DEFENCE NEWS
USS Hawaii steams into Pearl
The first of three Virginia-class submarines -- the USS Hawaii arrived at Pearl Harbor this week. The arrival ceremony included a Hawaii Air National Guard F-15 jet flyover and the Pacific Fleet Band, the Kamehameha Alumni Glee Club, Halau Hula Olana Ai, Kahuna Pule Ganotise and a haka by Pa Kuci a Lua.

The $2.5 billion Hawaii will be followed later by the Virginia-class subs USS Texas and USS North Carolina.

Lockheed Martin Meets Key Milestones for Navy Submarine Communications Program
Lockheed Martin's team developing a Communications at Speed and Depth (CSD) capability for U.S. Navy submarines has successfully completed the system requirements review. The capability will enable secure, two-way communications between submarines operating below periscope depth and at tactical speeds with surface ships, aircraft and land-based assets. All classes of U.S. Navy submarines will be equipped with this transformational capability.

The Lockheed Martin-led industry team, which includes Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems and ERAPSCO, a joint venture between Sparton Electronics Florida, Inc. and Ultra Electronics - USSI, will deliver three types of two-way communications devices and associated submarine and shore equipment. Two of the devices - the tethered expendable communications buoy (TECB) Iridium system and the TECB-UHF system - are launched from submarines. The third is an acoustic-to-RF Gateway (A2RF) system that can be launched from submarines and aircraft.

Since the January contract award, the team has completed both the integrated baseline review and system requirements review milestones on schedule. Hardware delivery is expected in mid-2010. "Successful on-schedule completion of the system requirements review is a major step in providing submarines the same access to communication networks as the rest of the U.S. Navy's fleet," said Rod Reints, Lockheed Martin's senior program manager for the CSD program. "Our team is now starting the preliminary design phase, moving us closer to our goal of providing communications at speed and depth to the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet."

Thales awarded three-year UK submarine engineering contract
Thales UK has been awarded a three-year contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to continue its provision of specialised engineering support to the Royal Navy’s (RN’s) submarine fleet. For the last six years Thales UK’s Special Acoustic and Communication Products (SACP) group at Templecombe has been running the support contract for the UK submarine fleet’s UHF satellite communication system.

This contract was due for renewal this year and its award to Thales by the MoD is based on the excellent service previously provided by the underwater systems team. The contract will provide support to the fleet on a worldwide, ‘24/7’-availability basis. To support the work, specialised engineering and communication facilities have been established at the Somerset site.

“This capability enabled the SACP group to become a key member of the team that has just won the competitive tender to supply a new external communications system for the Astute-class submarine.” At its Templecombe site Thales UK has been developing mast antenna technology for 20 years, including products for all types of RN submarine platform and also for foreign navies, and has expanded to surface ship and land mobile systems for worldwide customers.

Thales has designed a variety of antennas for frequencies ranging from VLF to EHF and has specialised in satellite communications and multi-function antenna systems. These systems have been supplied to numerous navies, and the SACP group is currently bidding significant proposals into both UK and French submarine equipment update programmes.

Elsewhere in the country Thales UK has been involved in providing other sensors to RN submarine programme, including electronic warfare systems developed and supplied from Crawley, West Sussex, onboard and off-board sonar systems from Templecombe in Somerset and Stockport in Cheshire, and optronic masts designed and manufactured in Glasgow. Together, these sensor systems provide the ‘eyes and ears’ of the submarine, making it a highly capable warfighting platform.

Thirty Year Old SSG Refurbished
China's lone Golf class ballistic missile sub has apparently been refurbished, rather than scrapped. These diesel electric boats (SSGs) were introduced by Russia in the late 1950s, and 23 were built by the early 1960s, when attention was turned to nuclear ballistic missile boats (SSBN).  Fourteen Golfs were modified in 1966-72 to carry larger R-21 (1600 kilometer range) missiles. These boats remained in commission until 1990. A few years later, ten were sold to North Korea for scrap. It's not certain that North Korea actually dismantled all these subs. The North Korean No-Dong missiles was based on the R-21.

China received two Golf boats, seven R-11F missiles (a 300 kilometer range SCUD) and the building plans, from Russia in the 1960s, and the Chinese built one in the 1970s, as the JL-2. This boat rarely put to sea. The R-11F was the basis of later Chinese ballistic missile design. The recent refurbishment of the Chinese Golf apparently included changes to the three missile silos so the boat could be used to test new submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBM).

The Golf was a 2,800 ton boat with a crew of 83 and three missile silos. There were also six torpedo tubes, and during the Cold War, these boats carried two torpedoes with nuclear warheads.

21-inch crack is found in hull of submarine USS Toledo
It had been a decade since a crack had been found in a submarine hull - until last week. Sailors on the USS Toledo discovered a 21-inch-long crack in the topside hull of their submarine, behind the sail, while pierside at the Naval Submarine Base Friday.

Toledo returned to the Groton base in March after 27 months of maintenance and modernization upgrades at Northrop Grumman Newport News in Virginia, where it was built.

Water could have leaked into the submarine, but Navy spokesman Alan Baribeau said the Groton-based, Los Angeles-class submarine, which was delivered to the Navy in 1995, was not in danger of sinking. ”The crack itself is above the water line, and had the ship submerged, the pumps on board would remove any water and as part of procedure you're going to surface,” Baribeau said Wednesday, adding that some portions of the crack are visible while others are detectable only by testing.

The depth of the crack varies along its length, although a 1-inch section of the crack is deep enough to go through the hull on the Toledo (SSN 769), Baribeau said.

In 1995, before USS Florida (SSGN 728) was converted from a ballistic-missile submarine to a guided-missile submarine, a crack appeared in a large casting, which is a part of the hull that accommodates penetrations like the hatches. Then in 1999, a similar crack appeared on the Los Angeles-class submarine USS Boise (SSN 764). In both cases, the castings were replaced without cracks reappearing, Baribeau said.

Toledo participated in Fleet Week in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., April 27 to May 1. The submarine has also performed operations in the local area since its return to Groton but has not gone on a full deployment, said Lt. Patrick Evans, spokesman for Submarine Group Two. In May of this year, Newport News informed the Navy that a shipyard inspector had signed off on weld inspections he did not perform.

In 2007, the Navy said welds on all Newport News ships would be checked because improper weld-filler metal may have been used on non-nuclear piping systems over an extended period of time. But Baribeau said the weld issues and the cracked hull of the Toledo are not related.

The Navy will first determine the cause of the crack, then plot a course of action, including the repairs and whether any other submarines will need to be checked, Baribeau said. Evans said Toledo had been scheduled to leave port soon for additional local operations, but not a full six-month deployment. ”We do not anticipate this having an impact on a future full deployment,” Evans said.

SLOPS VAN SALE

Visit the 'new look' Slops Van - designed to make it easier to use and while there take advantage of reduced prices for end of season items while stocks last. Also some new items and more to come.  Here a few examples of the specials.

Long Line Jacket - $50.00 The Long Line Jacket has been revamped. Now a micro fibre outer, micro fleece lining, creating a perfect warm wind block! Hood hidden in collar, drawstring waist. A much smarter fashionable jacket. Complete with Australian Submarines logo.

Vest - Polar fleece lined A micro fibre outer lined with polar fleece fabric in a most popular colour combination. Complete with Australian Submarines logo.   A great buy at $25 plus postage

DVD -The Voyage of the Nautilus (Hubert Wilkins) DVD $17.50

Boof , stop chewing on Nigg's bone, he'll kill you!!!.............

Going to be a short Log this week, not had any email of interest this week and I think a day in the garden will be better for me than trying to find rubbish to put in it.

The July issue of In Depth is ready to go out, again not much of interest to go into it, but it meets the requirements of producing 6 copies a year.

I finally managed to install the solar heating on the pool and managed to fix the ruptured tubes and it is now pumping warm(ish) water into the pool.  Not sure how long it will be before I will be swimming in a steaming pool, it has only been running for two days and I am not sure if it has made much difference.

It was such a nice day today I took advantage of having nothing to write about and spent it in the garden with Boof and Niggs, and it is starting to look a lot better.  My brown thumbs are getting educated by my neighbour Jean, she is always bringing cuttings over and giving me plenty of advice.  We even discovered that I had some native orchids growing in a slightly overgrown corner of the yard and they have been fed and watered and are looking good.

Gardening with Niggs is so much fun......... I put the plants in and he digs them up. I declared war on him today and we are not talking to each other at the moment.  The veggie patch is also looking good, my Buk Choy is almost ready for the stir fry, it grows very fast and likes my salty bore water, which is more than I can say for the tomatoes.  I must be the only person in town that cannot grow them.

SAA NEWS  
Why, three months after they are due, are we still chasing a large number of Members for their subscriptions, a lousy $10?  The additional workload that chasing these up is considerable, if you are not renewing, tell us, it will save us much time and aggro!

I have had many calls from Members re In Depth as a result of the letter sent to all Members that we do not have an email address for and it is becoming clear that a lot of those that we were not holding an email address for actually have email.  If you have email and do NOT receive email from me from time to time please send me an email so that I can add you to our mailing list.

