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1 July 2008
Running up and down 23 flights of stairs each day sounds like extreme training – but that’s what Squadron Leader Del Gaudry did to prepare for the gruelling Kokoda Trail.
“Also, I wanted to complete the trek in honour of my squadron. Many of our members fought on Kokoka during World War II.”
The 96km Kokoda Trail is one of the world's great treks, linking the southern and northern coast of Papua New Guinea. The Kokoda Trail and Sogeri area have a history of bitter fighting between Australian and Japanese armies during the early days of World War II.
“I hadn’t anticipated how I would feel looking at Jack Gaudry’s grave – it was a very strange feeling, it was also very sad. The unjustness of someone so young dying really hits home when it is a family member – even if it was 66 years ago. There are 3779 graves at Bomana cemetery and they would individually mean something to many, many people.”
She said meeting two of the three remaining Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels (FWA) was an unexpected surprise. “Both of these men live at Menari village and are cared for by the village people,” she said.
“One of the FWAs George, was most enthusiastic sharing his stories and describing what his medals meant with us.”
SQNLDR Gaudry was joined on the trek by fellow Reservist Lance Corporate Guyai Newie of 51 Far North Queensland Regiment on Thursday Island, and 10 Victorian Police members, four of who are serving or former Reservists.
The police participated in the trek to support the Blue Ribbon Foundation, which was established to perpetuate the memory of members of the Victoria Police killed in the line of duty.
“Being involved in this activity also provided me with the opportunity to talk to the Victorian Police about the work that I do with Reserve and Employer Support Division and the services we offer to employers and Reservists,” she said.
“The ADF works very closely with employers, like the Victorian Police, to ensure the interests of both employers and Defence, through its Reservists, are considered and accommodated.”
June 2008
27 June 2008
Employers of Defence Reservists who claim financial assistance through the Employer Support Payment Scheme will receive more money after 1 July.
Employer Support Payments (ESPs) will rise from $1,070.40 to $1,123.30, for every week full-time employee Reservists are away from their civilian jobs, once the qualifying period of two weeks and other eligibility criteria are satisfied.
The ESP Scheme was introduced in 2001 to provide financial assistance to both employers and self-employed reservists. The weekly payment helps offset the costs associated with the absence of Reservist employees who are performing Defence service.
For Reservists in part-time employment, a pro-rata amount of the applicable Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE) is calculated based on their weekly working hours.
ESP support is also available to self-employed Reservists whose business provides their main source of income or who satisfy the requirements of the Legitimate Business Test.
In order for an employer to qualify for ESP payments, their Reservist employees must perform Defence service for five or more consecutive days after completing the qualifying period.
Employers can download claim forms at www.defence.gov.au/reserves. Defence staff are available on 1800 803 485 or esp@defence.gov.au to help resolve any queries about the claims process.
10 June 2008
Some of south-east Queensland’s most experienced businesswomen have visited RAAF Base Amberley, west of Brisbane, to learn about the role Reservists play in today’s Defence Force.
The group, from the Women Chiefs of Enterprises International Queensland Division, were invited to the base by fellow member and Defence’s Reserve and Employer Support Division Director of Communication Deanna Nott.
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| Photo by Major Barry Flaherty. |
“Taking fellow members to RAAF Amberley for the day provided me with the opportunity to show them the outstanding work our Defence Force does on a day-to-day basis.
“It also gave me the chance to help members better understand their rights and obligations if they do employ Reservists in their organisations.”
The tour started with a close-up inspection of the F-111, the RAAF’s supersonic long-range strike aircraft and was followed by a visit to the fire section.
A highlight of the day was a visit to the Air Traffic Control Tower where the Women Chiefs witnessed the take off of a C-17 Globemaster from No. 36 Squadron.
Lunch in the Officers Mess was also enjoyable, especially as the Commanding Officers of 23 and 36 Squadrons, SQNLDR Norm Siggee and Wing Commander Linda Corbould, joined the group to discuss their work at the base and further a field.
