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16 17 “Along with the ongoing work in Padang, DEFENCE HONOURS AND or via email to Defence to implement the this mission by HMAS Tobruk is another AWARDS TRIBUNAL [email protected] recommendations,” said Dr Kelly. good example of how the ADF and AusAID continue to play an important INQUIRY INTO The terms of reference for the inquiry and Former Australian members of the United role in supporting our Pacific neighbours RECOGNITION FOR guidance on how to make a submission States Army Small Ships Section, and the to respond to humanitarian crises.” SERVICE IN PNG AFTER 1975 can be obtained at: www.defence- families of deceased former members, who honours-tribunal.gov.au believe they may now be entitled to Tobruk will make a port call to Townsville The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence medallic recognition, are invited to make application to the Directorate of Honours later this week to embark loading craft to Support, the Hon Dr Mike Kelly AM MP, and Awards. Application forms can be assist accessing the remote islands. announced today that the independent INQUIRY INTO obtained from www.defence.gov.au/ Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal RECOGNITION FOR medals/ or by calling the Directorate of will inquire into recognition for members SERVICE WITH THE Honours and Awards, toll free, on 1800 111 AFTER BEING MARRIED FOR 44 of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for YEARS, I TOOK A CAREFUL LOOK AT UNITED STATES ARMY 321. service in Papua New Guinea after 16 SMALL SHIPS SECTION MY WIFE ONE DAY AND SAID, “FORTY- September 1975. FOUR YEARS AGO WE HAD A CHEAP As official records of service with the The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence United States Army Small Ships Section APARTMENT, A CHEAP CAR, SLEPT ON “I am pleased that the Defence Honours Support, the Hon. Dr Mike Kelly AM MP, are not held by Australian Government A SOFA BED AND WATCHED A 10-INCH and Awards Tribunal will inquire into today announced that the Government agencies, applicants must provide BLACK AND WHITE TV, BUT I GOT TO recognition for service in Papua New has accepted the recommendations of the documentary evidence of theirs, or their SLEEP EVERY NIGHT WITH A HOT 21- Guinea (PNG) after 1975. This inquiry is relative’s service. In some cases, it will be independent Defence Honours and YEAR-OLD GIRL”. another in a series of reviews into long- necessary for applicants to first source this Awards Tribunal Inquiry into Recognition standing Defence honours and awards evidence from authorities in the United for Service with the United States Army NOW I HAVE A £500,000 HOME, A issues identified by the Australian States. Applicants can obtain contact Small Ships Section. £20,000.00 CAR, NICE BIG BED AND Government in late 2007,’ Dr Kelly said. details for this purpose by calling the PLASMA SCREEN TV, BUT I’M Directorate of Honours and Awards toll The Report recommended that: SLEEPING WITH A 65-YEAR-OLD A call for submissions will be released free telephone number. WOMAN. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT shortly in the national press. Submissions 1. Australian civilian personnel who YOU’RE NOT HOLDING UP YOUR SIDE to the inquiry close on Monday, 23 Completed applications with supporting served in ships operated by the United documents should be made to the OF THINGS.’ November 2009. States Army Small Ships Section between following address: 1942 and 1945 be recognised as eligible MY WIFE IS A VERY REASONABLE “Many people have raised the issue of for Australian or Imperial recognition for Directorate of Honours and Awards WOMAN. SHE TOLD ME TO GO OUT recognition for ADF service in PNG after that service on the same basis as members Department of Defence AND FIND A HOT 21-YEAR-OLD GIRL 1975 with the Government, and I would of the Merchant Navy; and 2. There PO Box 7952 AND SHE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT I encourage them to now take advantage of should be no requirement for those CANBERRA BUSINESS CENTRE ACT WOULD ONCE AGAIN BE LIVING IN A this opportunity to make a submission,” personnel to relinquish any US awards 2610 CHEAP APARTMENT, DRIVING A Dr Kelly said. CHEAP CAR, SLEEPING ON A SOFA BED that they may have received in respect of their service in the United States Army “I would like to thank the Tribunal for the AND WATCHING A 10-INCH BLACK The Tribunal can be contacted at: Small Ships prior to receiving Australian objective and conscientious manner in AND WHITE TV. which this inquiry was conducted. The recognition for that service. Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal release of the Tribunal’s report and the AREN’T OLDER WOMEN GREAT? THEY Locked Bag 7765 acceptance of the recommendations clearly “The release of the findings fulfils a Rudd REALLY KNOW HOW TO SOLVE YOUR CANBERRA BUSINESS CENTRE ACT demonstrate the Government’s Labor Government election commitment. MID-LIFE CRISIS 2610 commitment to the independent review of The Government has accepted the long-standing Defence honours and Tribunal’s findings, and I have directed awards issues.” 