The logo for SUBCON 2010 has been unveiled and it is a winner.  Coffs Harbour is submarine friendly and many of us can recall a good run that was had there.  It adopted HMAS Ovens and I am sure that it's SUBCON will be a great success.

I was very pleased to see that the Welfare Fund and the WA  Branch were able to help a Member, Chad Hardy,  recently.  I remind Members that the Fund is there for the benefit of all SAA members in times of need.  To access the Welfare Fund you must be an Association Member, not a Friend of the Association.  The Fund also welcomes any donations, big or small.

Norm Williams
National Secretary
Submarines Association Australia

New South Wales Branch
Last week at the Branch AGM.  The new Committee is:

• President: Geoff Anderson

• Vice President: Kevin Hayton

• Secretary: Ken Norris

• Treasurer: Wally Whitfield

• General Committee: Rick Steltenpool, Ray McMinn and Paul Fogarty.

Outgoing Secretary Ken Williams said "To those of you that helped me over the last 2.5 years, thanks. To those of you that called and gave me a hard time, ahhh thanks. To those that have not helped and not joined but still called and asked for my help and gave me a hard time, hmmm thanks.  The minutes from the AGM are now available. Please note that the amount of NSW members at the meetings (16 out of 350) is not real flash, so can you make an effort over the next twelve months to get to one of the six meetings."

The SUBCON 2010 web page is under construction and it can be viewed at www.submarinesaustralia.com/subcon.html. Coffs is shaping up to be a big weekend and one hell of a run. See you there!

Ken Norris
Secretary SAA (NSW)

Western Australia Branch
Twenty members and a large number of spouses and partners turned up and enjoyed a tot and BBQ on completion of the AGM held on the 15th June. The President, Secretary and Treasurer were re-appointed

• President: Fred Lawrence

• Vice President: Darren Thompson

• Secretary: Paul Meakin

• Treasurer: John Rana

• Committee: Sid Czabotar, Perry Holland and Peter Horobin

• Welfare Officer : Buster Keating

We all had the opportunity to admire Chad Hardy's new Van which was provided for with the assistance of the SAA Welfare Fund. The Van gives Chad a deal more mobility and more importantly independence than his previous arrangement and takes a considerable strain off his Mum. We should all feel proud that out Association can provide such positive support to our members.

The committee remains committed to providing a variety of social functions for the members to enjoy as well as the more formal Remembrance Day type activities.

The post SUBCON 2009 Report is available and the President at the AGM made special mention of Sid Czabotar and John Rana for their efforts and also those of the Ladies on the SUBCON Committee for their hard work that made SUBCON 2009 such a success. I will also say that the membership of the WA Branch played their part also in supporting the whole activity with a very good percentage of our members participating in all events.

Our next activity will be to squirrel our way round the WWII Tunnels (just like turning in in the After Ends) at Leighton Battery on the Stirling Highway, meeting for a tour of the tunnels at 1200 Sunday 16th August at the Car Park (Bring cash $7 adults $2 Kids) Tour every 30 mins last 1 hour. Afterwards intend to lunch at the Orient Hotel in Freo and then move on the Afternoon Jazz Session at the Navy Club Freo. Come along and boogy.

Paul Meakin
Secretary SAA WA Branch Inc

Members care....... the SAA Welfare Fund
Just after Easter, our web master received a disturbing email from a member experiencing difficulty and Norm dutifully passed the email to the WA Branch. Events were set in train to try to determine what difficulties the member, Chad Hardy was experiencing.

Chad had been an ABUCSM and he contracted Multiple Sclerosis at some time and this debilitating illness slowly became more difficult to manage. He had to give up his home and move into his mother's house and as his MS grew worse, getting around became more and more difficult. Kay, Chad's mother became his carer and managing Chad as a well proportioned adult was becoming a real hardship.

This was more than a financial problem - a real cry for help and after further contact with Chad we found that he was trying to purchase a wheelchair capable Toyota van from South Australia at a cost considerably less than one could be sourced in WA. On the premise that the WA Lotteries Commission was going to provide some funding, the WA Executive committee resolved that we should approach the SAA Welfare Fund for funding to finalise the transaction. I am pleased to report that the Welfare Fund Trustees action was swift and sure, with the Fund providing $3200, and $800 being provided by the WA Branch.

Unfortunately the bid for Lotteries Commission funds failed but Chad's mother, Kay , came up trumps as all Mums do and with our assistance the van was purchased. It arrived in WA over the SUBCON weekend, but Chad could not get access to it until it had passed inspection and was relicensed. However, the fact it had happened and Chad felt a need to belong to the Association saw him and his mother join us for lunch at the Fremantle Gaol.

Chad and Kay attended the WA branch AGM on Sunday 5th July and proudly showed us the new wheels. At the end of the AGM Chad thanked us for the assistance we had given him and was pleased to announce that he could now become a more active member and would attend future events.

There are other issues to be addressed and Chad knows that he has access to good support through our Welfare Officer John Keating or any other member if he needs a hand. $10 a year is all it takes to be a member - small bikkies for the peace of mind it may help bring if you need assistance. So if you know someone who isn't a member - tell them this story.

More importantly - if you can help, the SAA Welfare fund will be very happy to accept your donation, however big or small.

Fred Lawrence
President
SAA WA Branch Inc
0419930914

Queensland Branch
The AGM and Dinner Dance at Kedron Wavell RSL is rapidly approaching and it should be another successful get together of the Queensland submarine community.  I believe it is not too late to book, but email Rob Woolrych (or phone 07 5442 1991) for all the details or if you need accommodation or any special dietary requirements.

Victoria Branch
At the July meeting of the Victoria Branch it was requested that I email happenings to everyone on my email list and to confirm if members are receiving Flood Q and other electronic correspondence.

Up and coming events are: VP Day, August 23rd (NOT 16th). Start 12 noon, please attend by 11:30 so seating can be arranged, ESU South Yarra. This is one of two special events on our calendar, the other being Anzac Day. It bears special significance to the submarine force for the events that happened in the Pacific during WWII and the submarine losses in that theatre of war. It is our one occasion to honor the memory of the submariners who paid the supreme sacrifice defending our shores, please make an effort to attend.

It was also decided at the meeting to present the HMS Unsparing WWII Jolly Roger presented to us by Lt 'Jack' Straw, ex TO of Unsparing, to the Holbrook Submarine Museum during the weekend of 17-18 October. Transport has been organised leaving approx 10am from Spencer/Lonsdale Street. It will be a 30-seater bus and spaces are filling fast. Cost will be $25 return fare, per head, for financial Victoria members (those who have paid their $15 for our Christmas raffle). This promises to be a good run ashore and a weekend to look forward to. A copy of the Jolly Roger is being made and will be held by the Victoria Branch.

Seating is available to other Victorian members but the cost to them will be $80 return fare. Arrangements have been made at Holbrook for accommodation but this is at members cost. A price has been agreed and negotiated by the motel and Victoria branch at a very reasonable rate - if interested, contact me.

Every effort is made by your committee to ensure that funds raised are utilised fully and returned to the members, it is sad that unfortunately support from members out there is not everything one would hope for. Out of a membership of 112 here in Victoria, we have a regular attendance of 16-20 members at the monthly meeting. As you see by the above happenings, there is plenty to get involved in, not just the mundane attendance at meetings. Make an effort to attend a meeting and your input will be appreciated.

The committee is also working on SUBCON 2011 and SAA AGM, which will be held here in Victoria, volunteers, assistance, sponsorship is always very much appreciated.

Remember it is YOUR Association, run by us (your shipmates) for you. Become involved and make our efforts worthwhile.

John Hatfield
Secretary

AROUND THE TRAPS

Pete Donzow sent this photo of some of the ex Onslow crew that were on board during the fire on Onslow resulting in the death of Chris Passlow.  A ceremony was held at the Maritime Museum in Sydney and a plaque and ensign were presented to the Passlow family. To see detail click the thumbnail)

Carol Wilson writes "I was wondering if the members are aware of the Memorial Chapel at Garden Island? I am going to Sydney next week to attend a Dedication Service where a plaque in remembrance of Bob’s service in the Navy will be dedicated. It is offered to any person who had service in the RAN. They hold the services near Anzac Day, July and around Remembrance Day in November. The cost of the plaque is $70.00 and is mounted on a wall in the Chapel along with others and all are equal, there is no discrimination regarding rank. He will now be remembered in two places, the Mudgeeraba Memorial (where I unveiled a plaque on Anzac Day) and the Garden Island Memorial Chapel. For anyone who may be interested in this can contact Command Chaplains Office 14-16 Wylde Street, Potts Point. 2011. Tel: 02 9359 3760."