SQNLDR Siggee gave a presentation to the group about the important and varied Defence positions filled by Reservists, who bring with them civilian skills and experience and are given the opportunity to gain new skills as part of their Reserve training.
Queensland State President of WCEI and Managing Director of Spa Solutions Meaghan South said the RAAF Base Amberley experience had been quite unique.
“The day at Amberley really gave us an opportunity to see what our Defence Force does every day,” said Ms South.
“The activity also provided us with information about how we, as employers, can work with Defence if we have Reservists as staff members.”
May 2008
23 May 2008
All participants experienced activities highlighting the attributes of all three services. The Naval component consisted Boat Work and a Diving Demonstration, conducted by Dive Team 9 at the Birkenhead Training Facility. The Army aspect consisted of testimonials from a diverse gathering of Reservists who covered a large spectrum of service. This was followed by weapon demonstrations and a chance for the participants to handle the weapons and other equipment. This activity was an outstanding success and probably the highlight of the day. Participants also travelled to RAAF Base Edinburgh and under the control of the RAAF Physical Training Instructors conducted Abseiling Drills and completed the Confidence Course.
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14 May 2008
Working as a Fire fighter in the QLD Fire and Rescue Service would be considered a demanding and action packed job by most and combine this with being an Army Reservist, it becomes a challenge.For Corporal Jonathon Blackley it was all about keeping contact with the Service he loved and enjoyed while getting additional tax free pay.
“I transferred to the Army Reserve back in 2002,” Jono said.
“I originally joined the Army in 1996 as a Combat Engineer and transferred to the Emergency Response Squadron as a fire fighter within the Army.
8 May 2008
Defence Reserves Support – South Australia conducted a “New Reservists and their Employers and Friends Cocktail Party” on 8 May 2008. The aim of the function was to welcome new Reservists and their employers into the Australian Defence Force Community, increase the awareness and to promote the good work of Australian Defence Force Reservists, not only to the Reservist, but also to the employer. Invitations were sent to all current Friends of Defence Reserves Support – South Australia requesting them to bring along Friend/s to the function, with the intention of attracting personnel from the community to become a Friend of Defence Reserves Support – South Australia and to show their support to the Australian Defence Force.
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L-R: Mr Rod Martin – Martin Mediation, Mr Gary Johanson – Mayor of Port Adelaide/Enfield, Mr Russell Starke – Greenhill Galleries
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L-R: SQNLDR Stew Freeman – CO 24 SQN, Mr Richard Collett – Mitsubishi Motors Australia/Vice Chairman DRS-SA, Margaret Faulkner – University of SA, CMDR Chris Stephens – RESD
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April 2008
1 April 2008
VCDF Talks of Reserve Capability at Defence Watch Seminar
In early March, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie - Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF), highlighted the importance of Reserve service when he addressed a Defence Watch Seminar for civilian employers of ADF Reserves in Canberra.
LTGEN Gillespie made it no secret he considers ADF Reserves to be an essential capability element that, in his words, has “become indispensable” – particularly given the high tempo operational environment facing Defence today and in the future.
The ADF currently has approximately 250 Reserves deployed on five operations around the world performing many vital tasks. Each year around 800 Reservists deploy overseas on operations and about 2000 are currently on full-time service within Australia performing critical enabling tasks.
“A reflection of current and future reality is that we live in an environment of skills shortage and almost full employment,” LTGEN Gillespie said. “The ability of the ADF to have exclusive use of scarce human resources in some areas is very much a thing of the past. I suspect this is also a feature on the contemporary Australian employment landscape.”
LTGEN Gillespie said that using the Reserve Forces brings with it its own unique set of considerations.
“Recently, the Service Chiefs and I identified the capability areas that the Reserve should especially contribute to. Medical support is an obvious area. On operations, or when we assist in a humanitarian crisis, the Reserve provides the medical surge and specialist capability we need. Other important, even critical, areas are the technical trades and engineers – the same areas in which industry requires skilled people."
