL Rod Mattingley,
FLTLT Terry Lewis,
FLTLT Dean Leck,
CPL Jason Bremen,
FSGT Les Plapp,
CPL Tai Ender, FLTLT
Leann McKeown,
FLTLT Dale Hooper
and SQNLDR Al
Cooper.
Photo courtesy 324CSS
LOOK, MUM: Students of St Josephs School in the small NSW town of
Balranald could hardly believe their eyes when the retired jet stopped outside
their school unexpectedly. They were happy to pose for a photo with FSGT
Steve Alcock (back row), who was travelling with the jet.
ARE WE THERE YET?
Well, nearly. A8-132
crosses the Murray
River at Blanchetown,
South Australia at
the beginning of the
last leg of its five-day
journey.
CAREFUL DOES IT: Retired
F-111 A8-132, fondly known as
Casper at its new home in South
Australia. Photos: CPL Andrew Eddie
ARE WE THEREYET?
LOOK, MUM: Students of St Josephs School in the small NSW town of
9 News September 1, 2011 RCE AIRFF
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CASPERS THE KING OF THE ROAD: After leaving Coonabarabran in NSW, A8-132 heads south on the Newell Highway in the rain. Inset
left, students and teachers at the south-western NSW town of Hay were treated to a very unusual sight when the aircraft stopped outside
the Hay Public School. Inset right, on arrival at RAAF Base Edinburgh after a five-day, four-state journey, F-111 A8-132 had to be carefully
removed from the truck by heavy crane. Photos: CPL Andrew Eddie
At the end of the line:
putting it together again
IN THE HOT SEAT: 82WG F-111
disposal team members CPLs
Michael Finn and Mark Warrian
take a break in the afterburners of
A8-132 in the 92WG hangar after
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HARD YAKKA: Members of
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LAC Bill Solomou
ITS going to be bloody tough for
Navy, Army or Defence civilians
to beat Air Force in this years Aus-
tralian Defence Organisation Blood
Challenge. Air Force has won the
challenge for the last two years.
Bring it on! were the fight-
ing words from Air Force blood
challenge ambassador FSGT Tony
Benfer.
The challenge will run from
September 1 to November 30.
In its third year, it has grown sig-
nificantly with an expected increase of
donations of 30 per cent from last year.
Commander J oi nt Heal t h
Command MAJGEN Paul Alexander
said the blood products produced by
the Red Cross were vital to our units
and deployments.
We in the Defence force really
profile to the rest of the community
nationally what the importance of
blood donations is to our organisa-
tion, he said.
To keep up with demand, the
Australian Red Cross Blood Service
(ARCBS) requires almost 27,000
donations every week.
One in three Australians will
need blood or blood products in their
lifetime, and only three per cent of
Australians donate blood.
ARCBS CEO Jennifer Williams
said the ADF involvement played an
important role in promoting blood
donation to the community.
Defences involvement is won-
derful, it has a large impact on pro-
moting the value of blood donation,
she said.
Ms Williams encouraged all
Defence members to join the chal-
lenge, and said may the best team
win.
This year, each service has an
ambassador. All three members have
received donor blood and in all cases
it was lifesaving.
After a hit and run head-on colli-
sion in 2007, FSGT Benfer was fight-
ing to stay alive. In fact he died during
eight hours of surgery, when the flow
of his own blood ran out. He lost his
leg below the knee, half his little finger
and has an artificial elbow.
It could happen to you or some-
one in your family, and when I say
family I mean our brothers and sis-
ters in arms, FSGT Benfer said.
Navys ambassador is AB Paul de
Gelder, who in 2009 required more
than 300 units of blood after losing
his leg and arm from a shark attack.
Without people giving up their
time to donate blood I wouldnt be
here today; blood was there for me
when I needed it, AB de Gelder said.
Armys face of the challenge is
WO2 Dennis Ramsay, who required
a blood transfusion in 2008 when he
was struck down by a life-threatening
illness. Both his legs were amputated
below the knee.
It was the blood from donors
which brought life back into me,
WO2 Ramsay said.
Lifesaving challenge
Share
a drop
To join the challenge, log on to http://www.donateblood.com.au/club-red and nominate
your service. A donor ID is required to join online, which you can get at the time of donat-
ing or by calling the Red Cross Blood Service on 13 14 95. Family and friends are also
welcome to participate.
LET THE DONATIONS BEGIN: Air Forces
ambassador for the 2011 Australian Defence
Organisation Blood Challenge, FSGT Tony Benfer,
whose life was saved by donor blood during
surgery in 2007. Photo: Graham McBean
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12 September 1, 2011 RCE AIRF News
FLGOFF Cath Friend
MORE THAN 360 people, 115
vehicles and 6000km of driving
made up the Variety the Chil-
drens Charity NSW Baulkham
Hills to Buccaneer Rock Bash
2011 from August 6-17.
And this year like the past
21 years Air Force played their
part in the charity adventure.
Through western New South
Wales, to the dust and isolation
of outback Queensland and the
Northern Territory, and finally to
the finish line, it took an excep-
tional support team to keep the
field moving.
Air Force was up to the chal-
lenge joining other support
members of the Variety NSW
Bash to ensure entrants and their
cars survived the gruelling odys-
sey from Sydney to Broome and
arrived safely at their destination.
Ai r Force provi ded five
members in two crews. The
most experi enced member,
WOFF Kevin Leahy, of 381
Expeditionary Combat Support
Squadron (381ECSS), is a vet-
eran of more than 36 Variety
Bashes nationally. He is due to
receive a certificate later this
year for 20 years service to the
NSW Bash, specialising in logis-
tical and management support.
Medic LACW Mylie White,
of 3 Expedi t i onary Heal t h
Squadr on at RAAF Base
Richmond, supported the Bash
doctor and two paramedics, pro-
viding vital medical assistance
to the Bashers should an incident
occur.
While both Air Force sup-
port teams were put through their
paces, it was the second crew
that was under the pump.
CPL Aaron Bray and LAC
Phillip Webb, of 381ECSS, pro-
vided a mobile mechanical work-
shop, assisting all the Variety
NSW Bash teams.
The biggest challenge the
mechanics faced was the vari-
ety of vehicles they had to work
on. Some of these cars are older
than the mechanics themselves,
WOFF Leahy said.
Recruiting staff also followed
the convoy from Sydney to
Beagle Bay promoting Air Force
and demonstrating its commit-
ment to the Australian commu-
nity.
Air Force first took part in
the Variety Bash in 1990, enter-
ing a Holden HR station wagon
and provi di ng t wo Toyot a
LandCruiser mobile workshops.
That year, a small Air Force
team volunteered to go door
knocking, raising $15,000. This
money went directly to Variety,
and over the next three years the
team raised another $30,000.
In the years since, Air Force
has supported the annual event
with medical, logistical organi-
sational and medical assistance.
Over that time Air Force
increased its public profile, as
well as that of the ADF, while
assisting Variety NSW to drasti-
cally reduce the cost of organis-
ing and running a safe motoring
adventure.
The Variety Bash aims to raise
over $2 million by the end of the
event. All money raised goes to
providing equipment and support
to Australian children in need.
At the time of going to
print, some of the teams would
have just returned home to
RAAF Bases Richmond and
Williamtown, having covered
more than 12,000 km on the
road.
See next edition for a full wrap-up
of the Variety Bash.
AN ANNUAL charity golf day that began in 2006 to
help out the family of a 37SQN member who died
after a cardiac arrest is going from strength to strength.
On August 12, a cheque for $3077 was handed to
Richmond Legacy House.
It was raised by nearly 100 37SQN members who
participated in this years Tim Kelly Memorial Golf
Day at Grose River Golf Course on July 15.
It takes the money raised since the tournaments
inception to $31,500.
CPL Kelly was a general hand who died in August
2006, leaving behind a pregnant partner and three
young children.
