Last Sunday it was bloody cold and today it is bloody hot and humid, need rain badly so that I can see if the new tanks I put in are level and I did not put a hole in it.  I was concerned about the diameter of the tank when I bought it, it had to fit into a smallish area and was happy with the results until I discovered that the inlet at the top of the tank was higher than the gutter from which the water is collected.  I should have taken the height into account, although I have always argued height does not matter! This gave me a good excuse for having an afternoon nap, becoming less of a rarity.  Problem has sort of been solved, I have connected the pipe into the overflow, it will do for now............

Boof had a bad day this week, sick as a dog, he had me worried.  I thought that it was his heart again, but it turns out that he may have eaten road kill, there are a few on the road outside the hacienda.  He is better now, but the heat is knocking him about.  It is interesting to note that most email I get there is always a g'day for Boof, he thanks you all.

I am disappointed to see that involvement in SAA Branch activities appears to be in decline, as demonstrated by the low numbers attending meetings and some functions. It often has the Branch Committees asking the question "Why try".   Unless Members get behind their Committees and support their Branches there is little hope for the future. To demonstrate your support for the hard yakka put in by your Committees I ask all of you to consider the following:

• If not a member, sign up now;

• If a Member, participate in at least one event a year;

• Volunteer for a position on your Committee, give the long serving (suffering) members a rest; and;

• Get involved!!!!

Another bitch, I spent some time fixing up a few missing links this week and discovered that there was a lot of pages out of action.  Please let me know if you have any problems, I cannot fix them if I am not told.

Around the Traps....

Western Australian Branch
The Western Australian Branch will host the Remembrance day Service alongside Submarine Ovens, WA Maritime Museum, Victoria Quay Fremantle between 1030-1100 on Sunday 11th November.  The WA Maritime Museum is keen to make the boat available for visitors, family & guests from 1100 therefore there are no plans for a post service reception. On completion of the service members are invited to board Submarine Ovens with family and friends. Please RSVP Lloyd Blake if attending.  This service commemorates Fremantle’s Submarine Fleet that operated between 1942 and 1945 consisted of a total of 164 submarines of the American, British, and Dutch Navies based and operated from Australian ports with Fremantle playing the largest role. Patrols by Fremantle based Submarines accounted for a total tonnage sunk second only to that from submarines based at Pearl Harbour. Attending the service brings the lessons of history and demonstrates our support of Submarines as an important National security asset.

Victorian Branch Meeting
Victorian Branch secretary Boot Hatfield sent a friendly reminder that November's meeting will be held at the ESU, commencing 12 noon on November 18th. Committee will meet at 11am. This is a promulgated Business Meeting and any items for Business should be in the hands of the Secretary 14 days prior to the meeting. It is hoped that Mike Rikard-Bell will be able to give an update on AE2 after the conclusion of Business at the meeting. Should prove to be very interesting. Hope to see you there.

Queensland Branch
Rob Woolrych (Secretary SAA Qld Inc) invites any ex-submariners in the SE Corner and any who are visiting the area, a simple Remembrance Day Ceremony is scheduled for the Coorparoo RSL. If any of you are able to attend your partners are most welcome so please let Rob know if you are coming (and if you are going to be accompanied).  Those who have already said they are coming please re-confirm as the Club need to know the numbers for catering purposes so in all probability there will be some form of “smallie” eats and a few beers after the event.  The service is at the Coorparoo RSL is at 45 Holdsworth St, Coorparoo on the 11th November at 1100.

Rob has also advised that the Christmas function that was being organised has had to be cancelled for various reasons which is unfortunate. However, 2007 was a good social year and Rob said "We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the next meeting on Sunday 13 January 2008 were we hope you will tell us what you want us to do socially."

Queensland Treasurer, Bob 'Tug' Wilson, wearing the loud yellow shirt above, is still receiving treatment for his cancer and I think that it is this that has inspired him to come up with a proposal that I think you will hear more about in the future, a WALK for KIDS WITH CANCER.  The idea was floated at a meeting in Maryborough and there is a long way to go before it is confirmed as going ahead. Tug said "Alan Border did a walk in 2002 from Sydney to Brisbane at an average of 35 kms per day and I figure we would need about 6 weeks with a daily team of 10 minimum."  It would be great if this does go ahead and all Branches and submarine community sponsors get behind it.  Watch this space for more details.  If you have any ideas or offers of sponsorship etc contact me and I will pass them on to Tug.