“How then do we lure away potential Reservists from an unsuspecting civilian employer? The answer is – we don’t. There is legislation that can authorise the release of employees for Reserve Service. However, with the Defence and industry interface built on mutual understanding, financial and other support for employers, as well as skills enhancement for Reservists and our realistic interdependence, the best environment that my staff can provide to employers regarding Reservists is a secure and predicable one – understanding each others needs is central to this.”
LTGEN Gillespie said that, in order to give employers a better understanding of what their employees do when they are rendering Defence Service, the Reserve and Employer Support Division (RESD), within VCDF Group, conducts activities like 'Exercise Executive Stretch', where employers can experience first-hand the same sort of military training experienced by Reservists.
“RESD also conducts ‘Boss Lift’ activities where employers are taken to see their employees ‘doing Defence business’ at the sharp end. In recent years ‘Boss Lifts’ have taken place in East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Malaysia, and in exercise locations in Australia."
“The ability to directly observe their employees rendering Reserve service is probably the single most powerful experience employers can have. A good example of this was a comment from a recent participant on a ‘Boss Lift’ exercise to Malaysia. The employer had released a fully-trained critical care nurse to an earlier deployment, so what could the experience really provide to benefit their civilian role? As the employer explained, the experience of practicing their trade away from a fully-equipped capital city hospital meant that they could cope with sub-optimal conditions and, therefore, with potential systems failures that may occur in hospitals. For Defence, the employee was able to provide up-to-date skills honed in a professional civilian environment that is not always available in operational environments."
“Defence and employers have to plan and operate on the basis that we need to cultivate and share scarce human resources. This requires Defence to develop responsible and sustainable strategies for recruiting and retention, especially in areas such as health and medical support to operations, and engineering and technical trade skills – capability gaps already identified.”
VCDF said that, to this end, RESD will be undertaking initiatives to attract members of these employment areas into the ADF Reserve by positively influencing employers and potential Reservists with regard to the benefits of Reserve Service.
These initiatives include:
• Improved employment flexibility between Defence and industry.
• Better predictability of Reserve Service dates and more notice to employers.
• Improved insurance cover and financial security for Reserve members.
• Development of Student Reserve support packages in cooperation with tertiary and TAFE institutions.
• Reinvigoration of Reserve / industry shared technical training schemes.
• Agreed Defence leave policies for employers are also Reservists.
• Engaging employers through information days, activities and events.
February 2008
11 February 2008
Victorian MP Policing In The Jungle
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Rory Hazeldine, from Alpine Council in |
Rory Hazeldine, from Alpine Council in Victoria, travelled to Malaysia in mid-December and caught a glimpse of what his employee was doing as part of ‘Boss Lift’ – and was mightily impressed.
Boss Lift, conducted half-way through the deployment, was designed to show selected employers and employer influencers what Army Reservists do when serving their country.
“The whole Reserve set-up in Australia is unreal and it’s great to see such fair dinkum stuff,” Rory Hazeldine said.
“I’ll be telling everyone all about it.”
SGT Morrison said it was a thrill to show his boss around, demonstrate a border crossing over to Singapore and catch up from news in the work place where he is an outdoor works crewman.
“It’s great to see a familiar face, it’s a real morale booster,” SGT Justin Morrison said.
As a military policeman, SGT Morrison’s role is to enforce military law. He said he takes a proactive approach to policing in an effort to avoid potential problems. He said it has been effective.
Rory Hazeldine joined other employers on Boss Lift viewing survival training, range practices, field craft, weapons demonstrations and military briefings, a company presentation and a cultural show.
Eighth Brigade soldiers who deploy to Rifle Company Butterworth in Malaysia for three months improve their military skills, learn an appreciation of Australian military history and of Malaysian culture. Rifle Company Butterworth not only helps strengthen the ties between Australia and Malaysia but also provides an excellent training opportunity for Australian soldiers.
Army Reservists who deploy on Rifle Company Butterworth practice and reinforce their skills in a jungle environment, and achieve new training competencies from courses run in Malaysia.
This adds not only to their individual skills but also to the collective capability of the Brigade at a time when Australia is increasingly relying on its Reservists.