A few of us who were close to Tim organised
various raffles and fundraisers to help his family get
through the tough times ahead, one of the events
organisers, SGT Garreth McKnight, said.
A golf day was organised as part of the fundrais-
ing and we raised money through an entrance fee, food
and drinks sold via the social club, as well as various
raffles throughout the day and a fine system.
About $13,500 was raised in the first 12 months
and it was decided to make it an annual event.
When Tims family had got back on their feet, we
turned our attention towards charities that helped when
Tim passed.
This year the focus has been changed again to
help organisations that assist all Defence members
in times of need and hardship. Legacy couldnt be a
Variety Bash
dash for cash
Golfers honour
memory to raise
funds for Legacy
$60K coming for
our ood victims
Managing Director of Frontline
Stewart McGrow, left, and Chairman
of Frontline Ted Moore, right, present
a cheque for $60,200.85 to Deputy
CAF AVM Neil Hart and Deputy CA
MAJGEN Paul Symon on August 23
in Canberra. The funds were raised
during the Have a Coffee Help a
Mate appeal for Defence victims of
the Queensland floods. During the
appeal held at Frontline canteens
across Australia from May 30 to June
4 Frontline pledged 10 per cent of all
sales towards the worthy cause.
Photo: Steve Dent
THANKS: Legacys Dianne
Finch receives a cheque for
$3077 from 37SQNs SGT
Garreth McKnight.
Photo: LACW Casey Gaul
more fitting charity
organisation.
We will be
making this an
annual memorial
day for all members
from 37SQN that
have passed away.
As the years go by
there are fewer and
fewer people who
attend the golf day
that actually knew
Tim, however this
doesnt deter the
numbers willing to
participate as we
move forward with
this great cause,
SGT McKnight
said.
GOING THE DISTANCE: Air Force members who participated in the Variety the Childrens Charity Baulkham Hills to Buccaneer
Rock Bash 2011. From left, LAC Phillip Webb, FLGOFF Cath Friend, WOFF Kev Leahy, LACW Mylie White and CPL Aaron Bray.
Photo: LACW Casey Gaul
13 News September 1, 2011 RCE AIRFF
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Eamon Hamilton
POLICE are challenging Defence
members to a race on September 24.
The track is only 10 metres, but
theres a handicap a 47-tonne C-130
Hercules transport aircraft, which
teams of 20 people must pull by rope.
Its all part of the 2011 Law
Enforcement Torch Run (LETR)
Plane Pull, which will raise money for
intellectually disabled athletes with
the Special Olympics.
Last year, RAAF Base Richmond
supported law enforcement and emer-
gency services teams from around
NSW at an inaugural event. NSW
Police Public Order and Riot Squad
took the grand trophy when it hauled
a Herc in 13.99 seconds.
The 2010 Plane Pull came about
following an approach to Defence
from Detective Superintendent Scott
Whyte, of NSW Police.
In the past 12 months, Air Force
Hercules have been used to fly Defence,
police and emergency services person-
nel alike around the world.
Detective Superintendent Whyte
encouraged Defence teams to face
the challenge from law enforcement
counterparts and participate in the
Plane Pull.
Last years event was great fun
for all those involved, giving people
the rare opportunity to pull a Hercules
by rope and help raise $20,000 for
the Special Olympics, Detective
Superintendent Whyte said.
We had more than 500 people
support or participate in the Plane Pull
at Richmond in 2010, and we want to
make this year even bigger.
A team from Richmonds 37SQN
has already registered for 2011, and
we welcome other Defence teams
who want to participate.
Defence teams within the work-
place are encouraged to mobilise
themselves to register through LETR.
Each team must have 20 people.
Registration costs $1000 a team,
and members are free to seek sponsor-
ship however they wish.
More information for teams who wish
to register, including video of last years
event, can be found at http://ra.af/
nCVf7q
Pull a team
together
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following readers who
have won a copy of Ian
McPhedrans book, Air
Force: Inside the New Era
of Australian Air Power.
FLTLT Paul Preston,
RAAF Base
Amberley
AC Darren Browne,
HMAS Harman
SQNLDR Terry
Pridham, RAAF Base
Wagga
WOFF Peter
Frew, RAAF Base
Edinburgh
Mark Oxenham,
Nudgee, QLD
Book giveaway
ON YOUR MARKS: NSW police and emergency services teams will
descend on RAAF Base Richmond on September 24 to take on Defence in
the 2011 Law Enforcement Torch Run. Photo: LAC Michael Green
TALISMAN SABRE WRAP
14 15 RCE AIRFF Centrepiece September 1, 2011
F
LTLT Amanda Gosling was a
shining light for the Air Force
Alpine Sports Association team
at the International and Na-
tional Inter-services Alpine Snowsports
Championships at Mt Hotham in Victoria
from August 7-12.
Despite the Air Force womens snow-
board team being narrowly beaten by
Army, FLTLT Gosling was crowned the
Australian Defence Alpine Snowsports
Association (ADASA) womens snow-
board champion.
FLTLT Gosling took the gold med-
als for the womens snowboarder giant
slalom and the parallel giant slalom, and
bronze in the womens snowboarder-
cross.
Air Force also dominated the mens
boarder parallel giant slalom with a clean
sweep of the event.
FSGT Steve Medaris was first with
FLTLT Matt Daley and CPL Phillip Moult
taking silver and bronze.
FLTLT Ewan Reid was a strong per-
former for the skiing team, with first place
in the giant slalom and third in the Slalom
event.
The championships brought together
the best of ADF, APS and British
Combined Services alpine skiers and
snowboarders for four days of focused
training and elite competition.
Team manager FLTLT Andrew Mills
said the event was about more than just
racing. To strap on a set of racing skis or
snowboard and head down a race course
at full speed is a difficult thing to do; it
develops courage and tenacity for ADF
members of all ranks, FLTLT Mills said.
We are hoping to develop our wom-
ens ski team even further next year and
are particularly keen to see applications
from female skiers of all abilities, from
beginner to advanced.
The Patron of ADASA, retired AVM
Chris Spence, said the championships
were an outstanding example of joint
activities in todays ADF.
The conduct of the championships
reinforces teamwork, joint and collaborative
endeavour and camaraderie among and
between the three services, AVMSpence
said.
Army were the overall inter-service
champions and a British Services con-
tingent of four performed strongly, but
was narrowly defeated by the ADF in the
International section of the competition.
THE alpine skiers werent the only
snow sports enthusiasts on the moun-
tain in early August. Across the Mt
Hotham resort, an Air Force team was
contesting the ADF Inter-service Nordic
Skiing and Biathlon Championships.
The close-knit team of 15 included
veteran skiers with years experience
and novices having their first taste of the
snow.
The Air Force mens team won the
coveted Biathlon Patrol race and the
womens track team finished second
behind Navy.
SQNLDR Andrew Scholten was the
best ADF Biathlon Shot of the champion-
ships, with Navy taking out the overall
ADF championship.
The president of the Air Force Nordic
and Biathlon Association, SQNLDR
Scholten, said the championships had
been a great success building a good
team spirit.
These events are all self challeng-
ing exercises so a lot of people come
out knowing more about themselves and
what theyre really capable of, he said.
The sport wraps up all of the aspects
of leadership, team dynamics, logistics,
operations and professional develop-
ment.
ACWMonique Schipp, a first-timer in the
snow, said she had enjoyed the experience.
The first few days were really intense
and I was thinking what am I doing
here?, ACWSchipp said.
But the competition was very lively
and exciting with my team-mates cheer-
ing me on.
SQNLDR Scholten said the team had
fun in a challenging environment.
Weve skied hard, weve participated
well, represented our service and we can
take ourselves home with pride in what
we have achieved, he said.
Air Forces alpine skiing high achievers:
FLTLT Amanda Gosling
1
st
snowboarder cross, 1
st
parallel giant sla-
lom, 3
rd
snowboarder cross, 2011 Womens
Snowboard Champion.