"I only became aware of this when I wanted to scatter his ashes at HMAS Watson where we were married. The Chapel at Watson is now run by a Trust, and one of their objects is to “commemorate all members” so there cannot be any individual memorials there. Even the family of the Chaplain who was instrumental in the building of the Chapel, Chaplain James Trainer (who incidentally married us) was refused the same request."  The chapel is in a beautiful setting and I have looked at the stained glass window erected in memory of submariners, it is magnificent. (To see detail click the thumbnail)

Another submarine memorial has surface at Elliott Heads near Bundaberg and Stuart Milburn sent this photo.  I did a bit of searching and discovered that the Submarine Lookout had been a project close to local resident Bill Murray’s heart, himself a Returned Serviceman. Together with another local Ray Graham and other community helpers, they worked tirelessly to have the original Submarine Lookout acknowledged then dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives in defence of this Country. The upgrade to generate a Remembrance Site that is now a landmark where future generations can carry on the tradition of Anzac Day was completed in time for Anzac Day 2006. Financial grants from Federal, State and Local Governments were received as a result of Mr Murray and the Association’s drive. Not only are Remembrance and Anzac Day Commemorations and Easter Services held at the peaceful surrounds overlooking the ocean, but weddings and naming celebrations as well.

Ray 'Tug' Wilson solves a little more of the puzzle. "In the July 12th Log there is a photo from Noel Lowrie taken circa 1968 on HMS Otter and I am sure that the unknown person in the bottom right hand corner is ERA 1 Colin Corney. He was part of the Commissioning Crew of HMAS Onslow and left it in San Juan in Peurto Rico on the voyage back to Australia.  I especially remember him as he was a Direct Entry ERA and was in the same Intake as I, and incidentally Colin/Jerry Lewis, in July 1961. He left the Navy very soon after the Onslow reached Sydney."

SIA Essay Competition
Many of you would be aware of an initiative by the SIA to foster interest in the Future Submarine in the form of an Essay competition generously supported by ASC Pty Ltd. With $9,000 in prizes, the essay offers serving naval personnel the opportunity to compete for three prizes. All contributors will also be offered complimentary membership of the SIA for one year (should they not already be members). Details can be downloaded from the SIA's website and, in the interests of widening the debate, please encourage any serving naval personnel you know to participate in this exciting competition.

VETERANS AFFAIRS

Review of Military Compensation Arrangements
The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, announced that the Review of Military Compensation Arrangements’ steering committee has been appointed, and met yesterday to commence its consideration of almost 50 submissions from the service and ex-service communities.  “The appointment of this steering committee is the next step toward delivering the Government’s election commitment to review the current military rehabilitation and compensation arrangements,” Mr Griffin said.

“The steering committee members combine an extensive knowledge of veterans’ entitlements, rehabilitation, safety and compensation law and policy.”

The review’s steering committee is chaired by Ian Campbell, Chair of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission. Its members are: Major General Craig Orme, Department of Defence; Ms Peta Furnell, The Treasury; Ms Joan Ross, Department of Finance and Deregulation; Ms Michelle Baxter, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations; and Peter Sutherland, an independent expert in military rehabilitation and compensation law and a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University College of Law.

“We need to ensure that the experiences of those who have been through the military rehabilitation and compensation system are considered as part of the Review, and I am grateful to those organisations and individuals who have made submissions,” Mr Griffin said.

The next stage of investigations and consultations will include visits to Defence Force facilities and consultations with current and former members of the Australian Defence Force, ex-service organisations, key agencies and other stakeholders. The Prime Ministerial Advisory Council on Ex-service matters and the Ex-Service Roundtable will also be consulted for their views during the Review process.

“The Review is critical in identifying solutions for wider concerns relating to military rehabilitation and compensation. It is a significant step by the Government towards addressing concerns with military rehabilitation and compensation legislation and the administration of the schemes.”

The Review is examining the adequacy and suitability of military rehabilitation and compensation arrangements including perceived disparities and inequities between legislative schemes. Its terms of reference and further information about committee members can be found on the review web page from links at www.dva.gov.au. The Review is expected to report to Government in the first half of 2010, subject to the complexity of the matters raised.

The VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046.

Defence Force Welfare Association Forum - The ADF in Society
The Defence Force Welfare Association was formed in 1959 to represent the interests of serving and former members of the Australia Defence Force. The Association has a proud history of service and remains committed to serving the interests of members of the ADF, veterans and their families into the future.

To mark the 50th Anniversary, the Association invites you to participate in a National Forum to be held on 22 October 2009 at the Royal Military College of Australia – Duntroon.

THEME
The theme of the Forum is: The Australian Defence Force, the Australian Community and the Unique Nature of Military Service.

SUBMISSION OF PAPERS
The Association invites proposals for presentation of papers at the Forum. Should you wish to present a paper at the Forum, please contact Les Bienkiewicz at the National Office to receive an information pack and to discuss further details.

AGENDA
The agenda for the day will be finalised by 30 September 2009 and participants will be provided with agenda papers after 30 September 2009.

COST
Participants are asked to pay a contribution of $50 to cover morning and afternoon teas, lunch and conference papers. Speakers and invited guests will not be asked to contribute.

REGISTRATION
Should you wish to attend, please send your remittance and full details (name, position, postal address and contact phone number and/or email) to:

DFWA Forum
PO Box 4166
KINGSTON ACT 2604
.... as soon as possible as places are limited and acceptances will be given in order of receipt.

DATES
Submission of proposals for presentation of papers 10 August 2009
Presenters advised 20 August 2009
Submission of Papers to be presented 30 September 2009
Registrations Close 30 September 2009
Release of Final Agenda and Dispatch of Forum Papers 10 October 2009

KEYNOTE ADDRESS - SYNOPSIS
The Unique Nature of Military Service - Brig Kerry Mellor (Retd)

In recent years there seems to have been a shift in assumptions and attitudes underpinning the way military service is viewed. Those in government who shape policy are increasingly attracted to the idea that the soldier (sailor or airman) is adequately provided for by salary and allowances that compensate for service both while it is being given and after it has ceased. Military service can be seen as comparable to other forms of service that involve risk and danger, and therefore can no longer be seen as unique.

The unique nature of military service is rooted in the nature of society itself. Most democratic societies recognize the central place of the individual as the primary unit of sovereignty. Sovereign individuals are vested with inalienable human rights, recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as, among others, life, liberty and the security of the person (Article 3). Australia is a signatory of the Declaration, adopted by the General Assembly of the UN in 1948

Implicit in Article 3, there is also a right to defence of self and of others from attack, and this right inevitably gives rise to an obligation to do so if it is the State which is under threat or attack.

The inter-relationship of rights and responsibilities borne both by the state and the individual is complex, and based on the principle of the social contract. The state may not alienate the rights of the individual without their assent. The individual, while preserving the integrity of their rights, may assent to the state’s demand for surrender of some of them for the common good, but in all circumstances save one, the state is obliged to uphold and defend the individual’s rights.

In volunteering for military service, the individual accepts the surrender of their basic rights under Article 3. They place their life, liberty and security of person in the hands of the state. This surrender is not unconditional, though in extremis, it is absolute. The state, for its part, accepts the obligation to preserve, as far as is consistent with the achievement of the military mission, the physical and spiritual wellbeing of the individual who places himself at its disposal. This obligation extends beyond the period of service itself, to the physical and psychological consequences of that service.

Even when the state demands surrender of these rights by imposing a compulsion for service, the terms of the social contract imply that such compulsion is done only within the democratic framework and is therefore with the assent of the individual, who at all times is party to it.

In no other calling, occupation or profession has the state the power to accept or demand the surrender of these rights.

Military service in this fundamental respect is unique, and the obligation this places on the state is inescapable, as it is enduring.

DEFENCE NEWS

Perth-made eye-in-sky woos buyers
It may look like an overgrown model plane but a Perth-made aircraft is launching a group of local technology companies out of the economic gloom and into the international defence market. The Cyber Eye V1 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), developed by Bibra Lake-based Cyber Technology and loaded with technology designed by a loose coalition of WA companies, is being touted as a solution to combat everything from piracy to illegal fishing and people smuggling.

The fully autonomous craft, which has a 7m wing span and can reach up to 160kmh, is fitted with a day/night video camera capable of reading a car licence plate from a height of 150m and can transmit real-time images back to a hand-held monitor.

Former submariner Eric Pearson said he pulled together the alliance after realising WA was home to worldclass technologies but the global economic downturn and the red tape involved in selling to Australia meant many small companies were struggling to stay afloat.  Using the UAV as a platform to which other technology could be added, he formed the WA Technology Collaboration to showcase WA’s know-how to the rest of the world.

The venture proved a success. Within a week of its first international showcase, Thailand and Malaysia bought three of the $300,000 packages each. At least 20 orders from other countries had been received.

“The technology available in Australia and in our own backyard is amazing but we were going to lose it,” Mr Pearson said. “The products all worked individually but were having trouble finding a market, so when we saw they could put the technology on to a UAV it opened up doors to other markets.”

Mr Pearson, marketing manager of Operational Solutions Management, said strife-torn countries had shown interest in the UAV’s use in border protection and the ability to identify friends from foes in conflict.

There had even been interest from the US, the world leader in defence research and development.

Eagle-eyed plane spotters can see the UAV in action on July 30 when demonstrations covering a beach patrol, man-overboard search and piracy and personnel identification are held over Fremantle and Rottnest.

