NEWSLETTER Promoting National Security and Defence
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Building 160 Keswick Barracks, Royal United Services Keswick SA 5035 Institute Tel/Fax: 61 (8) 8305 6378 of Office Hours: Wednesday to Friday 10am to 4pm South Australia Inc A Constituent Body of the Royal United Services Institute of Australia Inc RUSI-SA Issue No 393 December 2004/January 2005 NEWSLETTER Promoting National Security and Defence PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE USI-SA hosted the annual meeting of the National Council of the RUSI of Australia R (RUSI-A) on 28-29 October 2004. Chaired by the National President, Major General John Hartley, the meeting was attended by the Presidents Patron of all eight Australian constituent bodies. The Her Excellency Marjorie Jackson-Nelson, immediate past National President, Air Marshal AC, CVO, MBE Governor of South Australia David Evans, also attended as an observer. As most RUSI organisations in Australia are experiencing the COUNCIL MEMBERS 2004/05 same problems of declining membership and President: AIRCDRE J.R. McCulloch (Rtd) Senior Vice President: BRIG D. Willett AM (Rtd) participation, it was timely for the National Council Vice President: Mr C.C. Brooks to consider the future of the RUSI-A as a whole and Councillors: Dr J.C. Bruni to develop an appropriate strategic plan. The Miss F.J. Leditschke CAPT B.M. Newman, RFD,ED (Rtd) proposed plan will identify five major goals for the COL D.J. Stoba, RFD, ED (Rtd) RUSI-A: LCDR D.L. Stryker, RAN (Rtd) • Determine the role of RUSI in Australia Imm Past President: COL N.R. Bergin (Rtd) Improve our membership and participation Representing: • RAN CMDR A. Atkinson, RAN • Market our relevance and improve our Army MAJ G. Crosland image RAAF WGCDR R. Subotkiewicz • Improve our financial position Treasurer: COL L. Thompson, RFD, ED (Rtd) Hon Auditor: LCDR R.C. Penglase • Retain the support of the Minister and the DSC, RFD, VRD, RANR, AUA, (Rtd) Department Secretary/Librarian/ The national plan should be staffed and published Public Officer: Mrs Pam Jones Hon Editor: CAPT M.J. Orchard, RFD, ED (Rtd) early in 2005 and will provide a model for our own planning in RUSI-SA. DECEMBER LUNCHEON The National Council also discussed the production Speaker: AVM Kerry Clarke, AM of the annual Journal. Although the RUSI-A web FEBRUARY LUNCHEON site has been developed and is providing an Speaker: LTGEN Peter Leahy AO increasingly useful reference and resource, most constituent bodies prefer that the hard-copy journal RUSI SUNDOWNER continue to be published annually. Unfortunately, Saturday 27 November 2004 the people needed to produce such a top-quality VISIT publication are becoming difficult to find. The Avalon Airshow 16 March 2005 national office has called for volunteers to produce the next edition, expected to be published in the first RUSI-SA OFFICE CLOSURE half of 2005. The loss of the Journal would be Our office will close Friday 17 December unfortunate, but appears inevitable unless a suitable & reopen on Wednesday 12 January 2005 team of volunteers can be found. 1 This will be the last Newsletter that our long-serving We assemble in Building 34A, Keswick Barracks, Secretary, Mrs Pam Jones, will help to produce. Pam Keswick, at approximately 11.30am for drinks and has been a constant in the RUSI-SA system for 19 good fellowship. Members are asked to be seated by years and I know will be missed. On behalf of the 12 noon when our President welcomes members and Council, and the RUSI-SA membership generally, I guests, and lunch is served. wish her the very best in her retirement. At the The cost of the buffet is $18.00. We also conduct a Luncheon on 6 December there will be a testimonial raffle to help cover expenses. Our Caterer has to Pam’s service to RUSI-SA. It will be a good agreed to provide vegetarian meals and sweets for opportunity for any members who wish to farewell diabetics, but these must be ordered before midday Pam personally. on the Thursday before the lunch. This leaves me to announce that we will have a new For those who do not have time to enjoy lunch, but Secretary/Librarian from 17 December 2004. The wish to hear the lecture, chairs are provided around council interviewed two very able applicants and has the perimeter of the hall. Please be seated before selected Lieutenant Commander David Stryker, 12.55pm, as the guest speaker will be introduced at RANR. David has been a member of the Council 1.00pm. The address is of about 30 to 35 minutes and will be well known to many of you. I would like duration with 15 minutes for questions, after which to congratulate him on his appointment and look coffee or tea is available. We aim to complete the forward to his continued close involvement with program by 2.00pm. The Program is: RUSI-SA. At the last luncheon, I mentioned