FLTLT Ewan Reid
1
st
giant slalom, 3
rd
slalom
FLGOFF Grant Targett
2
nd
ski cross
FSGT Steve Medaris
1st mens snowboard parallel giant slalom.
FLTLT Matthew Daley
2nd mens snowboard parallel giant slalom.
CPL Phillip Moult
3rd mens snowboard parallel giant slalom.
Photojournalist LS Paul Berry took his notebook and camera to the snowsports
FLTLT Gosling leads the way
FINISH LINE: Above, FSGT Steve Medaris
crosses the finish line in the mens snowboarder
Giant slalom.
COMING DOWN: Left,
SQNLDR Andrew Scholten
(No. 10) tags SGT Carl
Trindorfer in the Nordic
skiing relay race as the snow
tumbles.
SNOW QUEEN: Above, FLTLT
Amanda Gosling, who was
crowned womens snowboard
champion, looks determined
as she heads downhill in the
snowboard cross.
POWDER POWER: Above, CPL
Phillip Moult crosses the finish line
in the mens snowboarder giant
slalom.
FIRST-TIMER: Right, ACW Monique
Schipp competes in the novice
biathlon during the ADF cross-country
inter-service championships.
POLE POSITION: FLTLT
Ewan Reid races his way
into third place in the
mens slalom event after
winning the mens giant
slalom the previous day.
DUEL: Above, FLTLT Matthew
Daley (No. 25), squares off
against AB Kieran Revell-
Reade in the mens boarder
parallel giant slalom.
OUR HONOUR BOARD
Ai Ai Air r Fo Fo F rc rc rce e e sss al alpi pine ne ne e sssski kki kk in in ngg hi hi hiigh gh gh gh gh aaach ch ch chie ie ieve ve ve vers rs rss:::
FLTLT Amanda Gosling
1
st
snowb wboa oarder er cross, 11
st
parallel gian a t sla-
lom, m, 3
rd
ssno nowb wboard der e ccro ross s, 2011 Womens
Snowboardd Ch C ampi p on.
FLTLT Ewan Reid
1
st
giant slalom, 3
rd
slalom
FLGOFF Grant Targett
2
nd
ski cross
FSGT Steve Medaris
1st mens snowboard parallel giant slalom.
FLTLT Matthew Daley
2nd me m ns snowboard parallel giant slalom.
CPL Phillip Moult
3rd mens snowboardd paraallel giant slalom.
OUR HONOUR BOARD
at Hotham
HOT
GOLD COAST
AMBASSADOR APARTMENTS
Attractions
Theme Parks
Currumbin Sanctuary
Jupiters Casino
BOOKINGS
Phone: 07 5531 5692/0417 780 961
DARWIN
MARRAKAI APARTMENTS
Attractions
Gateway to National Parks
and the Top End
BOOKINGS
Phone: 08 8981 9283
MERIMBULA
TUSCANY APARTMENTS
Attractions
Magic Mountain Family Recreation Park
Yellow Pinch Wildlife Park
Whale watching cruises (Sep to Nov)
Jazz festival (June long weekend)
BOOKINGS
Phone: 02 6495 2030
NEED A
HOLIDAY?
Why not try one of the
RAAF Welfare
Recreational Companys
apartments in one of three
amazing locations
www.raafholidays.com.au
16 September 1, 2011 RCE AIRFF Flightline
FIT FOR AFGHANISTAN: Above, PTI SGT Bryce Madejewske at
the Multinational Base Tarin Kot gymnasium where he oversees the
fitness of International Security Assistance Forces personnel who
are operating from the base. Photo: AB Jo Dilorenzo
TRY THIS ON FOR SIZE: Left, SGT Warren Blake, a 6SQN
armament technician, places a bomb disposal suit on 12-year-old
Brittnie Heaney at the explosive ordnance display during the 82WG
Family Day at RAAF Base Amberley. Photo: LAC Dan Pinhorn
YODA FORCE: Above, LAC Andy Harper, a military working dog
handler with 22SQN, poses with his dog Yoda outside the MWD
operations cell at RAAF Base Richmond. Photo: LAC Chris Hall
17 Flightline September 1, 2011 RCE AIRFF
www.wellbeingtoolbox.net.au
During the transition from military to civilian life you,
your family or colleagues may struggle to cope with
some of the many challenges that arise.
The Wellbeing Toolbox can help you in six key areas:
t QSPCMFNTPMWJOH
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Need a little help?
Dip into the Wellbeing Toolbox
FIRE READY: Above, LAC Leigh Weston, CPL Michael
Bywater, LAC Travis Peterson and LAC Mitchell Jones
with student Travis Fisher, centre, in front of a newly
acquired fire truck during a visit to RAAF Base Tindal Fire
Section by students from Katherine High School.
Photo: CPL Casey Smith
ALASKA: Right, 3SQN aircraft technicians LAC Alex
Meakins and LAC Scott Wilson prep the spare engine for
an F/A-18 at Eielson Air Force Base during Exercise Red
Flag Alaska. Photo: CPL David Gibbs
SERVING IT UP:
Above, ACW
Sarah Guajardo,
a cook working in
the Airmens Mess
at RAAF Base
Darwin during
Exercise Talisman
Sabre 2011, waits
to serve the influx
of Australian
and American
personnel for
lunch.
Photo: CPL Mark
McConnell
HOME SOON: Above,
3SQN armament
technician CPL Ben
Reeves is all smiles at
Exercise Red Flag in
Alaska.
Photo: CPL David Gibbs
GOTTA FLY: Left,
WGCDR Stephen
Chappell (left) and
MAJGEN Michael
Snodgrass, who was
visiting from the US Air
Force, at RAAF Base
Willliamtown before
their flight in a 2OCU
F/A-18.
Photo: LAC Mark Friend
g
HOME SOON: Above
FIRE READY Ab LAC L i h W CPL Mi h l
ON A MUSICAL MISSION: The Beatles Abbey Road album cover might have been the inspiration for this photo, but these deployed guitar-carrying chaplains were on a different
mission to help arrange some guitars for the church services at the Ghan Chapel in Tarin Kot, Uruzgan. From left, SQNLDR Garry Hooper, MAJ Steve Cloudsdale and LTCOL James
Cosgrove stride across a zebra crossing at Al Minhad Air Base. The Air Base Welfare Committee raised the funds for the guitars, stands and plectrums from the profits of the sale of
snacks and merchandise sold at the Beaches canteen, as well as from pay-day raffles. Photo: PO Damian Pawlenko
Were there
for you, when
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A promise was made to a dying
soldier in the trenches of WW1.
A promise that his family would
be looked after.
Since 1923 Legacy has kept their
promise to Australian veterans
and taken care of the families
of those who have fallen as a
result of their service.
Support the organisation that
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a promise to our veterans.

Please give generously.
r
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To donate call 1800 534 229, visit legacy. com. au
Or buy a badge at any Commonwealth Bank branch or Telstra store.
LEGACY WEEK
28 AUG

3 SEP
19 Personnel September 1, 2011 RCE AIRFF
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Departure Lounge
Whos leaving after 20+ years service

Name
WOFF Terry Freeman
WGCDR Andre Kramarczuk
WGCDR Terry Fisk
SGT John Fry
WOFF Steven Brinton
WOFF Paul Kajewski
WOFF John Bland
FSGT Peter Fischer
SQNLDR Nigel Meadows
SGT Mark Davies
CPL Gavin Snailum
WGCDR Jennifer Robertson
SQNLDR Catherine Stamp
FSGT Gregory Watt
WOFF Wayne Raymer
FSGT John Bryant
LAC Nicholas Byenhof
WOFF George Cunningham
SQNLDR Anthony Fagan
SGT Glen Gibson
WGCDR Paul Wilmott
SQNLDR Andrew Chadwick
SGT David Kerswell
WGCDR Wendy Presneill
WGCDR Tracey Timms
FSGT Paul Breen
SGT Robert Brown
SGT Jason Henderson
FSGT Nicole McKelvie
FSGT Narelle Neagle
SQNLDR Lee Thompson
SGT Simon Arnold
SGT Daniel Butler
SGT Craig Griffin
SQNLDR Philip Griggs
SGT Glenn Morrell
SGT Sean OBrien
SQNLDR Mark Essery
SGT Gregory Johnson
SGT Matthew Whitworth
SQNLDR Jocelyn Harvey
SGT Troy Johnson
SGT Peter Ticehurst
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EOIs
Role: Commission to
legal officer
Closing date:
September 16, 2011
...................................