National Secretary new email address
Members of the Association are requested to note the change of the National Secretary's (Peter Smith) email address which is now nsecsaa@wix.com.au.

An elderly couple in their 80's were about to get married and decided to have a Prenuptial Agreement.
She said: I want to keep my house. He said that's fine with me.
She said: And I want to keep my Cadillac. He said: That's fine with me.
She said: And I want to have sex 6 times a week. He said: That's fine with me.... Put me down for Friday.

Health Matters - important information
National coordinator Max Hardy reminds members that DVA staff have been instructed by the National Manager Primary Claims to consider a range of chemicals that could contribute to certain conditions for all Claims from submariners. Hence the need to identify ourselves on the Claim Form as Submariners. A copy of the Occupational Survey Report and the resulting DVA BusinessLine are both available in the Veteran's Affairs section of Up Periscope. The purpose of this BusinessLine is to provide information to delegates administering compensation claims relating to ADF service aboard Oberon Class Submariners under the provisions of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRCA) and its predecessor legislation and the Veterans ' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA).

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!! This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.  Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.  Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.  But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia : High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey.. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

Submariner Gordon "Kaffa" Anderson, currently serving on HMAS Anzac, writes "Just been through The Log and noticed Sandy Freelagus' comment on the new Navy Camouflage Uniform (NAVCAMM's) we are being issued mid-2008.  The new uniform is designed to replace the old No.8's, Probans and a couple of other rigs we no longer need.

Will they be a benefit? Don't know yet. I'm now serving on ANZAC (FFH 150) and on deployment in the NAG, but considering the difference I see between us wearing Probans and body armour for Force Protection when alongside places like Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain in 47°C heat, compared to the RANLO people wearing the two piece AUSCAM desert pattern rig, I think this is a good move.

Mind you, in view of Sandy's comments about the "stupidity" of camouflage uniform for Naval Personnel at sea, notice in the attached photo what has been sewn on the sleeves. Should be good for a cartoon from Sandy, and a giggle for the rest of us.  You can of course put the photos in The Log so all can see. And please pass on my "hello's" to Sandy. You and Boof stay away from the wiggly sticks, and if you can't I'll send Sheral up there to take care of them for you!"

Commenting on the uniform issue, Fred Lawrence noted "I work in an industry where sea going attire is high visibility orange overalls. Even these can be hard to see when conducting man overboard training or rescue as the visible target of head and shoulders is very small. What dickhead decided camouflage is good for our sailors?"

Murphy's lesser known laws...............
1. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
2. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
3. Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.
4. Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
5. The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.
6. If you lined up all the cars in the world end to end, someone would be stupid enough to try to pass them, five or six at a time, on a hill, in the fog.
7. The things that come to those who wait will be the scraggly junk left by those who got there first.
8. The shin bone is a device for finding furniture in a dark room.
9. A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.
10. When you go into court, you are putting yourself into the hands of 12 people who weren't smart enough to get out of jury duty.

Tex Ranger asks "I was unable to go to Sydney for the Memorial unveiling but quite a few of my members served in the Flotilla at HMAS Penguin and would like some pictures of it"  Can you help, if so contact Tex.

WA Member Mike Shepherd celebrated his Birthday this month and it prompted him to send some photos taken when he was much younger.  He looks dazed in the first one, I thought officer's didn't get a tot?

Allan Dangerfield wrote "Thanks for the Birthday wish, I didn't realise that I got a personal message, otherwise I would have given you my bank details and you could have formalised your wishes with a few sheckles. I have been following your exploits as a 'gentleman farmer' and it has always put a smile on my face. I hope you enjoy your lifestyle, and that you achieve all your ambitions. I also hope that the country life agrees with 'Boof'." Mate, I am a pensioner now, maybe you can give me the sheckles........... You got the 'gentleman' bit right though! 