SUBMARINE FORCE CHRISTMAS BALL 12 DEC 2009
Planning for subject event is well underway with an active ball committee, venue booking confirmed and all catering and entertainment arrangements in place. The ball will be held on the evening of Sat 12 Dec 09 at the Fremantle Sailing Cub. Contributions by service organisations are increasing, and these are expected to reduce pressure on final ticket costs. A maximum ticket price has been set at $130 per head, although increased fund raising and contributions poses the potential to reduce this cost, however this decision can only be made once final attendance numbers are confirmed.

Ticket price includes a gourmet three course dinner, a five hour drinks package, venue hire, dj hire, security, parking and modest decorations. The venue itself provides panoramic vistas of the Fremantle coastal district. This package represents the best mix of quality venue, central location and fine dining, balanced against the need to keep costs reasonable. Accommodation packages and transport options will be advertised closer to the event date.

Tickets are now on sale and are expected to be keenly sought throughout the submarine community. Whilst the size of the venue is not small, numbers will be managed to ensure that conditions within the venue do not resemble those experienced onboard the CCSM. With this in mind, potential attendees will need to confirm their intention to attend via the payment of a deposit of dollars three zero per head.

Payments can be made via direct payment to: bank account, Australian Defence Credit Union, HMAS Stirling ships fund, account number 390004 S6, BSB 802 397, reference quote attn: treasurer SM ball, payment from (insert name, number of Tickets, rank or organisation).  Please ensure your name and number of tickets is in the reference for the transfer.

Personnel who wish to pay off the tickets may do so with final payment required two weeks prior to the ball, using the same method as above. Personnel are encouraged to make regular contributions to the ticket cost in order to avoid last minute large payments.

SAAWA Vice President Darren Thompson, phone: (08) 9553 2857 Email: darren.thompson2@defence.gov.au )

Dress for the evening will be mess undress or black tie and ladies equivalent as appropriate. Further admin details will be promulgated closer to the ball.

The SM Ball is conducted only two yearly, as such it represents a unique opportunity for the submarine community to gather and socialise, recognise achievements and share experiences.

Contact SAAWA Vice President CPO Darren Thompson for details if required. Phone:  (08) 9553 2857

Come on Boof lets have some us time.............

This week got better, the sun shone and I even managed to take a trip to the beach with Boof.  I left Niggs behind as poor Boof is starting to get very frail and seems to be in a world of his own most of the time. So it was just me and my mate and we both enjoyed it.  While he was paddling in the water I got a little jealous; his boy bits dangle in the water while I have to sit down to get mine wet!

I almost managed to install the solar heating on the pool but the frames I had made for the panels were not a huge success, mainly because of the way the solar panels are secured, not a fault in my design.  I managed to rupture one of the tubes but they must have known I was installing it as they sent some bungs for such eventualities.  With luck I will be swimming in a steaming pool next week.

The garden also got some of my time, the veggie patch is now toppers with all sorts of food for the chooks and native birds.  With luck there may be enough left over for some for the table too.

Too nice a day to spend sitting here doing The Log, time to finish In depth.

SAA NEWS  
It is disappointing to see that 10% of the SAA Members have not paid their subscriptions that were due on May 1st.  Subscriptions have been kept low at $10 a year (or $8 a year if $40 paid for 5 years) which should be affordable to most. If your name is on the list could you either pay as soon as possible or advise us of your intentions so that we can amend our records accordingly.  If you know anyone on the list can you advise them, we may have incorrect contact details and they may not be aware.  If you have paid and your name is still on the list contact John Rana as he has had two payments made by EFT without details been given.  One payment received on 3/7/09 for $40 Ref: LABS and one  8/7/09 for $40 Ref: Netbank v yrs subscription.

The matter of In Depth has been a cause for concern, the cost to produce and deliver far exceeds the annual subscription that Members pay and has resulted in the decision not to send hard copy to those on the internet, only to those that do not have internet access if requested.  The problem arose once sponsorship was withdrawn last year.  A letter has been sent to all Members that we do not have an email address for, explaining the problem and advising them that they will get a copy in the mail on request.  This has upset several Members (that are on the internet) and resulted in threats not to renew membership. I would like to think that our Members get value for money for their $10, or are we wasting our time maintaining the websites for our Members?

Norm Williams
National Secretary
Submarines Association Australia

Western Australia Branch

New South Wales Branch
Today the NSW Branch held it's AGM and Geoff Anderson was re-elected as President for the next 12 months.  More details later.

Northern Queensland Branch
Garth Schmidt  reports that there will be an AGM held for the NQ branch of the SAA in Townsville on the 29 August. He will advise the location shortly, but will probably be at the Townsville RSL club. Email advice has been sent to all members, however there may be non members out there that may want to attend as well as visitors, who would be most welcome.

"We had a very disappointing meeting in Cairns last weekend. Only a handful turned up. However it was good to catch up with Shorty Donnelly and wife Carol-Ann and great to see Peter & Marilyn Nielsen and Coyote and Helen Wyatt.  We also had a good look at the newly refurbished HMAS Cairns, which looks a million dollars, but of course cost much more. Great messes, but totally deserted, even with a couple of U.S. skimmers tied up nearby with 5K sailors on board.

Called in to see Claude ( Rob ) Roberts on the way up and down. Very pleased to advise that he is in the best of spirits and determined to be mobile again shortly. His attitude and determination is inspirational. He has teamed up with an old mate in the home and they get together every afternoon to "up spirits".   Anyway, please find attached a couple of photos of the rough heads that attended the Cairns meeting."

Queensland Branch
The AGM and Dinner Dance at Kedron Wavell RSL is rapidly approaching and it should be another successful get together of the Queensland submarine community.  I believe it is not too late to book, but email Rob Woolrych (or phone 07 5442 1991) for all the details or if you need accommodation or any special dietary requirements.

The Master of Ceremonies for the night is Billy Clayton who will be wearing his “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer Horns” so a great night is assured.

AROUND THE TRAPS

At least I know Dave Elliston reads the log, he pointed out the deliberate mistake I made last week by asking "Does LCDR Riano Gargiulo RAN (Rtd). Actually have the same Christian name as his partner?" Instead of Helen I had inadvertently put Riano."  And I thought I was perfect!!!.

It must be summer in the UK as Dave Luck is shown here wearing his 'Sunday best' and looking like a real Aussie tourist.  Never did find out why he returned to the old dart, did he get run out of town? In his latest email he says "Just bringing a bit of culture to the English pub scene. I notice nobody seemed to have a go at identifying Noel Lowrie's photo."

In the June issue of the Log Noel Lowrie sent this photo was taken in 1968 (?) in HMS Otter. and asked "Can you put names to these men who now must be 40 years on. Makes me feel old, I was the L.O. and Peter Briggs was the Navigator"  Dave says that they are L to R. Back. Don't know, Ned Kelly, Doug Elliott, Blue Walker, Tiffy ?,  Front. John Cornish, Bob Madden, ?, know the face, can't get the name, a tiffy I think. 

Paul Meakin has been advised of the potential visit to Australia by a WWII Submariner, Ginger Coles DSM, in May next year. He plans to visit both Perth and Adelaide in memory of serving there in WWII. Ginger was Max Shean's ERA on the X Craft. Peter Dunne's website records that, on 21 February 1945, HMS Bonaventure, and six XE-craft submarines (35 ton) were despatched to the Far East to form the 14th Submarine Flotilla which was formed from the 12th Submarine Flotilla. They travelled via the Panama Canal, Pearl Harbor, and the Admiralty Islands and arrived in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia in about June 1945.  The Six secret XE-craft submarines trained on a lonely part of the Queensland coast about one hundred miles north of Brisbane. The location was chosen to avoid the possibility of being spotted by any Japanese reconnaissance aircraft. Tom Oates, Secretary of the Submarines Association (Australia Branch) will keep us informed on the visit.  

Peter Smith, the Hon SAA Historian, is seeking a piece of Australian submarine history. He writes "I have recently learnt that when the 'J' class submarines were decommissioned and sold for scrap the bells were sold for 3 guineas or $6.60 in the early 1920s. The bell from 'J1' had the following inscription engraved on it. "Ha...Ha...Ha..., Hee... Hee... Hee..., I can see you, but, you can't see me." If anyone who reads this, and knows of the whereabouts of the bell I would be very interested in receiving a photograph of this relic if it still exists."

Perspective
One day , the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.  On their return from their trip , the father asked his son , "How was the trip?"

"It was great , Dad."
Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.
"Oh yeah , " said the son.
"So , tell me , what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.

The son answered: "I saw that we have one dog and they had four.
We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.
We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.
Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.
We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.
We have servants who serve us , but they serve others.
We buy our food , but they grow theirs.
We have walls around our property to protect us , they have friends to protect them."

The boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added , "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are."

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have.  Appreciate every single thing you have , especially your friends!

"Life is too short and friends are too few." 

Thanks Graham for reminding us all of the important things in life. Your mate, Norm.

John 'Fred' Fisher Mal reports "I visited Bob and Beth Bobilak at the weekend and we had a great time. John Goss and his wife Janine and daughter Ebony were there too. The reason for going, apart from seeing Bob, was that it is their 50th wedding anniversary today. I have enclosed a picture of the three of us taken just after tot time." Mates care! The Santa lookalike looks like he has had too many tots!