Role:
Respecialisation
Specialisation:
Air combat officer,
intelligence officer,
joint battlefield
airspace controller,
electrical engineer
Closing date:
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...................................
For information
on how to apply,
log on to People
Central through
the PSS portal
on the DRN
homepage.

A TEAM of aircrew and strategic human
resource staff within DGPERS-AF are
researching new initiatives to improve the
retention of female Air Force aircrew.
Heading the research is the Director of
the Directorate of Workforce Flexibility and
Diversity-Air Force (DWFD-AF), WGCDR
Dee Gibbon, who analysed flying as a career
choice for women in civil and military avia-
tion.
I think it speaks volumes Air Forces most
senior female permanent Air Force pilot is a
junior SQNLDR and of the other 18 current
serving women pilots, 18 are still under return
of service obligations, WGCDR Gibbon said.
I found ADF female aircrew face a range
of additional challenges beyond those experi-
enced by women working in other fields, both
within and outside Defence, because of the
nature of their work.
Air Force has consistently struggled to
retain female pilots, air combat officers and
Airmen Aircrew, especially when they are
partnered with other aircrew.
How do dual aircrew families manage six-
day sorties, with deployed or absent partners,
no 24-hour childcare options, a lack of feasi-
ble options for part-time work and zero family
support in their posting location?
The fact was most dont, and unfortunate-
ly the female members of aircrew partnerships
tend to be the ones who leave Defence at their
earliest opportunity, especially after having
children.
The good news now for women serving
in these roles is DP-AF staff are increasing-
ly aware of the challenges and are currently
implementing the barrier mitigation strate-
gies recommended through WGCDR Gibbons
research.
We are starting with aircrew as we have
to start somewhere and well then broaden
our scope to other non-traditional fields [of
work], WGCDR Gibbon said.
Demographic studies clearly show our
traditional recruiting pool of 17-25-year-old
males will rapidly shrink over the next few
decades.
Other male-dominated industries are
Keeping
them
flying
already implementing creative measures to
tap into untapped sources of future workers.
WGCDR Gibbon said what her directorate
was trying to do wasnt about political cor-
rectness or equal opportunity, it was about
capability.
If Air Force doesnt act now to both
broaden our recruitment base and retain
skilled personnel, there simply wont be
enough workers of either gender to fly and
fix our aircraft in future, she said.
DGPERS-AF and DWFD-AF staff are
strongly committed to mitigating the known
barriers existing for many Air Force women
and finding creative ways to enable higher
numbers to enjoy long term Air Force careers.
DGPERS-AF urges personnel with ideas to
improve female aircrew recruitment and retention
rates to contact SQNLDR Samantha Freebairn at
samantha.freebairn@defence.gov.au
Exploring avenues
The DWFD-AF team is currently working
on a wide range of initiatives to increase
the retention of female aircrew, including:
Examining the days-per-week model
for Part-Time Leave Without Pay and
exploring other models that might suit
members.
Developing mentoring, role model-
ling and networking relationships for
female aircrew, commencing with a
Flying Females breakfast at ADFA.
Developing a guide to assist female
aircrew undergoing training, highlight-
ing specific challenges that women
face in the training context (such as
their higher visibility compared to their
male peers and the extra scrutiny and
pressure this inevitably attracts).
Facilitating a collaborative workshop
with DP-AF and his AIROPS staff to
examine how female aircrew employ-
ment could be improved within flying
units, both operational and non-opera-
tional, especially after having children.
VOLUNTEERS are sought to present the ADF
Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Awards
to high school students between October and
December.
The purpose of the awards is to encourage lead-
ership and teamwork among school students, raise
the awareness of the ADF, and highlight the core
values which are shared by the Australian commu-
nity and the ADF, such as mateship, striving to do
ones best, giving everyone a fair go, serving others
and the tolerance of differences.
Members of any rank are encouraged to par-
ticipate and should include the following details
in their nomination: supervisors approval, rank,
surname, given name, PMKeys number, unit, base,
email, phone, current posting locality, and specifics
of the local school preferred.
Nominations should be forwarded to FSGT Debbie
Freeman at debbie.freeman@defence.gov.au by
September 17.
ADF Long Tan awards
presenters needed
STAYING THE COURSE: Air Force is
looking at ways to keep female aircrew
in the service, in roles such as pilots, air
combat officers and loadmasters.
Photo: LAC Scott Woodward
Tell us about the
other hats you wear
All Reservists (Active and Specialist) should recently
have received mail asking about your civil skills (formal,
self-claimed, experience) for the Civil Skills Data e-survey.
It is very important that you complete this survey as it
helps the Australian Defence Force better identify people
with specic skills that can be drawn upon for emergencies,
exercises and deployments.
You will receive a half day pay for preparing and completing
the survey and it will also help your Reserve career.
Its time to complete the Civil Skills Data e-survey
Theres still time for you to complete the survey. Make sure
you have all your paperwork ready licences, degrees and
other qualications before you start.
If you have any questions about the survey, or any of the
information collected, please email your query and PMKeyS
number to ADO.CivilSkillsData@defence.gov.au
You can complete the survey on your own or a Defence
computer, but you should complete it as soon as you can.

Visit www.civilskillsdata.com today
CIVIL
SKILLS
DATA
Skills in Reserve
20 September 1, 2011 RCE AIRF History
BULLETIN BOARD
Andrew Stackpool
THE bonds forged between a south
Queensland pastoralist family and a
RAAF squadron during WWII were
cemented when a special memorial
was unveiled recently.
During the war, a bombing range
was established on the Wyaralong
Station, owned by the Philp family,
near RAAF Base Amberley. 23SQN,
which flew Wirraways at the time,
was given access to conduct gunnery
and bombing training on the range
before deploying overseas.
WGCDR Thomas Philp became
the squadrons longest-serving CO
and another squadron member, Colin
Firth, married one of the Philp daugh-
ters and subsequently became the
propertys owner.
The Seni or ADF offi cer at
Amberley, AIRCDRE Noddy Sawade,
CO 23SQN WGCDR Clive Wells
and 35 23SQN personnel joined
other guests and family members
at a special ceremony on June 24
as Queensland Governor Penelope
Wensley unveiled the memorial. She
is the squadrons honorary AIRCDRE.
The memorial comprises a large
bronze model of a wedgetail eagle
(the symbol of both the Air Force and
totem of the traditional inhabitants of
the area) and a bronze plaque with a
model of a Wirraway, both placed on
a large rock excavated from the dams
foundations.
Beside the stone is a post to which
are attached perspex plaques with the
Air Force and squadron badges and
another telling the stories of the sta-
tion and squadron.
Although the range site is on
privat e propert y, t he memori al
is erected on the Wyaralong Dam
Recreation Reserve and is accessible
to the public.
WGCDR Wells said that it may be
used for ceremonial activities in the
future.
During WWII, 23SQN and other
RAAF squadrons based in south-
east Queensland used the Wyaralong
area as a deployed airfield for
bombing and gunnery range prac-
tice on a range set up in one of the
propertys paddocks. Wirraways,
Hudsons and Avro Ansons were a
common sight there.
On January 14, 1942, an Avro
Anson crash-landed on the property
after suffering engine failure.
A number of observers huts were
established along the ridge adjoin-
ing the range while support personnel
from Amberley camped out in tents
alongside what was the Wyaralong
Lagoon for two weeks each month.