Another to say thanks for getting a Birthday greeting was Jenny Deeks. "Many thanks for your birthday wishes, the character bears some resemblance to me, particularly around the waistline! I have been on a month long road trip with Mike to Central Australia, Coober Pedy and Gawler Ranges and arrived home today. Great fun and I cannot recall ever having a month long holiday, we can thoroughly recommend it. Camping under the stars, no news, no phone, no demands and a the simple pleasure of laughing and telling jokes all night long is something that I thought had died with my parents generation. Discovered this pleasure is still there and worth trying!" Mike and Jenny seem to have taken a liking to off roading... some say it is because he could never read a map.  I have been unable to confirm if this photo sent to me is of Jenny and Mike.

Adrian 'Aids' Jallands has sent the following from Tonga "Hope all is well up in sunny Queensland and the move was better than the picture you have painted in The Log. Things here in the Kingdom are good, we have just got rid of all the politicians after the Pacific Leaders Forum last week, Little Johnny didn’t come, bit peeved actually as I was to be one of Johnny’s Walkers for his early morning walks whilst he was here, never mind. On a good note, as I staggered into the Billfish (a local watering hole) the other Wednesday when I was promptly accosted by one ex POETSM Brett ‘Dolly” Grey whom I served on Otway with in 90/91, he went onto serve in Farncomb. He now works for DFAT. Well as you can imagine many an ale was sunk that night and work didn’t see much of me the next day. It was great to catch up with another Submariner in Tonga, suppose it only goes to show what a small world it is.  Anyway mate keep up the good work, gives me something to look forward to each week."

Regular visitor and contributor to The Log, skimmer John Hogg, has commissioned a website in an attempt to locate all the Junior Recruits who enlisted with him in July 1969 from the 28th intake at HMAS Leeuwin. Of this intake there were approximately 205 boys between the age of 15 and 17 in the original intake, however only 184 eventually passed out according to their booklet. Some boys were to become Midshipman at HMAS Cresswell via the Topman scheme, some had transferred to RANATE HMAS Nirimba for Apprentice training and a couple disappeared which we and RAN records cannot account for. John said "The intention is to celebrate our 40th anniversary with a huge reunion of the Mighty 28th Intake in 2009. Of course, the whole concept of a reunion can only be achieved if we find as many of our fellow intake members as possible." So, if you joined the Royal Australian Navy in July 1969 and went on to become the 28th Collins & Walton Intake take a look at the website.

Quick question, what side of your car is your gas tank? If you are anything like most of us, you probably can't remember right away. My solution is to uncomfortably stick my head out the window, strain my neck and look. If you don't do this in your own car you definitely have done it in a borrowed or rental car. It seems that the solution is simple. If you look at your gas gauge, you will see a small icon of a gas pump. The handle of the gas pump will extend out on either the left or right side of the pump. If your tank is on the left, the handle will be on the left. If your tank is on the right, the handle will be on the right. It is that simple!

Les Thurgood continues on his travels and reports "End of trip coming up. Leave Reunion today for Mauritius for 4 nights and get home to Melbourne on 30th. Lack of internet in Madagascar meant very little comms. It was only available at Post Office cyber cafes in the few larger towns. and only at the better hotels and cyber cafes in the capital Tana. As Reunion is part of France we are back in 1st world conditions but spent time at smaller hotels up in the hills which lacked connection apart from reception desk. And we were on the road sightseeing during the day as well. Time on Mauritius is mostly free time and the hotel we are staying at is quite luxurious with all modcons so will catch up email then. This one in St Denis, the capital of Reunion. has it available and as I am an early riser can get on the one screen no probs.
Madagascar was great fun but exhausting at times. Very rough roads in parts. But we did get to see a lot of its famous lemurs - 19 different types all up - and the baobab trees down south on the dry plateau near Isalo east of the west coast town of Tulear. We only did the country south of the capital Tana as far down as Fort Dauphin and one part on the east coast north of Tana." I am exhausted just following Les's travels..............

Call for sunken submarine inquest
The release of a new book about the sinking of a British submarine 56 years ago, in which 75 men died, has led to calls for an inquiry into the disaster. HMS Affray sailed from Gosport, Hants, on a routine training exercise in April 1951 but never returned. It was found two months later 46 miles (74km) south of Portland in Dorset.