Tony Noakes writes "I met a bloke the other day at a Hell Ship memorial, his name is Spike Nasmyth a very interesting guy. Spent 6 years as a POW in Vietnam he was an A4 pilot shot down near Hanoi. Anyway he has written a book about his experiences a bloody good read. It’s called 2355 Days a POW’s story, ISBN 0-609-89964-3. I think it’s available on Amazon.com, someone maybe interested in the read. The memorial was interesting it was put on by the PNG Volunteer rifles and a Victorian RSL it was for the 1054 Australians and Norwegians killed on the Montevideo Maru a Japanese freighter when it was torpedoed by an American submarine, 1 allied survivor. About 300Km north of Subic Bay, the Japs were transporting them to Hainan Island for slave labour. There was an unveiling of a memorial and wreath laying here in Subic Bay at the Hell Ship Memorial on the 1st of July commemorating the sinking and sacrifice."

People born between 1925 and 1945....Are called...The Silent Generation.
People born between 1946 and 1964...Are called.... The Baby Boomers.
People born between 1965 and 1984...Are called.... Generation X.
People born after 1984....Are called.... Generation Y. BUT......... Y?  Why do we call the last group of people...Generation Y ?  I had no idea until I saw a caricaturist's explanation! A picture is worth a thousand words! The answer!

Graeme Kepzig wrote "Hey mate, hope all is well in the deep north. I've just come back from the north coast where I had a chance to have a few beers with the Lord Mayor of Nambucca Heads, Gary "Bendy" Bax and his lovely wife Ann, a great lady. Bloody nice to catch up and Bendy's home brew is smooth is all I will say."

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VETERANS' AFFAIRS

Scholarships & Grants being offered in 2010
In 2010 the Australian Veterans’ Children Assistance Trust (AVCAT) are expecting to give financial assistance for up to 65 students under many different scholarship schemes. All schemes help the selected children in need of the Australian veteran community with the costs of tertiary education. Applicants are considered for all schemes for which they are eligible.

Applications open on 18 August 2009. To apply you must be:

• a. Within the means test. That is eligible on assets and income grounds for Youth Allowance benefits for full- time education.

• b. Enrolled, or planning to enrol in a full-time course of tertiary education in Australia by attendance at a university, TAFE or college. The course must be of one or more academic years length and at undergraduate level.

• c. The child or grandchild of a person who has operational service with the Australian Navy, Army or Air Force, or if not has three or more year’s continuous full-time service as a member of the Australian Defence Force.

• d. Under the age of 25 when applying, unless exceptional circumstances related to veteran’s service exist.

The largest scheme is the Long Tan Bursary funded by the Australian Government. There are 50 new bursaries each year. They are valued at $9,000 each which paid at $3,000 per year for three years. There are selection number targets for each State and Territory. To apply you must be the child of an Australian Vietnam Veteran, be resident in Australia, be entering any year of tertiary study, having not previously received a Long Tan Bursary.

The other national schemes are the AVCAT Bursary, the two RSL Scholarships, three Vietnam Veterans’ Peacekeepers and Peacemakers Scholarship and the Defence Force Welfare Association Scholarship. George Quinsey Scholarships directly pay tuition fees for economics, commerce and accountancy studies. There are also regional scholarships. In NSW, there are three from Brisbane Water Legacy covering Gosford/Wyong NSW and one from the NSW TPI Association. Some private donors offer two scholarships to resident NSW applicants. In SA, the VVAA also offers a scholarship. Schemes vary between $3,000 and $5,000 per year each.

To receive an application form register interest on 1800 620 361. Children and grandchildren of Vietnam veterans should do so now, as should any others who believe that they are eligible. If not sure, ask. Applications close on 31 October each year.
AVCAT PO Box K978, Haymarket, NSW 1240.  FAX: 02 9281 9164, Email: vvt@accsoft.com.au Web: www.accsoft.com.au/~vvt

Discount Internet for Veterans
Brett Hinton switched ISP to www.tadaust.org.au, a subsidiary of ISPONE as it offers the following for pensioners, disabled, and veterans:

• Dial Up - $6.60 (yes $6.60) per month unlimited download.

• Broadband - $29.95 per month for 12 Gigabytes (that's 12000 megabites).

Most other companies charge you both ways. That is, they charge you for the information you send from your computer as well as the stuff you download.  Dial up is fine for everyday users such as us oldies who just want to check mail etc.

DEFENCE NEWS

Navy goes high-tech to attract submariners
There is no shortage of challenges to recruiting and retaining people to serve in Australia's navy submarines: months away from home, life in a confined space and now the pall of sexism that hangs over the service in the wake of recent allegations. The navy is trying to combat some of those perceptions with a new high-tech recruiting tool that aims to give potential recruits a glimpse of life in a submarine.

Called Ocean Recon, the interactive computer program seeks to demystify the submarine division, dubbed the "secret service", by showing among other things that officers on board can enjoy many of the creature comforts they have on-shore, including gym, internet and study options. The program, targeted at 16- to 24-year-olds, is the latest tool being used to recruit the 70 to 80 new officers required to meet the needs of the West Australian-based submarine division.

Speaking at the launch yesterday, the navy's people and retention chief, Rear Admiral Steve Gilmore, acknowledged the extent of the challenge as the navy seeks to attract an extra 700 people funded by the Defence white paper released earlier this year. "Recruiting continues to be a challenge for the Royal Australian Navy and submarine service in particular," he said.

While the Australian Defence Force has experienced a 39 per cent increase in recruitment inquiries as rising unemployment forces many people to seek new opportunities, so far it has not led to additional enlistments. Last year the navy reached only 74 per cent of its recruitment target, which the Defence Force's recruiting director-general, Commodore Tim Barrett, yesterday said was due to a lack of understanding of life in the navy. "There are elements where you can conduct a normal life: you can still play your music; you can still get fit; you can still do all those other things," he said.

A review last year into submarine staffing made 29 recommendations, which the navy have pledged to implement. Already the navy has cut the number of sailors required to keep watch when submarines are in port, boosted crew sizes by 25 per cent to ease the workload, broadened internet access on-board and improved on-shore accommodation.

But with the resources sector offering attractive packages to many submariners, the navy has launched a retention bonus for people with key skills and now offer $60,000 payments for an 18-month commitment to serve.

Go to Defence Jobs - submarines

Baltic Sea divers find wreck of Soviet submarine
After a decade-long search, a team of Baltic Sea divers has discovered the wreckage of a Soviet submarine that sank with dozens of sailors aboard during World War II, one of the divers said Tuesday. They found the S-2 submarine near the Aland Islands between Sweden and Finland in February but only announced it Tuesday because they wanted to confirm the identity of the vessel, team member Marten Zetterstrom said.

He said all 50 crew members died when the vessel exploded in 1940, probably after hitting a mine. He declined to give the exact location.  "I think it's been 10 years since people started searching. I've been part of it for four-five years," Zetterstrom said.

Markus Lindholm, an Aland-based expert who studied pictures of the wreck, said the claim appeared to be true. "According to all available sources no other submarine has sunk in those waters," said Lindholm, curator of maritime archaeology at Finland's National Board of Antiquities.

The submarine was last spotted at surface level by a lighthouse keeper on the Market island, west of the Aland archipelago, Lindholm said. He said the keeper's notes of the incident have been preserved and describe how the vessel headed north before diving and entering a Finnish minefield, after which an explosion was heard.  Lindholm said pictures showed the front of the submarine was missing, apparently torn off by an explosion.  "The mine must have hit the submarine hull near the torpedo tubes and then the whole thing blew up," he said.

Zetterstrom said the divers had informed Swedish and Russian authorities about the discovery.

Russia's Nerpa nuclear submarine resumes sea trials in Pacific
Russia's Nerpa nuclear-powered submarine, which was damaged in a fatal accident during previous tests, resumed sea trials on Friday in the Sea of Japan, a spokesperson for the Amur shipyard said. "The Nerpa nuclear submarine...has left a repair facility in the town of Bolshoy Kamen in the Primorye Territory and is headed for a series of sea trials," Marina Radayeva said.

On November 8, 2008, while the Nerpa was undergoing sea trials in the Sea of Japan, its on-board fire suppression system went off, releasing a deadly gas into the sleeping quarters. Three crewmembers and 17 shipyard workers were killed. There were 208 people, 81 of them submariners, on board the vessel at the time.

Following the repairs, which cost an estimated 1.9 billion rubles (about $60 mln), the submarine was cleared for final sea trials before being commissioned with the Russian Navy and leased to the Indian Navy by the end of 2009.

India reportedly paid $650 million for a 10-year lease of the 12,000-ton K-152 Nerpa, an Akula II class nuclear-powered attack submarine. Akula II class vessels are considered the quietest and deadliest of all Russian nuclear-powered attack submarines.

I have just taken delivery of my latest order from wines Direct, a 2005 Tempus Two Pewter Label Merlot for only $9.95 each. Before the wine glut I have paid as much as &39.95 for this wine (who said I was a cheapskate?) For this week's specials go to GetWineDirect and save enough to buy heaps more, you can never have enough wine.  Please visit the website and when you place your order be sure to include the CLUB ID number to go onto your order so the SAA can claim the 5% of sales. SAA ID Number is 3558 or for WA Members  the ID Number is 9375. 