Minor remnants of the range
remain.
Forging
WWII
PERSPEX
PLAQUES:
The newly
unveiled
23SQN
plaque at
Wyaralong
Dam.
AT THE CEREMONY: Left, CO
23SQN WGCDR Clive Wells
with Jean Haughton Jones, a
descendent of the Philp family,
at the dedication ceremony at
Wyaralong Dam.
Photos: LAC Benjamin Evans
bonds
P
P
T
u
2
p
W
D
Womens stories
THE author of A Womans War,
Jacqueline Dinan, is gathering
material for a collection of mem-
oirs and is interested in hearing
from former WAAAF members
about their WWII experiences.
She has compiled questions
that she can post along with a
stamped and addressed envelope
for return postage. Ms Dinan can
be contacted on (03) 9499 5169
or email at eventive@bigpond.net.
au. The questionnaire can also be
downloaded from www.eventive.
net.au
315SQN reunion
NUMBER 315 (AAFC) Squadron
will celebrate its 60th anniversary
on September 17 in Canberra. All
former squadron members are
invited to attend a parade and
squadron open day at the Multi
User Depot, HMAS Harman. For
more information, visit http://
sharepoint.westcom.com.
au/315SQN/default.aspx
Cadets alumni call
FORMER air cadets and former
staff of the ATC/AIRTC/AAFC are
asked to register their interest in
forming an Australian Air Cadet
Alumni Association. Current AAFC
staff members (but not current
cadets) are also welcome to
register their interest. To find out
more or register your details, go
to the interim website www.aafc.
org.au/alumni
Battle of Britain Church Service
at St Davids Cathedral, Hobart
from 3pm.
September 10: The Air
Force Wind Quintet and the
Ceremonial Band will support
the annual Battle of Britain
Dinner in Hobart from 7pm.
September 11: The
Ceremonial Band will sup-
port the annual Battle of
Britain Service at the Hobart
Cenotaph from 10.30am.
To confirm dates and tim-
ings, call (03) 9256 2514.
Air
Force
Museum
September 7: Battle
for Australia in
Melbourne.
September 18: Battle of Britain in
Melbourne.
For information on events, visit
www.airforce.gov.au/raafmu-
seum/
Air
Force
Balloon
September
10: Diamond
Creek
Town Fair,
Melbourne.
September 16: Australian Teenage
Expo, Melbourne.
September 18: 315SQN
AAFC, Canberra.
For more, visit the Air
Force Balloon page on
Facebook.
21 History
September 1, 2011 RCE AIRFF
Have you thought about
your future workforce?
Have you considered offering
placements through the Defence Work
Experience Program?
This Program provides opportunities to
students to experience the ADF or
Defence APS as an employer of choice.

Send enquiries to:
Defence.WorkExperienceProgram@defence.gov.au
Or Visit:
www.defence.gov.au/workexperience
http://intranet.defence.gov.au/dsg/sites/workexperience
Air Force
Roulettes
September 11:
Battle of Britain in
Canberra.
September 18:
Battle of Britain in
Melbourne.
September 18: RAAF
Museum, Point
Cook.
Air Force
Band
September 3:
The Ceremonial
Band will sup-
port the 76SQN
Freedom of the
City Parade in Glen Innes, NSW.
September 10: The Low Brass
Ensemble will provide music for the
Air Force on show
A
UGUST 13, 1921, was the day
the Royal Australian Air Force
gained Royal assent.
On that day the Governor-
General signed an order approving the
Royal title.
Ninety years later, RAAF historian
Dr Chris Clark looks back on a his-
tory of the RAAFs founding that he
rates as quite interesting.
It involves several dates that
could be considered the RAAFs
birthday, Dr Clark said.
During WWI, the squadrons of
the Australian Flying Corps (AFC)
were part of the Australian Imperial
Force and were attached to the larger
British formations of the Royal Flying
Corps and, from 1918, the Royal Air
Force.
During WWI, air power had
clearly demonstrated that it was an
essential fighting element to any mili-
A right Royal day
tary force and the Australian Flying
Corps (AFC) had demonstrated that
it was the equal of the air arms of any
other country.
As part of the international dis-
armament program, in 1919 the
AFC an Army-managed unit of the
Australian Imperial Force was dis-
banded and there followed a period of
considerable debate and negotiation
between Army, the Royal Australian
Navy and the new Defence organisa-
tion as to what Australias future air
arm should best be.
The debate had in fact started in
1917 and centred on whether the new
force should be another air corps,
again under Army command or a new,
completely independent air force.
In January 1920, an interim solu-
tion was found when the Australian
Air Corps was formed but on March
31, 1921, it was disbanded and
the order signed by the Governor-
General on August 13 approving the
Royal title, was published in the
Commonwealth Gazette.
Consequently, it was that day
and not June 20 upon which the new
RAAF took its first steps on its jour-
ney to become the service that has
served Australia well in war and peace
over the subsequent 90 years.
replaced by a new, completely inde-
pendent service; the Australian Air
Force.
In February that year, even as the
new service prepared to take its place
in Australias military history, the Air
Council proposed that the new service
should called be the Royal Australian
Air Force and wrote to the UK
requesting the king grant the title.
Permission was not long coming
and on May 11, British Secretary of
State for Air Winston Churchill wrote
to the Governor-General of Australia,
Lord Forster, and informed him that
His Majesty had been graciously
pleased to approve the request.
For some reason, however,
the Defence Department was not
informed of the decision until June 20
and, although the newspapers reported
the granting of the title just three days
later, it was not until August 18 that
EUROPE: CAPT Reg Francis, AFC 3SQN pilot, with
his RE8 in Europe during WWI.
MIDDLE EAST:
Right, AFC gunnery
class with a Lewis
gun in the Middle
East during WWI.
PALESTINE: 1SQN AFC 2 SE 5A on the ground in Palestine in WWI. Photos courtesy RAAF Museum
Stepping stones in
a glorious history
mmmmmmmbe be be be bee bberr rrrrr 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 11 2222201 01 01 01 01 01 0 11111
Relocating
over the
coming
months?
COMPLETE YOUR
AFR ONLINE!
Help us raise vital funds for Legacy
www.tolltransitions.com.au/defence
From 1 July, Toll
Transitions will donate
$1 to Legacy for each
Application For Relocation
(AFR) entered online via
Toll Transitions website.
Our aim is to raise more
than $10,000 in the coming
peak posting period.
In addition to helping
Legacy, you will also go
into a monthly draw
*
for
a Valet Unpack Service.
**
*Terms and Conditions apply.
** Valet Unpack Service includes: Furniture arranged in
each room, beds made, goods unpacked and put away in
cupboards, bench tops wiped down, cartons fully emptied
and collapsed ready for collection by removalist.
Enter your AFR online
today to help us
increase our donation
to Legacy and for
your chance to win.
Toll Transitions: Freecall 1800 819 167
www.tolltransitions.com.au/defence
Here are some useful tips and information
to help you through the relocation process.
1 Make sure that your current home
address is updated in PMKeys so
we can send correspondence to the
correct address.
2 Complete your Pre-AFR/AFR as
soon as possible online via our
website www.tolltransitions.com.
au/defence. Alternatively, you can
return the hard copy or advise the Toll
Transitions Customer Service Centre
by phone.
3 We will mail an AFR pack to your current home address following receipt
of your Pre-AFR.
4 Once we have received your Pre-AFR, we will advise DHA of your relocation
dates and housing requirements. DHA will then provide HomeFind access
to you.
5 Should you contact DHA regarding your housing options in the rst instance,
DHA can also assist you with completing your Pre-AFR.
6 If you nd a suitable house via DHA HomeFind, you can reserve it for a
short period of time. Once you have completed and submitted your AFR
and Inventory to Toll, DHA can allocate the house to you.
7 Complete your AFR online via our website as soon as possible.
8 On receipt of your completed AFR your Toll Transitions Case Manager
will contact you by phone to conrm the details of your relocation.