Author Alan Gallop claim the submarine was unfit to sail but the MoD said the sinking was investigated at the time and no evidence to support this.

Several crew members told their wives and families before they sailed that they had misgivings about [the submarine's] condition. Mr Gallop said he found memos showing officers were criticised for passing the vessel fit for sea as he researched his new book about the disaster, Subsmash: The Mystery Of HMS Submarine Affray.

John McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington, Middlesex, has now put down an Early Day Motion asking for a re-examination of the circumstances.

Affray left the port on 16 April and submerged about 30 miles (48km) south of the Isle of Wight, but when it failed to surface the next day a huge sea and air search was launched.  The submarine was eventually found at 300ft (91m) two months later and was designated an official military grave.

The sinking has been described as the worst British submarine accident since World War II claiming the lives of 75 officers and ratings.  The vessel was never recovered because the depth at which it sunk and the distance from the coast made a full salvage operation impossible.

Malaysia Launches First Submarine
he Royal Malaysian Navy’s first diesel-powered SSK Scorpene-class attack submarine was launched on Oct. 23 at the Defence Conseil National (DCN) dockyard in Cherbourg, France. Malaysia will take delivery of the submarine in six months, adding to what some analysts view as a naval arms race in the region. The new submarine, the KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, was one of two ordered in 2002 for $972 million. The deal with DCN and Navantia (then Izar) involved two new submarines and one used French-built Agosta 70-class submarine, the Quessant, as a training platform. Under the agreement, the fore sections are built in Cherbourg by DCN and the aft sections are built in Cartagena, Spain, by Navantia.

The second submarine, the KD Tun Razak, will be launched in 2009 and delivered to the Malaysian Navy in 2010. The two submarines will be known as the Prime Minister class. Since 2005, a 142-member Malaysian Navy crew has been training at the DCN Dockyard in Brest, France. Plans are to base the submarines at Sepanggar Bay naval base in Sabah state on Borneo, which has been undergoing a major renovation.

New Polo shirt range, still only $27.50 Yarn CoolDry is a revolutionary new generation fabric that has a multi-silt fiber design that acts as a capillary to rapidly draw moisture to the outside of the fabric, making it dry quickly. The Yarn CoolDry moisture management process offers the ultimate in comfort to the wearer.   Navy and White   White and Navy - Other colours by request. Shirts embroidered with the Submarines Australia logo or without. Other colours by request.   Visit the Slops Van now. Baseball caps with logo - special price $12.50 plus postage.

Nuclear sub commander loses job amid misconduct probe
The commander of the nuclear-powered submarine USS Hampton has been relieved of his command amid an inquiry into misconduct by crew members, the U.S. Navy said Friday. Cmdr. Michael B. Portland lost his post "due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command," the Navy said in a statement. Cmdr. William J. Houston will replace Portland.

The crew neither maintained inspection records nor conducted the required inspection of chemical levels associated with the cooling system of the ship's nuclear reactor, Navy officials said. The crew then went back and falsified existing records to make it appear the work had been done."There is not, and never was, any danger to the crew or the public," the Navy said.

Portland's demotion brings to 10 the number of people relieved of duty on the submarine in the wake of the misconduct probe.

Six personnel have been punished for forging inspection records for the cooling system, the Navy officials said Monday. Those six -- one officer and five enlisted personnel -- received a "nonjudicial punishment" after other Navy personnel discovered their actions, the officials said.

The Navy said Friday that one officer and two enlisted crew members have been temporarily reassigned to Submarine Squadron 11. Portland also will be temporarily reassigned to that squadron.

The misconduct was discovered September 17 but not made public until after completion of an initial inquiry. A fact-finding investigation is under way, and further action against Navy crew members is possible, a Navy official said.

The Hampton remains in port in San Diego, California. In all, the $900 million vessel's crew includes 13 officers and 116 enlisted personnel. E-mail to a friend

SUBCON 2008 To be held in Canberra on the Queen's Birthday long weekend, commencing Friday 6th June 2008  The Branch would like to invite you to the Australian Capital Territory and surrounding area to partake of our hospitality and to visit the many interesting and varied places contained within our region. Visit the SUBCON 2008 website for details and complete your Registration of Interest.

Sunday, 21^st OCTOBER 2007