SUBMARINE ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIA Annual subscriptions
Annual subscriptions are overdue if your name appears in this list.  Payment should be forwarded to:

John Rana National Treasurer, SAA 5 Mirror Cove Waikiki WA 6169

Details for Payment by EFT: Bank:      Aust Defence Credit Union Name:     Submarines Assoc Australia Account:   705414    BSB:     802 397

Surname	Surname	Surname	Surname
Andrews R	GIBBS AF	McGINN GJ	ROACH TA
ATKINSON  BR	GILBERTSON DJ	McGUIGAN RD	RODGERS DW
BIRCH R	HILLMAN M	McMINN R	SMITH AJ
BOYLES W	HODGES J (Vic)	MERRIGAN LA	SOLOMON P
	HOLLIS A
BRAUND J	HOLMES JS	METCALF JP	STANDING M
BRYAN D	HUNTER J	MILLS KA	STRAWHAN MDA
CRANE B	HURFORD PD	MORTON KC	SWANSON MA
CHURCHILL HE	JAMES AD	MURRELL RD	TAUBMAN JMH
CLARKE R	JENSEN PG	NICHOLS DC	THOMPSON K
DALEY FJ	JOHNSTONE AM	O'NEILL JG	THURSTON RC
DIKKENBERG GJ	KEARVELL DJ	OSBORNE AC	TUNBRIDGE JR
DRAPER G	KEEGAN C - Address unknown	PARDOE MS	VIDULICH WA
EILOLA PG	KEESING GA	PATRICK RL	WAPLES JJ
EVATT PG	KEETON M		WATSON DP
EXCELL DL	LENEHAN C	PETERS KR	WELLER-LEWIS PA
FARRAWELL AW	MASTERSON M - Address unknown	PIESSE G	WILKINSON NA
FEARNSIDE EA	MARRIOTTO G	PROTHEROE GP	WILLIAMS RJ
FORMBY PJ	MAYNARD RW	RAABE KJ	WYATT W

Come on Boof , let's grab a bottle of wine and hide from Niggs.............

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Sunday, 5^th July 2009

Last week I signed off with "Next week had better be better!!!"  Actually, my week didn't improve much at all, I had planned a few things but the weather put an end to those plans.  the wind was strong and bitterly cold and after i finish today's Log I am going out with my blower to clean up the yard and pool.

My priority this week is to install the solar heating on the pool, jumped in yesterday (silly boy) and was out in a flash, the chill factor of the wind caused it to almost freeze in  a few days.  I have had frames made for the panels and it is now only a matter of assembling the bloody thing.  Should only take me a few days, plus a few hours for the plumber to come in and finish it when I stuff it up.

I was going to the 10th International Submarine Races in Bethesda, Maryland this month, but time let me down. I have read about this often and the photos are worth looking at, although not to everyone's interest I suppose. 

To my critics!!!

Last week I explained that I was having a few problems with technology and this resulted in quite a lot of email from some critics, kick a bloke while he's down why don't you!!!  Not all of us have kids that can look after these little problems, I have to sort them out my self.  I received several copies of the following joke:

I was having trouble with my new television, so I called Richard, the 11 year old next door whose bedroom looks like Mission Control, and asked him to come over. Richard clicked a couple of buttons and solved the problem. As he was walking away, I called after him, 'So, what was wrong? He replied, 'It was an ID ten T error.' I didn't want to appear stupid, but nonetheless inquired, 'An, ID ten T error? What's that? In case I need to fix it again.' Richard grinned. 'Haven't you ever heard of an ID ten T error before?' 'No,' I replied. 'Write it down,' he said, 'and I think you'll figure it out.' So I wrote down: I D 1 0 T. I used to like the little shit.

My little puppy is little no more; he can now reach anything, anywhere and when he stands on his hind legs is nearly as tall as me (I had I instead of me but it looked pretentious).  I was cooking sausages in the wall oven last night and had pulled the tray out once they were cooked.  Silly move, Niggs decided that he dinner was self serve and when I came back to the kitchen the only thing left was a happy dog.....  oh well, got him off Boof's back for a while.  He also has a thing for an undies, most of mine are now crutchless (no comments please!) and I now have to make sure my dirty clothes go straight into the washing machine, not on the floor. How long is the puppy stage?

I did manage to put in new plants in my vegetable gardens, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, celery and zucchini. I have been preparing the soil for a couple of months, there is more cow shit in my gardens than at the Sydney Easter show.  I am sure I will succeed this year, will probably have to set up a stall out the front to get rid of the excess. My crops failed last year and I have come to the conclusion that you have to have a degree in gardening to grow tomatoes, so they are not going in this year.  If I finally get any eggs from the chooks I may even be able to sell a few of them too.  Us self funded retirees have to do something to grow our meager funds. especially after receiving the letter from DRFRD saying no rise this year..... I bet the pollies didn't get a zero growth in their indexed pensions.

About time we started to put more pressure on the Government about DFRDB pensions.

Oh well, better get on with the log or I'll run out of time again.

PS: I am having a problem, Bold print not working in second half of Log, will look into it later.....

SAA NEWS  

I have taken advantage of the weather this week and started to carry out some of the actions from the AGM.  There is now a password protected area in the SAA website for Members Only. This is under development and at the moment only contains a list of Members and the Secretary's Log.   there is also a separate area for Committee Members only, and this currently contains a list of Members and contact details.  It is hoped that a collaborative effort by all secretaries will help keep our records up to date.

This week we sent out 200 letters to members that we do not have email addresses for advising them of changes to the distribution of In Depth.  It is important that we reduce the number that require hard copy.  If you visit the Log but have not given me your email address (or any change to it), please do so.

work on new By-laws has started and a page will soon be available on the site where you can review the changes and make recommendations and suggestions.  This time we want everyone to have a input into the changes to the Constitution.  To take the politics out of it, names of the person or Branch making a proposal will not be displayed.

It's starting to happen and all Members are requested to forward any suggestions on how we can improve the Association are always welcome.  If we don't know its broke, we cant fix it!

There are a few AGMs coming up and I ask that all branch members consider turning up as a sign of support for the Committees.  It is a good opportunity to catch up with some old mates and share a tall story or two.  Yours is on next Sunday NSW.

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Western Australia Branch
Lieutenant-Commander Max Shean DSO* RANVR (Rtd)
Fred Lawrence, President of the WA Branch reports that Max Shean's funeral held on Monday 22nd of June was a fitting send off for an indominatable spirit. The day was crisp and clear, winter rains stayed away and sufficient sunshine broke through the cloud to warm the mourners gathering before the service.

RADM Davyd Thomas, RAN, Deputy Chief Of Navy attended representing the Chief of Navy. Captain SM  (CAPT Brett Sampson) the Commanding Officer HMAS Stirling (CAPT Brett Dowsing) and CAPT Tim Brown all took part in the service.

The service was MC'd by Peter Horobin and conducted by Chaplain Duncan Besci, RAN in front of a chapel filled to overflowing. His Excellency, The Governor of Western Australia, Dr Ken Michael was also in attendance.

Our Association and our RN brothers gathered as one in the funeral procession which made its way to the Chapel to the beat of a muffled drum. A funeral firing party lead the procession and serving submariners lined the avenue leading to the chapel. Prior to the committal of the casket three volleys were fired and after the Naval Ode was delivered by Jack McRoberts, President of WA Legacy, the Last Post and Reveille was sounded.

After the service was completed mourners were invited to refreshments at the Fremantle Sailing Club, Max's old club. I'm sure that all members who knew Max will remember him with great fondness - He will be missed by this Branch.

Photo's courtesy of Navy Imagery Unit-West.	A full album of the funeral can be found at this link.

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Queensland Branch
Support for the Dinner Dance at Kedron Wavell RSL has been excellent and those of you who have said you are coming and have not yet paid please pay as soon as you are able.  For those of you who are still vacillating and pontificating on whether to come or not, make the decision and jump in at the deep end and say you will join us on the night for the Party and then you can come to the AGM on the following day.

If you do decide to come let me know at email robjan_w@launch.net.au or phone 07 5442 1991. If you need accommodation I have a list of Motels in the near proximity of the venue so just ask or use the RACQ website/Accommodation Guide.

I realize that there are some of you who still do not know if you are going to be free on the night due to work and travel commitments and to those I would ask, please if possible give me a weeks notice, if you decide to join us. This will give us time for the Seating Plan, Food and other ancillary arrangements to be made.  Contact me if you have any special dietary requirements.

If there are any of you are not coming because you are worried that you will not know anyone then the “Meet and Greet” with the “smallie eats” prior to Dinner is the period when our star “Master of Ceremonies”, Bill Clayton will make sure you are introduced to all and sundry. The “M.C” will be wearing his “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer Horns” (left over from our Christmas in July 2007) so if you are having problems just latch on to Billy and he will put you straight.