$2,400
23 Feature September 1, 2011 RCE AIRFF
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4133
GOOD
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MONTH/YEAR MONTH/YEAR
VALID
FROM
WEARING safe protective equipment
and clothing is essential when riding
any type of motorcycle on any road
surface.
Research into protective clothing
by the Motorcycle Council of NSW
(MCC) says well-designed and made
protective gear can prevent or reduce
some types of injury in a crash.
ADF RideSmart coordinator Dave
Shipley said the research found it was
important to choose the safest riding
gear, which offered the best protec-
tion.
Many riders know motorcycle
gear such as jackets, boots, pants, hel-
mets and gloves can cost more than
$1500, Mr Shipley said.
The research also said riders
should ask themselves what are they
paying for?
Was it purchased as a fashion
statement or for protection from inju-
ry, weather or other road users.
The research also found evidence
from independent British testing
which suggested some motorcycle
gear for sale did not provide adequate
levels of injury protection.
Motorcycle gear which was well
designed can assist riders by keep-
ing them alert by reducing, dehydra-
tion and fatigue.
The next RideSmart courses will be
held in September and October.
The courses include theory and
practical instruction on:
Knowledge and techniques to
manage the risks riders face in
normal traffic conditions, such as
space management, observation
skills, anticipation and response
actions to minimise the risk of
crashing.
Aspects such as rider posture
on the motorcycle, obstacle
avoidance, emergency braking,
cornering techniques and slow
speed manoeuvring.
The need for suitable safety
clothing.
The need to ensure the motorcy-
cle is roadworthy and safe to ride.
Dates September 9: Wagga. September 13:
Nowra. September 17: Oakey. September 23:
Sydney. September 24: Albury/Wodonga. Octo-
ber 7: Williamtown. October 13: Perth. October
14: Brisbane. October 26: Adelaide. October 28
Sydney and Darwin.
Enquiries on courses can be made to
RideSmart@defence.com.au
Clothes maketh the
motorcyclist safer
While Australia doesnt have
set standards for motorcycle protec-
tive clothing, established European
St andards set mi ni mum l evel s
for the construction and test per-
formance of motorcycle gear, Mr
Shipley said.
These standards should be used
by riders when buying items claim-
ing to provide protection from inju-
ry. Look for European Standards CE
labelled items.
Riders should also choose cloth-
ing with bright colours and contrasts
which will make them more visible on
the road.
Further information on how to
choose the right protective clothing is
available from:
Motorcycle Council of NSW Inc
www.roadsafety.mccofnsw.org.au
Victorian Transport Accident
Commission www.spokes.com.au
All riders should recognise there
are limits to what protective clothing
can do in the event of an accident.
If you get hit or collide with a
solid object, nothing they wear will
protect them from the impact.
But wearing the right gear may
help minimise some injuries and
ensure a more speedy recovery by
keeping wounds clean.
To assist with those incidents
where good riding gear is not enough,
help is available from the Ride Smart
program for ADF riders to improve
rider knowledge and skills. To find
out more, contact RideSmart@
defence.gov.au
Most of the information for this arti-
cle was obtained from the Motorcycle
Council of NSW website.
Follow the links at http://intranet.
defence.gov.au/armyweb/sites/
ARMYSAFE to check out the Ride Smart
Program.
CATCH A RIDESMART COURSE
Photo: LAC Bill Solomou
Are you eligible for a
DHO
AS subsidy?
Our Australia-wide network
is easy to access.
For the cover you can count on
just call 1300 552 662.
www.dsh.gov.au
Then you are also entitled to home and contents
insurance through the Defence Service Homes Insurance
Schemeeven if you dont have a DHOAS home loan.
The scheme offers:
Comprehensive cover
Economical premiums
No general excess
Contents new for old replacement, regardless of age.
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24 September 1, 2011 RCE AIRF Health
All fizz and no fuel?
Caffeine-filled drinks may give you a hit, but experts
say they are not ideal fuel before working out, as CFN
Max Bree reports.
A
SUGARY, caffeine-laced ener-
gy drink is often a favourite
of those struggling with slow
mornings or sluggish after-
noons, but now they are becoming the
fuel of choice when getting ready for a
big weights training session.
While the drinks are becoming more
popular before a gym session, experts are
divided over how much benefit they are
giving.
Professor Jeff Coombes, an authority in
sports performance and nutrition from the
University of Queensland, said the drinks
could help get people to the gym, but they
would not offer much extra strength or
speed.
Its probably promoting the behaviour
associated with doing exercise, Professor
Coombes said.
If someones having it then going to
the gym, then thats what we want them
to do.
There may be some increase in stimu-
lation but its more of a boost to the cen-
tral nervous system.
Cpl Doug Bentancor, a PTI at 1HSB,
said personnel should be careful of having
caffeinated drinks before cardio training.
Caffeine causes a diuretic effect that
can lead to dehydration, he said.
During intense cardio this could put
your body in a state where it can lose too
much fluid.
But Cpl Bentancor said caffeine before
weights training was generally accepted,
with most over-the-counter pre-workout
supplements having more caffeine than an
average energy drink, such as Red Bull, V
or Mother.
Caffeine is approved by the Australian
Institute of Sport for use by athletes, he
said.
But when having energy drinks, take
into account that its not just caffeine
youre getting undesirables like sugar.
Professor Coombes sees this use of
energy drinks as similar to other workout
supplements, where the benefits can be
restricted to expectations.
In studies, if you give athletes a sup-
plement that has no effects but tell them
its the greatest thing since sliced bread,
they believe it, he said.
With workout supplement ingredi-
ents being largely unregulated and not
independently tested, Professor Coombes
encouraged people to be careful when
using them.
For Cpl Bentancor, the simple fuels for
training remain the best fuels.
He advised gym-goers to eat
carbohydrates 30 minutes to one hour
before training to give the energy needed.
Having energy drinks before training
is just hype. But having proper nutrition,
you cant beat that, he said.
NOT THE BEST BOOST: Consuming an energy drink before working out might stimulate the senses,
but it can lead to dehydration. Photo: LAC Bill Solomou
Salary package your next car and take
advantage of our eet discounts.
www.defenceIeasing.com.au
25 September 1, 2011 RCE AIRFF
Sp rt
LCPL Mark Doran
HOCKEY player LACW Megan
MacAuslan has been chosen to play
in the Oceania Pacific Cup in Fiji in
December.
LACW MacAuslan, of 1EHS
at RAAF Base Amberley, was
chosen in the womens under-21
team after the Australian Country
Championships in Port Lincoln
from July 30 to August 6.
LACW MacAuslan said she felt
very proud to be selected.
I hope to improve my hockey
skills, increase my fitness levels
and try to be a member of the
Australian open team next year,
LACW MacAuslan said.
The best thing about this has
been getting the jersey with my
name on it.
LACW MacAuslans selection
was one of the highlights of the
tournament for the Defence mens
and womens teams.
Four other ADF players were
selected for Hockey Australias
Country representative senior
teams which will tour Thailand and
Malaysia.
They are MAJ Amanda Meech,
CPL Jessica Antonovich, CFN
Gareth Hoddinott and LS Talei
Stoll.
The womens team lost the
pl ay-off for bronze i n Sout h
Australia and the mens team fin-
ished last.
FLTLT Peter Nugent received
his 50th cap for ADF hockey during
the tournament.
ADO personnel who wish to get
in touch with the ADF Hockey
Association should email defence.
hockey@defence.gov.au
Fiji trip for our hockey star
PROUD: LACW Megan
MacAuslan.
Photo: CPL Aaron Curran
LINE OUT:
Above, CPL
Bodine Luscott.
Photo: LAC Bill
Solomou
GOTCHA:
Left, LAC Chris
Tuttiet makes
a strong tackle
on LAC Alex
Chan.
