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Testimonials
Boss Lift participants share their experiences. A recent Boss Lift participant was Allan Loudfoot who is the Northern Divisional Manager with the NSW Ambulance Service.
His division employs about eight Reservists, including soldiers and aircraft mechanics. Mr Loudfoot, himself a former British Reservist, went to Rifle Company Butterworth in November 2005 and spent some time with about 160 Troops from New South Wales’ 8th Brigade.
“I saw the Reservists, including my men, on Operation – carrying out patrols, on the firing range, I even saw where and how they sleep. It was a tremendous eye-opener,” Mr Loudfoot said.
“I had an idea of what Reservists did, but to see them at first hand in the field was tremendous. It was much better than reading about their activities. They are obviously trained to the highest level possible and the Ambulance Service, New South Wales is very proud of the role they fulfil within the ADF. This is not play, it is for real.”
Allan Loudfoot Northern Divisional Manager, NSW Ambulance Service
Glenn Hooker Network Support Services Manager, Virgin Mobile Australia, was involved in a recent Boss Lift
"For me the "Boss Lift" experience really put into perspective the importance of the Reservists' contribution is to our national Defence Force."
"I found the 2 day program extremely well put together. The combination of very informative DRSC presentations, visit to Gurun Ranges for a first hand look at the training our reservists are put through and social interaction with other employers of Reservists was very complete and I came back with shift in view on the role that I, as an employer, play."
"Prior to "Boss Lift" I was probably more concerned with how I could cover my reservists absence whereas now my focus is on how we can best support his reservist activities and responsibilities. Thanks for the opportunity. I highly recommend it to anyone who is considering it and am more than happy to act as a reference for anyone that would like to talk to a previous participant."
Glenn Hooker Network Support Services Manager, Virgin Mobile Australia
Leanne Tanti, Equal Employment Adviser for Ergon Energy in Cairns, was one of the participants in Boss Lift.
Ms Tanti actually wrote the Defence Force leave policy for Ergon Energy and her husband was in the Navy and is now in the Naval Reserve. She was asked to participate and didn't want to miss the opportunity. She was interested, as her husband had been in the Navy. She works with a few ex-defence personnel, all of whom had recommended that she go and see Shoalwater Bay.
During Boss Lift she flew in a Chinook and Blackhawk helicopter and also boarded Australian ship HMAS Manoora. While on Manoora, she and the other participants viewed the actual transfer of machinery from a smaller supply ship to the "mother ship" (Manoora) using the loading ramp at the rear of the Manoora. The group also had a special tour of the USS Boxer while at sea. Many Australian soldiers were working on the USS Boxer, and one of the highlights for her was when the ship was asked to do a right hand turn at speed.
She said her involvement in Boss Lift had provided her with an opportunity to gain a greater understanding of preparation required, the safety aspects involved, and the level of isolation and conditions under which defence personnel must work. However, she said the main thing she learnt about the Defence Force, in general, was the level of training, the procedures and the need for reinforcement.
"There's lots of procedure, and training, and retraining, which is fantastic, because it means that our defence forces are ready for any sort of action, and that was pretty impressive to see, especially how they go over and over things," said Ms Tanti.
"I learnt about the flexibility of Army Reserve service when writing the policy. I didn't realise until then that it is actually about relationship building with your commanding unit."
Leanne Tanti Equal Employment Advisor, Ergon Energy, Cairns
Pattie Scott was asked to join Boss Lift because one of the Intensive Care Unit nurses at Gympie Hospital spent six months in East Timor, and then another six months in Iraq.
Queensland Health employs about 130 Reservists.
She was already familiar with Defence, as her father was in the Army, and her brother is currently in the Army and as such, she is very positive about the Australian Defence Force.
"I am very supportive of it. I would put all kids through defence service if I had my way," said Ms Scott during Boss Lift.
Her Boss Lift experience reinforced several of her beliefs, including that Defence is a great organisation. She said she was really impressed by the Defence Force's sensitivity and management of the environment, which was obvious from the outset. The group saw dugongs in the Bay area, which was unexpected and pleasing. Overall, Boss Lift strengthened her opinion of the worthiness of Defence, she was impressed by the enormity of the tasks that many of the general public take for granted, and the level of commitment of the personnel.
"I think it's about the enormity of the task that the defence services do that you take for granted - the commitment to protecting Australia, and indeed the training that they do," said Ms Scott.
"It confirmed my belief that Reserves and defence services are great organisations.
"People need parameters, and defence services definitely provide parameters for kids to grow and experience team work, and to understand what it is to have a 90 second shower."
"What employers need to realise is that when someone goes away on a defence exercise like this, they bring so much back into their organisation. They come out with very different ideas. You know, people might think they're hard done by in the public system, and then one of our staff who is a Reservist comes back from Iraq and says, "Hey guys, this is what it was like over there".
Pattie Scott District Manager, Queensland Health, Gympie
Rob Gillespie is the government representative at the Queensland State branch of the DRSC.
Mr Gillespie was asked to participate because the Queensland Government employs approximately 550 Reservists. Most of these (380) represent Health, Police, and Correctional Services.
Mr Gillespie has not had much exposure to the Australian Defence Force, but his Uncle was in the Royal Australian Air Force. Mr Gillespie said Boss Lift allowed him to learn many things about Defence. He said he gained a more in-depth knowledge of internal workings of naval vessels, gained a greater appreciation of the sacrifices made by Reservists and was impressed by organisation's commitment to health and safety, and that "everyone seemed to have a place when they're conducting operations, whether it's someone serving up food in the mess, or someone pulling in rope".
Further, the isolation factor was reinforced: "The fact that they're not just going away for a week or two, but they're going away for five or six months," said Mr Gillespie.
His highlights were the rides in the helicopters, and being up on the bridge of the USS Boxer when it conducted a 15 degree right hand turn at 16 knots.
"The other thing I learnt was that on a ship, it would take you quite a while to learn where you were going, down those stairs, in the galleys. I never knew what direction I was facing the whole time I was on the ship!" he said.
"I certainly gained a knowledge of the increasing role of Reservists in recent years, such as East Timor. I didn't realise that so many people in those types of exercises are in fact Reservists."
Mr Gillespie said he was involved in writing the leave policy related to Defence Leave for the Queensland Government. Queensland Government employees get six weeks on full pay to undertake Recruit training, and 32 calendar days (just over four weeks) for each year after than on full pay.
"Participating in Boss Lift was just too good an opportunity to pass up. It's not every day that you can get up in a helicopter and go and land on a navy vessel."
Rob Gillespie Principal Industrial Officer, Department of Industrial Relations, Queensland Government