Rob Woolrych, Secretary

AROUND THE TRAPS
I received some photos from ex LSUCSM David Costello who had previously reported that he was still living in England ("Biggest mistake of my life not staying in boats, I wish I could do it all over again.").  He caught up with submariner LEUT Jon Corker who is currently serving on HMAS Ballarat which was on a visit to Portsmouth as part of Northern Trident 09, a six-month international deployment that will support Australian Government diplomatic, international security and defence industry interests in Western Europe, North America and North Asia.  A highlight of the deployment includes visits to a multitude of overseas ports in countries such as India, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and Japan. David added "It was great fun catching up with Jon. Spinning warries and having a ball."  Love the cap David!!

Spam Warning
if you receive an email from someone you 'know' asking for financial assistance, beware!  I like many others received an email from Peter Smith requesting money.  I immediately took it to be false, I know Peter would never be that silly.  I contacted him and he has responded "I have been informed that my gmail account has been hacked into and I am told that a message supposedly from me has been sent requesting money be sent to England to bail me out of trouble as I had lost my travel documents and money.  The hacker got into my site and took all the addresses in my contact book and then deleted it, obviously to put me off track of who was in the Contact file. The gmail account was set up last year when I was having difficulties with my then server, the addresses in the file were all Branch Secretaries and some Presidents so that I could contact them from my local library re In Depth, etc.

As I am a seasoned world traveler (6 years Pussers and 19 years Qantas) I would not have got myself into this type of trouble and I would have had arrangements with my bank to cover any unforeseen costs. Sorry for any inconvenience, but be aware that there are hackers out there and I think I got out of this one fairly easy." 

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US SUBVETS WW2 Memorial Service - Albany 31 May 2009
Fred Lawrence sent the following report on the annual memorial service to remember the USN submarine losses of the 2nd World War which was held in Albany on Sunday 31May. "With SUBCON being the following week our branch representation was fewer than in previous years, but I am grateful for Pod and Allison O'Donahue who made the trip down and the unexpected but great attendance by Jim and Nina Blunt and Pete and Barb Sellars from Queensland who had told me that they were touring the southwest prior to SUBCON.

Tom Oates, the Submariners Association Secretary with five other members of his association arranged for a group dinner on Saturday night and we all gathered at the Le Grande Motel along with the enlisted USN submariners posted to the Submarine FEG. Unfortunately LCDR Paul Varnadore and his wife were delayed on the way down and could not join us.

On Sunday the weather was threatening, sprinkling with rain and as the service commenced rain fell out of the sky by the bucket load, but cleared away after about ten minutes. The service was conducted by Reverend Bob Pittman a WW2 submariner and member of the Submariners Association. LCDR Paul Varnadore USN gave the formal address, with CPO Craig Werley laying their wreath and two enlisted men , STS Chris Heffernan and STS John Yuhas called the Honour Roll and tolled the bell. Our Squadron was represented by CAPT Brett Sampson (Captain SM) who was accompanied by his wife Robyn. I laid a wreath on behalf of our Association. As always it was a trip worth doing and we hope to continue being a part in coming years."

Last week I mentioned another ex submariner that had changed over to the RAAF for an easy life, Nev McClean.  Jim Joyce responded "Norm I served in the RAAF after pussers and did a tour in Butterworth,1977-1980, where I met up with Trevor Babore who was serving as a Radio Technician. Trevor invited me around to his section for lunch one day and who should I meet but a bloke I served with on Queenborough. Later toward the end of my tour, I met up with an ex-Submarine Stoker, serving in the RAAF as a Signals Operator. Some years later my wife and I went to Penang for a holiday and I sought to contact an old RAAF mate whom I knew was in Butterworth at the time, he was also ex-pusser. I telephoned the RAAF Police from my hotel and asked if they would contact my mate and let him know I was in town. To my surprise I received a phone call from Don Fleet, whom I had gone to the U.K. with in 1968, he was a RAAF Dog Handler and had heard the message passed over the radio. Small world!"

Dave Holland reports "The 'Holland's' horse 'TOGHA' finally had a win - 1st run since being gelded ,so we are hoping there are more to come.  Paid a handy 14/1 and we all cleaned up. Keep an eye out for it's next race in Sydney."  As usual I get the tips AFTER the race!!!  Dave is the one in the pink shirt.

A very loud, unattractive, hard-faced woman was touring a visiting submarine with her two kids in tow, screaming obscenities at them all the way through the boat. An old kellick forendy said, "Good morning and welcome aboard, nice children you've got there. Are they twins?"

The woman stops screaming long enough to snarl: "Of course they bloody aren't!  The oldest is nine and the youngest is seven. Why the hell would you think they're twins?  Do you really think they look alike, you dickhead?"

"Absolutely not," replies the kellick, "I just can't believe anyone would root you twice"

---

The Submarine Institute of Australia have made a DVD of Max Shean's life which is available on the new SIA Online Shop. The DVD 'Above and Below: The Extraordinary Life of Max Shean'." Cost $20 plus postage.

It is pleasing to see the continued support that Thales give to the submarine community. Thales support the SAA in many ways, and their support of SUBCON and this website are appreciated. It was good to see that Mr Chris Lloyd, Vice President Naval, Thales Australia, announced that Thales would be continuing its Ruby sponsorship of the Submarine Institute of Australia this week. In welcoming this news, SIA President Rear Admiral Peter Briggs recognised the important and long-standing relationship between Thales Australia and the SIA and said that "the support of our sponsors is vital if we are to continue to sell the message of the value of submarines in Australian defence to Government and the Australian public. As our inaugural sponsor, Thales Australia has made an important contribution to the SIA's achievement of its objectives and for that we are very grateful."

John Goss wrote "Notwithstanding the sadness of Bob Marsland's passing and I'm not sure of Wing's Colbert's situation this find to me is a treasure.   Pints of scrumpy two weeks after our arrival - July 1967. You handsome devil."  Yes John, we were then, but you should see us now.  The photo (above) taken at the 40th Birthday reunion in Fremantle last month........ Included in the photo are Rip Mahoney, Tom Harrison, ?, John Morris, Roy Cross, Norm Williams, Ray Clarke, Tom Johnson, ?, Peter Briggs, Fred Lawrence, ?,? and John Angelini (who was at the toilet and had to be photoshopped into the photo).  Unfortunately Barry Nobes could not attend but sent the following message.

HMAS OVENS
The three years I spent with OVENS were no doubt the best and most enjoyable professional time in my career. I kind of had the feeling before I joined that they might be. A brand new submarine building at Scotts, the best yard – time to have an input and time to get together a ship’s company , and plan a trip to the other side of the world! What more could you ask? The boat itself was superb, I believe, and once we had learnt what she could do we did it! The building process was fun, if a little frustrating, but what about doing our first sea trials with no furniture. I was the Master of a merchant submarine and was paid the princely sum of one pound. The really hard work that was put in by so much of the ship’s company before commissioning and the way that you were all shaping up assured me that this was going to be a good-‘un. And so it turned out. I had never served in a submarine (and I had been in eight others) with people with so much experience, knowledge, commonsense, and sheer quality. I think I probably sat back in the Work-Up and let it all happen  -  certainly that’s what one on the staff officers said to me. He just didn’t understand the reliance, experience and trust there was. Most certainly I found the Work-Up much less strain than others I had been in. You, the ship’s company, were magnificent. I don’t think there were any weak links in the team - and this is what submarines are really all about.

 I do not want to mention individuals;  let us just say we worked well, fixed things when they need fixing, fed well, had just about everything we needed, went to interesting places, played hard and enjoyed life to the full! And weren’t the staff at Faslane jealous!

Talking about visiting interesting places! There were differences between them - London and Valparaiso provided a bit more than Arrochar or Inverary! What can I say about the trip out to Australia. Most of you won’t have much knowledge of the prior planning and negotiating. But it all went extraordinarily well  -  the only major hiccup, as some of you will remember, I’m sure, was that I forgot to organise payment of the toll for the Panama Canal. But even that was overcome (on a Saturday morning). All the places we went to were interesting and enjoyable. The only regret was that ‘they’ wouldn’t let us go round the Horn. I think they were afraid we would disrupt the single-handed round-the-world yacht race going the other way! There were so many incidents, many funny, some very interesting  -  too many to recall.

Coming through the Heads dived into Port Jackson on that memorable arrival day  -  what a sight, what a feeling  -  and then berthing at Plats,  greeting the wives and families. The end of a great voyage, at least that’s what I thought!!

Life turned much more mundane after that. But there were moments like the first visit to Coffs Harbour and the subsequent liaison with that Shire, as it was then. And our little excursion south of Tasmania to look at a fellow underwater traveller. We missed the opening of the Opera House but it was too late to delete the name ‘Ovens’ from the Fleet Review.

But life remained interesting – we met every planned exercise and more and I was very sad to leave the boat and hand her over.

I have written too much so I will end now. I wish you all and your wives and partners the happiest of weekends – I really would love to be with you.  The experience I had with you in ‘Ovens’ had been the best of my service life. Thank you, everyone.