Eighth Brigade commander Brigadier Iain Spence said Rifle Company Butterworth was a sought-after deployment by soldiers from across the Eighth Brigade, and other parts of the 2nd Division.
"I'm extremely proud more than 120 Army Reservists from the Eighth Brigade, and other Brigades in the 2nd Division, are giving up their time for Australia's security and providing soldiers from the Regular Army a much needed break over Christmas during this high tempo period," BRIG Iain Spence said.
"Army Reservists are participating in a very worthwhile activity which occurs largely because of the tremendous support of their employers, who clearly understand the importance of the Reserve to our national security."
Rifle Company Butterworth is a result of the Five Power Defence Arrangements that were signed in 1972 between Australia, New Zealand, Britain, Malaysia and Singapore.
8 February 2008
Previously we met three Defence Reservists who are the public face of the campaign to raise awareness of the Employer Support Scheme: the unique Federal government program that provides financial support to employers (including self employed Reservists) so that employees who are Defence Reservists can undertake operational deployments and or training.
This month we meet Squadron Leader Sue Trimble of the RAAF Reserve who has also volunteered to go in front of the cameras to support this campaign.
SQNLDR Sue Trimble joined the RAAF Reserve in 1988 as an Education Officer and since then has enjoyed an exciting career both in the Reserves as a Senior Training Officer in 22 Squadron, and, for a period of time, as a self employed educator in Health Education. Sue is a natural teacher having begun her career lecturing in textile chemistry, ultimately branching out to Health Education when her husband, who is also in the RAAF, was posted to the United States. Whilst in the States Sue took up a position as an education and training officer working in two hospitals delivering Health Education programs across South East USA.
Upon returning to Australia, Sue spent time working as an Educational Consultant to the Sydney Museum before taking her present role as Senior Training Officer – Reserves, with 22 Squadron, one of ten RAAF Reserve Squadrons spread across the country.
Based in RAAF Base, Richmond, SQNLDR Trimble’s responsibilities include training Reserve RAAF personnel to ensure that the RAAF has the capability to carry out its mission and operational capability.
And what does Sue’s Commanding officer think about her involvement in the campaign?
Sue says the CO was very positive and she applauded the involvement of 22SQN personnel in this campaign.
8 February 2008
Robert Ball is an Army Reservist with every reason to feel successful in both his military and civilian careers.
As the Officer Commanding of the Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Squadron, which is part of 21 Construction Regiment, Robert is responsible for standing up the CIMC capability for 2nd Division, the Army Reserve Division that has served with distinction for over 90 years.
Major Ball explains, “There has been considerable growth of Non Government Organisations who are also on the ground when the ADF is tasked to undertake humanitarian and disaster relief operations. One of a CIMIC operator’s tasks is to be a point of contact for those organisations into the task force and to provide advice to the Task Force Commander.”
Major Ball is extremely well equipped for this work. Now in his twentieth year in the Reserve, he started out as a medic, and after gaining his commission was selected for Special Forces training and completed eight years with 1 Commando Regiment and an additional year in Special Operations Command before starting with the CIMIC Squadron in 2007.
Building partnerships and close cooperation with a range of personnel in the increasing numbers of Non Government Organisations that exist today, requires skilful negotiations and communication skills. As the Director of Public Affairs and Communication for Raytheon Australia, Robert has an solid background that enables him to successfully perform these tasks and to ensure that more immediate quick impact tasks, such as the provision of water, power and transport infrastructure are in place.
Raytheon Australia is the country's lead Mission Systems Integrator performing that role for the Royal Australian Navy’s Air Warfare Destroyer and a broad range of aerospace and land projects.
“A great thing about Raytheon is the support that it gives me to continue serving as a Reservist.
My boss is a former Naval officer and he sees the value that Reserve service brings to the workplace.”
Major Ball epitomizes what the cooperation between employers and the ADF can achieve — mutually beneficial relationship where the individual adds value to his/her self, their employer and the Australian Defence Force.
Good luck Major Ball in your dual careers!