the significance of Monthly Luncheon the recent Presidential election in Indonesia. Susilo Monday 6th December 2004. Bambang Yudhoyono was inaugurated on 20 Speaker: Air Vice Marshal Kerry Clarke, October, after easily beating President Megawati AM, Head Capability Systems, Soekarnoputri in a run-off election. President Susilo Capability Development Group, is a retired army officer and underwent much of his Department of Defence military education in the USA. He has also been a Topic: Defence Capability Development frequent visitor to Australia. Indeed, he was a key speaker at the RUSI-A seminar in Canberra last Air Vice Marshal Clarke’s presentation will cover year. He is charismatic and well liked and respected the outcomes of the Kinnaird Review into Defence by most Indonesians. Importantly, he undoubtedly Procurement, the Defence Capability Plan 2004 understands Australia and our strategic philosophy and the creation of the new Capability better than any President before him. All of which Development Group within Defence. augers well for the Australia-Indonesia relationship generally, and the defence and security relationship Monthly Luncheon in particular. However, the domestic expectations of Monday 7th February 2005. his administration are very high, particularly with respect to improving the economy and dealing with Speaker: LTGEN Peter Leahy, AO corruption. The parliament is split, with a majority Chief of Army in opposition or non-supportive parties. He has a Topic: Restructuring and Re-equiping the Australia Army including Reserves difficult job ahead of him. MEMBERSHIP MONTHLY LUNCHEONS CAR PARKING – MONTHLY LUNCHEON The following, whose names appeared in the last Members are advised that the parking of cars is Newsletter as nominated for membership, have been duly elected in accordance with the Rules: now NO longer permitted on the Parade Ground. Please use existing designated parking areas. Mr George Allen All members are invited to attend our luncheons. Mr Keith A. Potts WO William E. Kelly Indeed you are encouraged to invite partners, friends Mrs Gillian Griffin and colleagues to join us and, if they like what they see, to nominate them for membership. Please book The following have been nominated for membership: in advance. If you are unsure whether or not your FLGOFF Guy S. Bowering - name is on the booking list, please check! (AIRCDRE J.R. McCulloch) Cancellations must be into the RUSI Office by Mr Kenneth T. Fitchett - (Mr E.A. Burt) midday of the Friday before the lunch. Subsequent Mr Geoffrey C. Jansen – cancellations will attract a fee of $18.00. (SQNLDR L.E.S. Whaley, DFC) Mr Michael F. O’Neill - (LT G. Williams) The dress code for the luncheon is neat casual, Mrs Sylvia C. Swart - (CAPT R.D. McColl) taking into consideration weather conditions. 2 We regret to announce the following deaths: Mrs A. L. South RUSI-SA VISIT GPCAPT M.A. Truman AVALON AIR SHOW FLTLT S.Challen Kerr WEDNESDAY 16th MARCH 2005. Our Visits coordinator Mr Colin Brooks has Saturday 27th November 2004 organised another interesting visit for members and friends of the Institute. Planning has already begun to make our Annual Christmas function, Date: Wednesday 16th March 2005 the Sundowner, a fitting start to the Departure Time: 7.00am ex Festive Season. Adelaide Airport for You are encouraged to bring your friends and Avalon Air Show – Avalon, Victoria. enjoy the hospitality and companionship of the Cost: $450 per person RUSI on this most enjoyable occasion. The details are as follows:- Air South Charter will fly their Cessna Titan, which holds ten passengers, exclusively for Date: Saturday 27th November, 2004. members of the RUSI-SA direct to the venue. We Time: 6.00pm to 8.00 pm – will return on the same day thus saving on accommodation costs and long tiring travel. the best time to see the sun go down! th Wednesday 16 March is a trade day and access Place: Building 34A, to the Air show has been arranged as a special privilege for members Keswick Barracks Cost: $12.50 per person. This is a unique opportunity – Don’t miss it! and if the weather is kind, we will sit out under the trees and be once again entertained by the If you would like to be part of this exciting visit Army Band woodwind quartet. please telephone the RUSI-SA office on 8305 6378 Please register your intention to attend This most reasonable cost includes delicious before 15 January 2005 finger food, champagne, red or white wine or, if you prefer, orange juice. Please telephone or call in at our office or send MEDALS – MEMENTOS & MORE us your cheque, if that is more convenient, and we will issue you with your name tag/ticket but be sure to let us know before 25/11/2004. You are assured of a very pleasant evening SPECIALISING IN and we look forward to spending Medal Mounting & Refurbishment, some time with you and your friends.