Barry Nobes
Commissioning CO, HMAS Ovens

Dear Swannee,  Please find my suggestion for fixing Australia's economy.  Instead of giving billions of dollars to banks that will squander the money on lavish parties and unearned bonuses, use the following plan.  You can call it the Patriotic Retirement Plan. There are about 10 million people over 50 in the work force.  Pay them $1 million each severance for early retirement with the following stipulations:

They MUST retire. Ten million job openings - Unemployment fixed
They MUST buy a new Australian car. Ten million cars ordered - Car Industry fixed
They MUST either buy a house or pay off their mortgage - Housing Crisis fixed
They MUST send their kids to school/TAFE/university - Crime rate fixed
They MUST buy $100 WORTH of alcohol/tobacco a week .....and there's your money back in duty/tax etc

It can't get any easier than that!  If more money is needed, have all members of parliament pay back their falsely claimed expenses and second home allowances.

Dave (Goldie) Horn visited the USS Essex whilst it was in Cairns for some R&R prior to Operation Talisman Sabre later this month. 

VETERANS' AFFAIRS
East Timor Solidarity Medal (Medalha Solidariedade de Timor-Leste)
The East Timorese Solidarity Medal was introduced by the President of East Timor in recognition of forces involved in the contribution to stability and peace operations in East
Timor. The commencement date is 6 May 2006 and qualification for the medal is:

• a. Having served a minimum of 180 days continuous or accrued service in East Timor from 1 May 2006; or

• b. Nominations will be considered for personnel that have served a minimum of 120 days from 1 May 06; or

• c. Nominations will be considered for personnel who served with a start date
  in May or June 2006 for a period at least 90 days; or

• d. The President of the Republic may consider extra-ordinary cases outside the above time-periods.

Applications for extra-ordinary cases must be approved and submitted through the Department of Defence in Canberra, to be considered and approved by the President of the Republic. Eligible Defence personnel who may be approved for unrestricted acceptance and wearing of the medal are ADF personnel assigned for service as part of the ADF contribution in East Timor and Defence civilians serving in East Timor under the auspices of the Defence Force Discipline Act.

HEALTH MATTERS
This information is general, and has been stolen from the Derbyshire Submariners Association newsletter, but worth reading.  When did you have your last checkup?.

PROSTATE/DIABETES.  If you’re always on the toilet or need it in the night even when you haven’t got a lot of fluid, it could be a sign of a health problem.  Although talking about waterworks can be embarrassing, you need to check things out with your doctor as it could be problems with your prostate or diabetes or if you are lucky nothing at all but it is better to check.  Many are on water tablets and other medication which could also throw up a perfectly innocent explanation

PROSTATE:  Increasing frequent trips to the loo could mean a problem with your prostate gland.  Your prostate surrounds your urethra and is the size of a small nut.  Its main function is producing semen. (A very nautical piece of kit!)  One common prostate problem that comes with age is called BPH, a condition where the prostate becomes enlarged, putting pressure on the urethra and making passing water difficult.  A more serious problem is prostate cancer.  As the most common male cancer, it usually affects men over 50,  There are many different types of prostate problems, so if you feel any of the following signs you should seek advice from your doctor:  a weak flow when passing urine; the feeling that you still have urine in the bladder after going to the loo;  blood in the urine; passing urine more often and Lower back or hip pain.

DIABETES:  Diabetes occurs when the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high.  Normally insulin would help this sugar to pass into the body’s cells where it is used as energy.  There are Two types of diabetes:

Type 1:  this develops quickly, usually over a few weeks.  It occurs when the insulin producing cells in the pancreas are destroyed.

Type 2:  this develops more slowly, over a period of years, when there is not enough insulin in the body of the insulin produced does not work properly, leaving excess glucose in the blood.  The main symptoms to look out for are:  Increased thirst; Going to the loo more, especially at night, Extreme fatigue,  Weight loss, Genital itching,  Slow healing cuts and wounds,  Blurred vision.  If you have diabetes, you will need to make changes to your lifestyle to manage it.

DEPRESSION:  If feelings of unhappiness are making leading a normal life difficult, you could be suffering from depression.  It’s important to realise that depression is not a sign of weakness and to look out for symptoms such as:

A negative view of life, Lack of confidence, Low sex drive, Crying, Feeling tired most of the time, Poor concentration.  Although there’s no clear reason why depression occurs, it can often stem from:  A recent bereavement, Relationship problems, Financial worries and Stress at work to name but a few.  There are many ways to treat depression.  However, the first step is admitting you might be suffering from it.  It’s normal to sometimes not want to burden loved ones with how you’re feeling, but remember you can always confide in your doctor who’ll be able to listen, support and help you.

HIGH CHOLESTEROL:  Cholesterol is a fatty substance which can gradually build up and narrow artery walls.  This gradual build up of fatty material can cause coronary heart disease and cause blood clots which can create blockages that can lead to extreme conditions such as heart attacks and strokes.  High cholesterol levels can run in the family, so it is advisable to try to keep you cholesterol to a minimum.  If you find that your cholesterol levels are high, do not worry as medical treatments are available to you.  Simple changes to your lifestyle can reduce the risk.  Basically your wife will cut out proper cooked breakfasts and this is an ideal incentive to ensure you come on as many Branch Trips to such events as the Reunion, AGM and K13 memorial to enjoy a decent breakfast once in a while!!!

DEFENCE NEWS
Israeli sub sails Suez, signaling reach to Iran
An Israeli submarine sailed the Suez Canal to the Red Sea as part of a naval drill last month, defense sources said on Friday, describing the unusual maneuver as a show of strategic reach in the face of Iran. Israel long kept its three Dolphin-class submarines, which are widely assumed to carry nuclear missiles, away from Suez so as not to expose them to the gaze of Egyptian harbormasters.

It was unclear when last month the vessel left the Mediterranean. One source said the voyage was planned for months and so was not related to unrest after the June 12 re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whom the Israelis see as promoting the pursuit of nuclear weapons to threaten them.

Sailing to the Gulf without using Suez would oblige the diesel-fueled Israeli submarines, normally based in the Mediterranean, to circumnavigate Africa -- a weeks-long voyage. That would have limited use in signaling Israel's readiness to retaliate should it ever come under an Iranian nuclear attack. Shorter-term, the submarines' conventional missiles could also be deployed in any Israeli strikes on Iran's atomic sites, which Tehran insists have only civilian energy purposes.

Egyptian officials at Suez said they would neither confirm nor deny reports regarding military movements. One official said that if there was such a passage by Israelis in the canal, it would not be problematic as Egypt and Israel are not at war. Egypt is one of only two Arab states to have signed a peace treaty with Israel, but relations remain cool. However, Arab states that are allies of the United States appear to share some of Israel's concerns about non-Arab Iran's nuclear program.

Israel is assumed to have the Middle East's only atomic arsenal, but does not discuss this under an "ambiguity" policy billed as deterring its enemies while avoiding provocations. Another Israeli defense source with extensive naval experience said the drill "showed that we can far more easily access the Indian Ocean, and the Gulf, than before."

But the source added: "If indeed our subs are capable of doing to Iran what they are believed to be capable of doing, then surely this is a capability that can be put into action from the Mediterranean?"

Each German-made Dolphin has 10 torpedo tubes, four of them widened at Israel's request -- to accommodate, some independent analysts believe, nuclear-tipped cruise missiles. But there have been questions about whether these would have the 1,500-km (1,000-mile) range needed to hit Iran from the Mediterranean.

Turkey, Germany to sign submarine deal
Turkey will sign an agreement Thursday with Germany to jointly build six submarines for the Turkish Naval Forces, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported. The deal covers six Class-214 air-independent propulsion submarines for the Turkish Naval Forces and will significantly improve the navy's capability to undertake longer underwater operations, the report cited a statement by the German embassy in Ankara as saying.

The Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH (HDW), which is part of the German ship-building giant Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems, and Turkey's Golcuk Naval Shipyard based in the Kocaeli Province will participate in the production, said the report. It didn't disclose financial details, but quoted Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul as saying that Turkish industrial participation in the project would be worth around 80 percent of the total value of the deal.

The HDW will preassemble structural and mechanical parts of the submarines, or classified elements such as the fuel cells and propulsion systems, in Germany and then ship them to Turkey, according to the report. All electronic and weapon systems, including sensor, communications, and data processing systems, will be designed and produced by the Turkish side.

Senior Turkish and German government officials and naval forces commanders will attend the signing ceremony scheduled on Thursday, said the report.

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Beret with gold wire SAA logo	ARMY Cap with SAA logo	Pin on Blazer Pocket Badges	SM Squadron ties are back, only 22 left in stock

Students design, build, race pedal-powered submarines
Usually the 32,000-foot-long David Taylor Model Basin is reserved for testing state-of-the-art submarines and boats. But last week, the 22-foot-deep tank, part of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, played host to experimental subs built by students instead of Navy shipbuilders.

The 10th International Submarine Races (ISR) drew 21 college and a few high school teams from around the world to see whose 10- to 16-foot-long crafts would impress the judges and win — for innovation, speed, cost-effectiveness and best use of composite materials.  The subs were propelled by one or two students clad in scuba gear, who climbed inside the submarines and pedaled.

And you lot thought I was taking the piss.............

Niggs, put Boof down, it's walk time.............