18 15 OPERATION RENDER SAFE SAFE is the first enduring operation of its AUSTRALIAN ASSISTANCE following the tsunami. CLEARS THE DEADLY type. TO SAMOA AND TONGA It also includes Australia’s contribution of REMNANTS OF WAR IN “The ADF’s previous involvement with the $5 million of reconstruction assistance for SOLOMON ISLANDS The Minster for Foreign Affairs, Stephen removal of unexploded ordnance was on a Smith, and the Minister for Defence, Samoa announced on11 October with New case-by-case basis such as operations Senator John Faulkner, today announced Zealand Foreign Minister, Murray The Australian Defence Force has conducted in the Marshall Islands and McCully, and matched by New Zealand. completed the latest in a series of further Australian support to Samoa and Kiribati,” Lieutenant General Evans said. Tonga following the tsunami that deployments in support of Operation The further $5 million announced today RENDER SAFE, working to rid the devastated both communities on 30 “The success of these previous operations September. will be provided to Samoa for additional Solomon Islands of unexploded ordnance and requests to help clear unexploded recovery and reconstruction activities, left in the wake of some of the bloodiest ordnance has led to the creation of including: battles of World War II. The Royal Australian Navy’s heavy Operation RENDER SAFE - an enduring landing ship HMAS Tobruk will depart assistance operation providing explosive Sydney today, loaded with a range of – $2.5 million to help re-establish The latest Operation RENDER SAFE ordnance disposal support to South Pacific infrastructure and ensure affected deployment, which finished on the 24th goods, equipment and relief aid destined nations.” for the two countries. communities have access to essential of October, saw HMA Ships Gascoyne services such as power, water, health and and Yarra sail to the Solomon Islands, to Lieutenant General Evans says Operation education. Australia will also provide dispose of explosives which accumulated “The Melbourne Metropolitan Fire RENDER SAFE, like Pacific Partnership 2009 Brigade has donated a fire truck to Samoa support to help businesses re-establish in the waters off the South Pacific nation and Operations ANODE in Solomon quickly, and improve disaster monitoring during heavy fighting between allied and to replace one destroyed during the Islands and ASTUTE East Timor, is tsunami,” Mr Smith said. and warning systems; Japanese forces in World War II. indicative of the ongoing support offered by the ADF to Australia’s South “A large consignment of heavy machinery – $1.5 million for recovery and relief Using data from a previous survey operations, including $500,000 to performed by the hydrographic ship and donated goods from the Australian Importance of Walking community – including the Samoan and Australian Non Government HMAS Melville, the minehunters Organisations; and Gascoyne and Yarra and their Ships’ Tongan communities in Australia, non 1/ Walking 20 minutes can add to your life. Companies worked in the waters off the government organisations and several This enables you at 85 years old to spend – $1 million to assist the Government of island of Malaita and Shortland Harbour businesses – will also be delivered to both an additional 5 months in a nursing home Samoa’s own reconstruction planning and in the Solomon Islands, pinpointing 15 Samoa and Tonga.” at $7000 per month. coordination. explosive objects on the seabed using the 2/ My grandpa started walking five miles a extensive state-of -the-art mine detection “Tobruk will carry earth movers, day when he was 60… Now he’s 97 years Senator Faulkner said, “HMAS Tobruk will systems fitted in both vessels. generators, cement mixers and other old... and we haven’t a clue where the hell heavy machinery, provided by the enable access to the remote island of he is. Niuatoputapu in Tonga, where the delivery A Royal Australian Navy Clearance Dive Australian Government, to be used in 3/ I like long walks, especially when they of the earthmoving equipment will allow Team was then able to locate and dispose Tonga to clear debris and rebuild over the are taken by people who annoy me. reconstruction efforts to begin earlier and of the ordnance, which ranged in size from next 12-18 months.” 4/ The only reason I would take up walking at a faster pace than would otherwise be artillery shells through to a large British is so that I could hear heavy breathing possible.” Mark IV Sea Mine. Total Australian assistance to Samoa and again. Tonga now stands at $13 million. 5/ I have to walk early in the morning, before “This assistance mission will provide Lieutenant General Mark Evans, Chief of my brain figures out what I’m doing.