ACT
Battling flames and floods all in a day's work for executives
By Deanna Nott
When executives tell their friends about fighting fires at work they normally don’t mean it in the literal sense!
But this is exactly what a group of 30 senior managers from Canberra did when they joined the Defence Reserves Support Council’s (DRSC) Exercise Executive Stretch.
The activity, coordinated by the ACT’s DRSC Liaison Officer Captain Rob Ball, saw the executives firefighting and ‘saving’ battle-damaged ships at the Royal Australian Navy’s School of Survivability and Ships Safety (RANSSSS) at Jervis Bay.
The diverse group, which included the ACT’s Chief Police Office Audrey Fagan and Member of the ACT’s Legislative Assembly Mrs Vicki Dunne, thoroughly enjoyed the exercise which aims to show employers the types of invaluable skills that can be gained through participation in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Reserves.
After flying to Navy training establishment aboard a Royal Australian Air Force No. 37 Squadron C-130J Hercules, the group listened intently to a series of safety presentations before heading out to HMAS COUNTERSINK, the school’s ship simulator.
Fully kitted out in anti-flash, gum boots and overalls, the group successfully mended ruptured pipes and attempted to hold back the gushing water that flooded each and every compartment of the ship.
In the afternoon, the group donned fire protection gear, gas masks and oxygen tanks to battle flames in two adjacent simulators.
Ms Caroline Lemezina of the Housing Industry Association said the exercise had given her a better appreciation of the difficult situations that can face Navy personnel when they are at sea.
“You often see people in uniform and think they are there if something really bad happens but you don’t necessarily have an appreciation for what can go wrong while they are performing their duties,” said Ms Lemezina.
“During the simulations we have seen some of the things that can go wrong and how important team work is in the Defence Force.
“This exercise has shown me that you have to be a special type of person to be in the Defence Force.”
Ms Lemezina said she worked closely with a Reservist who had recently returned from six month’s service in East Timor.
“He talks about his experiences very fondly and this exercise has shown me that it is important for us to continue to be supportive of our Reservists,” she said.
“I think I can now talk with more confidence about what the Defence Force does and I would certainly encourage young people to consider joining the Reserves.”
Reservists interested in nominating their employers for Exercise Executive Stretch should visit www.defence.gov.au/drsc or call 1800 803 485.
By Deanna Nott
When executives tell their friends about fighting fires at work they normally don’t mean it in the literal sense!
But this is exactly what a group of 30 senior managers from Canberra did when they joined the Defence Reserves Support Council’s (DRSC) Exercise Executive Stretch.
The activity, coordinated by the ACT’s DRSC Liaison Officer Captain Rob Ball, saw the executives firefighting and ‘saving’ battle-damaged ships at the Royal Australian Navy’s School of Survivability and Ships Safety (RANSSSS) at Jervis Bay.
The diverse group, which included the ACT’s Chief Police Office Audrey Fagan and Member of the ACT’s Legislative Assembly Mrs Vicki Dunne, thoroughly enjoyed the exercise which aims to show employers the types of invaluable skills that can be gained through participation in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Reserves.
After flying to Navy training establishment aboard a Royal Australian Air Force No. 37 Squadron C-130J Hercules, the group listened intently to a series of safety presentations before heading out to HMAS COUNTERSINK, the school’s ship simulator.
Fully kitted out in anti-flash, gum boots and overalls, the group successfully mended ruptured pipes and attempted to hold back the gushing water that flooded each and every compartment of the ship.
In the afternoon, the group donned fire protection gear, gas masks and oxygen tanks to battle flames in two adjacent simulators.
Ms Caroline Lemezina of the Housing Industry Association said the exercise had given her a better appreciation of the difficult situations that can face Navy personnel when they are at sea.
“You often see people in uniform and think they are there if something really bad happens but you don’t necessarily have an appreciation for what can go wrong while they are performing their duties,” said Ms Lemezina.
“During the simulations we have seen some of the things that can go wrong and how important team work is in the Defence Force.
“This exercise has shown me that you have to be a special type of person to be in the Defence Force.”
Ms Lemezina said she worked closely with a Reservist who had recently returned from six month’s service in East Timor.
“He talks about his experiences very fondly and this exercise has shown me that it is important for us to continue to be supportive of our Reservists,” she said.
“I think I can now talk with more confidence about what the Defence Force does and I would certainly encourage young people to consider joining the Reserves.”
Reservists interested in nominating their employers for Exercise Executive Stretch should visit www.defence.gov.au/drsc or call 1800 803 485.
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The executives before they departed for Nowra aboard a No. 37 Squadron Hercules. |
Ms Caroline Lemezina of Housing Industry Association during the HMAS COUNTERSINK exercise. |
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| The group after successfully completing the COUNTERSINK exercise | Participants |
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Stemming the flow |
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