Photo: LAC Bill
Solomou
MY BALL: Above, FLGOFF Andre
Holmes negotiates some heavy
traffic. Photo: LAC Bill Solomou
FROM THE ARCHIVES: No,
pegging out the washing isnt
a new training drill. This is CPL
Michael Wallace on a short-term
deployment to Papua New Guinea
in 2008. Photo: SGT Bill Guthrie
LCPL Mark Doran
SIX Air Force players have been named
in the Australian Services Rugby Un-
ion squad of 35 training for the Inter-
national Defence Rugby Competition
(IDRC) in Australia and New Zealand
in October.
They are LAC Alex Chan (for-
ward), of 10SQN; CPL Richard
Falkenmire (forward), of 37SQN;
FLGOFF Andre Holmes (forward),
of 76SQN; LAC Bodine Luscott (for-
ward), of 81WG; AC Chris Tuttiet
(back), of 2OCU; and, CPL Michael
Wallace (back), of 37SQN.
The squad was named after 60
players took part in a possibles versus
probables in cold and wet conditions
at ADFA in Canberra on August 17.
This is not the final cut though.
The players in the squad have three
more trial matches in September to
impress the selectors before the final
squad of 27 is announced for the tour-
nament.
And still in with a chance are two
Air Force players who are among
reserves on call if needed to cover for
injured or unavailable players.
These reserves are AC Adam
Dahmer (forward), of 2AFDS, and
LAC Shaun Connelly (forward), of
76SQN.
In addition, two other Air Force
people have been chosen for off-field
roles. They are team managers FLTLT
Kris Scott (Air Lift SPO, DMO), and
physio FLTLT Anna Lewis (HMAS
Kuttabul).
ASRU coach CAPT Damien Cahill
said the watchlist of 60 players had
been running for seven months and the
trial in Canberra gave the selectors an
opportunity to see the players in their
primary and secondary positions and
judge their individual skill levels.
I couldnt have been happier with
the weather we had, he said.
We will most likely encounter
similar spring/wet conditions when
we play in October, especially if we
are good enough to play in the finals
in New Zealand. We now move into
the domestic tour phase for ASRU
which will provide us with an excel-
lent opportunity to be physically and
mentally prepared for the IDRC.
Three solid games, each harder
than the previous one, will see us in
a really good position for the opening
IDRC match.
ASRU is one of 12 teams contest-
ing the competition from October 1 to
October 22, with games in Canberra,
Sydney and New Zealand.
IDRC patron CDF GEN David
Hurley launched the competition on
August 24.
He said the IDRC was the result
of two years work from an idea
to fruition which extended beyond
rugby. We have the Tongan Defence
Services playing, and they will
be hard, and having the Peoples
Liberation Army team playing is
extraordinary and we are delighted
they have taken up the challenge,
GEN Hurley said.
The Royal Navy and British Army
teams are very strong and both have
been beaten by the French team who
will be a very strong team as well.
The IDRC will be a fantastic
occasion, not only for us as spectators,
but for the soldiers, sailors and airmen
who will be participating in the com-
petition.
Bill blogs on ... fun runs
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Six in ASRU squad
LINE OUT:
READING a health article in
the previous edition of Air
Force News on fun run
training has inspired me to
participate in the Canberra
Times Fun Run and Family
Walk on September 11.
This will be my first fun run,
so information from the article is
going to help my preparation.
The challenge has come at the right
time of my fitness campaign the Join
Bill Campaign.
Over the past few weeks I have
extended my running routine and have
incorporated an overload element.
I might be slow well, you could say
I have adopted the Cliff Young shuffle.
but as long as I keep up the momentum,
then I will be fine.
Since its inception in 1975, the
event has raised more than
$900,000 for the Heart
Foundation, ACT Division.
You can enter the 10km run
or the 5km family walk/run.
I will be joined by fam-
ily and colleagues, so once
again I put out the challenge to
local Canberra-based service
personnel to join.
The Canberra Times is offering
Defence News readers late registrations
until September 4.
If you plan on joining, please contact
me at vasilis.solomou@defencenews.
gov.au. We may be able to put together a
team entry.
For more information about the event, visit
www.canberratimesfunrun.com.au
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26 September 1, 2011 RCE AIRF Sp rt
I
F YOU see a cyclist training
frantically in the Mt Lofty Ranges
overlooking Adelaide, it might
just be reigning Defence road
champion FLTLT Damon Stefani.
In a bid to get his body right for
this years titles in Sydney from
September 15 to 17, FLTLT Damon
Stefani, of RAAF Base Edinburgh,
has set himself a punishing target of
riding up to 300km a week.
Two or three times a week he
rides his bike 35km from home to
work and at weekends he and some
mates from the base head for the
hills and major pain.
You can probably blame Cadel
Evans for this.
If Evans had not won this years
Tour de France, FLTLT Stefani might
have stuck to his plan to sit this one out.
He has had a busy work schedule
this year, with short deployments to the
Cocos Islands and American Samoa
and 10 weeks in Dallas, Texas, where
he assisted on the Project Coronis P-3
upgrade.
He took his bike over to the US.
He did not compete in any races but
he trained through January, February
and March, including in seven-
times Tour de France winner Lance
Armstrongs home town of Austin,
Texas.
It was Evans becoming the first
Australian to win the tour, though,
which provided the impetus for him to
get serious.
I watched just about all the
stages of the tour on telly as it was
an enthralling race and I could sense
Australian sporting history being
made, FLTLT Stefani said.
Im now more than motivated
towards experiencing some suffering
on the roads around Adelaide to gain
some form in preparation for the
ADF titles.
It left him with only seven to eight
weeks to get into peak condition and
whether that will prepare him well
enough to handle the gruelling ups and
downs of the 84km road race in Royal
National Park remains to be seen.
The road race only partly counts
towards the overall championship.
To be crowned the champion, riders
also have to do well in the 39km time
trial at Holsworthy Barracks and the
50 minutes plus two laps criterium at
the Sutherland Shire Cycling Club as
well.
FLTLT Stefani loves the challenge
of the road race and is obviously good
at the event.
He has only entered the event
twice and has a 100 per cent record.
The first time was 2006 when he
won the road race but finished second
overall.
Last year, he won the road race
again but finished only seventh in the
time trial and trailed CPL Chris Holbert
by one point going into the criterium.
He didnt win that race that honour
went to another RAAFie, SGT Mick
Rand, but FLTLT Stefani did hold off
CPL Holbert to win the overall title.
CPL Holbert will be back for
another crack this year and, interest-
ingly, he too has had an overseas spell
this year.
From late April to late June he
was working on the Hornet Upgrade
Program in China Lake, California.
Unlike FLTLT Stefani, he did not
have his bike with him.
I am back training though, CPL
Holbert, of RAAF Base Williamtown,
said. My form is well below what it
was last year so I am not expecting
too much this year but you just never
know.
Last year more than 50 cyclists from
Air Force, Navy, Army and APS con-
tested the titles.
There will again be varying dis-
tances for A, B and C grade riders as
well as female competitors.
For more information, contact LSET Suzie
Peterson at susanne.peterson@defence.
gov.au, (02) 9359 4403 or 0404 518 541.
WHIRRING
WHEELS:
FLTLT Damon
Stefani hadnt
intended
defending
his road title
this year but
he has had
a change of
mind and is
now in a race
to get into
peak condition
for the event in
Sydney.
Photos: LACW
Shannon McCarthy
The road race course at Royal National Park starts and nishes at
Watamolla Beach but dont be fooled that its a at course. As one
cyclist said: While there arent climbs to put the French Alps to
shame, it is just relentless. We do a series of out and back laps
that have some pretty vicious climbs in them. Not going to be any
hiding in the bunch on this one.
THE ONLY WAY IS UP
JUBILATION:
SGT Mick
Rand won the
criterium last
year.
Photo: ACW Nicci
Freeman
Se Se Se Se Se Se S RCE AIRF
JUBILATION
On
the
road
again
Inspiration came at just the right
time for defending ADF road
champion FLTLT Damon Stefani.
John Martin reports.
If you only do one thing this year to support Legacys widows and young
families in Queensland, do it through The Sunday Mail Suncorp Bridge
to Brisbane. Get behind the ADF teams at www.legacycares.org.au
Legacy in Queensland is the Major
Charity Partner of the 2011 Bridge
to Brisbane run - Sunday, 11 September.
27 September 1, 2011 RCE AIRFF Sp rt
From Back Page
SQNLDR Wiseman is no stranger
to the ADF component of the upcoming
event in Darwin.
For some years the Combined
Services Natural Physique titles were
an annual fixture at HMAS Cerberus in
Victoria, and SQNLDR Wiseman was a
four-time entrant, winning the Defence
female title in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
SQNLDR Wiseman, who posted to
RAAF Base Darwin in January, was
at first asked to organise the Northern
Territory titles and had the process well
under way until she was asked to incor-
porate the services titles, too.
Its a busy job. Her initial tasks
were finding a suitable venue (Darwin
Entertainment Centre is climate con-
trolled so once competitors are down to
their bikini/posing trunks, those used to
the chills of the south should adjust fairly
seamlessly to the tropics), deciding on a
date and finding sponsors for the event.
Just getting the word out to bases
around the country has been challeng-
ing.
There is still a lot to do, from
organising judges, trophies, stage sig-
nage, prizes (I hope), helpers for the
day, coordinating the technical side
of things ... and the list goes on,
SQNLDR Wiseman said.
There will be a lot of little things to
do in the days leading up to the titles,
too. Registration only closes a week
before the show, so I will not know
exactly how many entrants I will have
until then.
I will have to make the final deci-
sion on what categories will run,
dependant on entries, then organise
the finishing of trophies for each cat-
egory, putting together competitor
bags for everyone with t-shirts, sam-
ples etc, organising back stage refresh-
ments, registration the day before,
including downloading music for com-
petitor routines, setting the venue up on
the day and clean up after.
The event will feature a number of
classes specifically for Defence full-
time and reserve members as well as
Defence civilians. Defence personnel
are also eligible to enter the INBA cat-
egories.
For more information, contact SQNLDR
Wiseman, kay.wiseman@defence.gov.au
or (08) 8923 5440.
WITH the ADF national soccer cham-
pionships on the horizon, the Air Force
Football Association (AFFA) is calling
for nominations for players.
The AFFA will hold a training camp at
RAAF Base Richmond from October 23
to 27. Players selected to represent the Air
Force will then move into camp for the
ADF nationals in Sydney from October
28 to November 5.
Expressions of interest close on
October 3.
Nominations are sought for open
mens, over 35 mens and open wom-
ens levels.
More information is available on the AFFA
website at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/
raafweb/sites/RAAFNSA or from FLTLT Ben
Cowan, ben.cowan@defence.gov.au
Calling players for soccer teams
With one eye
on Reno, Kay
has new role
LAC Bill Solomou
RUNNING an extra 170 metres dashed AC
Shaun Tons goal of finishing the City2Surf fun
run in less than an hour.
AC Ton, who is based in Canberra, complet-
ed the 14km event in 1hr 1 sec. Yes, 1 sec.
He blames weaving around other competi-
tors as a key factor for not breaking the hour
mark.
And he has proof. After the race, he
checked his sports watch which tracked his
course.
It indicated I ran 14.170km, he said.
AC Ton was in awe of the spectacle in
Sydney on August 14.
It was an amazing experience, spectators
were playing musical instruments, and the
volunteers were fantastic, said AC Ton, who
came in 1560th place, putting him in the top
2.2 per cent of finishers.
Standing
out in a
crowd
The tyranny of
extra distance
BITTER-
SWEET:
CPL Cassie
Fien crosses
the finish
line of the
City2Surf
to head the
ADF women
home.
Photo: CFN
Max Bree
CFN Max Bree
THE Air Force women have again
dominated the City2Surf fun run in
Sydney, taking first and second among
the ADF women on August 14.
CPL Cassie Fien finished the
14km event in 50min and 35sec while
CPL Jessica Robson finished third in
1:04:00.
CPL Fien also finished sixth over-
all among womens competitors but
was disappointed not to come close
to her overall second place from last
year.
I just had a bad day, CPL Fien
said.
And I was expecting the disap-
pointment because I hadnt done the
work.
In fairness, she was returning from
an injury to her left leg.
Second pl aced CPL Jessi ca
Robson considered missing the
City2Surf for a 100km race in
Melbourne.
But CPL Robson eventually went
with the Sydney event and took four
minutes off her last run in 2009.
In the mens category, SGT Lance
Purdon took third place for the Air
Force in 56:16.
Seven Air Force personnel ran the
event as part of the ADF running team
from Sydney city to Bondi Beach
against 85,000 other entrants.
SGT Debbie Zigmantas raised
$1003 for cancer research organisa-
tion Cure for Cancer before she ran
the City2Surf.
CITY2SURF
B
S
C
F
th
li
C
to
A
h
ROUNDABOUT ROUTE: AC
Shaun Ton does some stretches.
Photo: LAC Bill Solomou
Raising hair
with Shrek
SP
September 1, 2011
RT
TURNING UP THE HEAT AT MT HOTHAM FOCUS ON SNOWSPORTS: CENTRE PAGES
John Martin
BODYBUILDING champion SQN-
LDR Kay Wiseman admits she will feel
a bit odd at the Darwin Entertainment
Centre on October 2.
SQNLDR Wiseman, pictured right,
is the organiser of the International
Natural Bodybuilding Association
(INBA) Northern Territory and
Combined Services Natural Physique
titles and as much as she would
like to compete herself, shes almost
resigned to having to sit this one out.
I imagine it will be hard to
watch others on stage and not be up
there with them, SQNLDR Wiseman
said. It will be the first time I will
have attended a comp and not compet-
ed, but I am sure I will have my hands
full with the organising.
Even more frustrating for
SQNLDR Wiseman is the fact that by
that time she will be in full training.
The weekend after the Darwin
event, she plans to go to Melbourne to
compete in the nationals. On October
22 and 23, she plans to be in Brisbane
for Natural Universe.
And then comes the big one. She
has already booked her flights to com-
pete in the Natural Olympia in Reno,
Nevada, US, from November 10 to 13.
Continued Page 27
With one eye on Reno, its a new viewpoint
SIX
OF
THE
BEST
After a rain-soaked trial match in Canberra on August 17, six Air Force
players have made the cut for a squad of 35 Australian Services Rugby
Union players training for the International Defence Rugby Competition
in Australia and New Zealand in October. Plus, we have two reserve
players, the team manager and a physiotherapist.
THE big, strong prop his teammates
call Shrek did not purposely come to
Canberra trying to hide his identity.
CPL Richard Falkenmire, of 37SQN at
RAAF Base Richmond, is a bit of a main-
stay in the forward pack in Air Force and
ADF rugby union circles.
Often he shaves his head for the big
occasions which makes him more, well,
ogre-like.
But when CPL Falkenmire fronted
up for the probables v possibles trial in
Canberra on August 17, he had a full
head of hair as LAC Bill Solomous photo
above testifies.
Any donkeys out there should give
Shrek a break though, OK?
It was time for a haircut but I just
didnt get it done before the trials, he
said.
Besides: Its been a bit cold in north-
west Sydney the past couple of months
so hair is a premium.
Dont fret though.
CPL Falkenmire is one of the Air
Force players who has made the squad
of 35 which now faces three trial match-
es in the next few weeks after which
eight more players will be jettisoned, and
hes getting serious.
My head will be clean and looking
good for the competition in September. FIND OUT WHO PAGE 25
SMOOTH
MOVES: CPL
Richard Shrek
Falkenmire
without hair
playing for ASRU
against the New
Zealand Defence
Force last year.
Photo: CPL Aaron
Curran