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| Victoria’s Executive Stretch goes “Wet and Wild” Exercise Executive Stretch No 27 held recently in Victoria set some new records. Victoria was in a position to challenge Queensland for the title of “Wet and Wild”. Employers from both metropolitan and regional areas congregated at the Army’s Simpson Barracks in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne to be bussed to ‘sunny’ Puckapunyal Training Area some 80 kms north of Melbourne on a cold and dark Friday evening. Spirits were high, partly due to the excellent efforts of Team Leaders and the enthusiasm of the office staff of the Victorian Office of Defence Reserves Support.
This was a weekend of surprises, testing and self awareness for all participants. The group had one of the highest participation rates by female employers, which greatly added to the success and diversity of experience and skills developed over the course of the weekend. But back to “Wet and Wild” – this was one of the coldest and wettest EES activities Victoria has hosted. But the weather failed to dampen the spirits of the reservists from 2/10 Regiment, 4 Combat Support Supply Battalion and Land Warfare Centre who hosted the activity. The employers, whilst sometimes wet and a little cold were not deterred by the weather, but in fact experienced a bonding that sometimes only comes from facing the unexpected or adversity. Saturday saw the group inspecting a Forward Observation Base, being exposed to some of the technicalities of field communications, both electronic and field signals along with cooking their lunch and dinner in the bush and setting up their overnight sleeping ‘hyde’ under the stars! Late on Saturday night they were tactically extracted back from the field to the relative comfort of barracks accommodation and a hot shower. Sunday saw the group return early to Simpson Barracks to experience some team and individual skills challenges. The high for Sunday was the Weapons Training Simulation System activity where they all participated to achieve individual best scores for shooting and a team ‘shoot-off’ for a section patrol in a computer simulated battle field. Victorian Liaison Officer Major Tony Kelly said "Everyone enjoyed the hands-on activities. EES gives employers the opportunity to do things they wouldn't get the chance to in the civilian world." The finale was a lunch hosted in the Signal Corps Sergeants Mess by the acting Chairman of Defence Reserves Support Council in Victoria, Mr Bruce Larkin. Bruce attended the whole weekend with the employers and presented Certificates to all participants along with medallions to the winning team. For your chance to experience a EES – scheduled for Oct/Nov 2008 with a RAAF focus – contact the Office Manager, Annette Love, or the Liaison Officer, Major Tony Kelly on 1800 803 485. Victorian Office – “Par Oneri” – Equal to the Task.   Reservists Case Studies - Jonathan (Jono) Blackley Army Reserve Combat Engineer Working as a firefighter 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. read more here... Employer Support Payment Scheme The Employer Support Payment (ESP) expenditure for April of $2.9m has exceeded the highest ever monthly figure. $19.5m has been expended so far this Financial Year. Of that, $2,464,603 (13%) was in relation to service by Naval Reservists, $15,409,720 (79%) related to Defence service rendered by Army Reservists, and $1,582,385 (8%) was in relation to service by Air Force Reservists. The percentage of expenditure by Service has remained unchanged from the previous month. Annual Update of Standard Employer Support Payments As you may have noticed from the website's Home Page, it's that time of year again when we adjust the standard ESP weekly payment rate in accordance with the Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE) figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on an annual basis. The ESP weekly rate for FY08/09 is $1,123.30, an increase of approximately $52.00 per week from the previous FY. The rate of weekly ESP payments for claims spanning multiple financial years will be based on the AWOTE rates for the relevant FY. Timeframe for Submission of Employer Support Payment Claims Just a reminder that claims for ESP should be submitted within 6 months of the start date of the claimed Defence service (this does not apply to annual Qualifying Period service). Claims that are made more than 6 months after the 1st day of service will only be eligible for payment for any part of the claim period that occurred within 6 months of the claim being made (unless this requirement is waived by the Director, Deputy Director or Assistant Director of the ESP Scheme). This process is outlined in greater detail under the Employer Support Payment 'Submitting a Claim' link on the website. Unfortunately delays in processing claims submitted outside the 6 month window are experienced due to the additional administration involved. DRS making its mark at AHRI As part of the on-going Defence Reserves Support (DRS) National Office program, Sheila Shaw and Kylie Ormerod from Canberra office attended the Australian Human Resource Institute (AHRI) National Convention in Melbourne on 21 and 22 May. Local support from the Victoria DRS office was also provided by MAJ Tony Kelly and Ms Annette Love. The AHRI Convention is Australia’s flagship event for HR professionals and people managers, engendering human resource management best practice within workplaces. DRS have been attending the AHRI Convention for over six years. For the first time this year our logo was incorporated on the facia board of the stand. “This proved to be very worthwhile,” said Sheila Shaw. “Over the past few years, recognition of what we do has increased markedly within our target group - HR Managers. People now seek us out at the AHRI, knowing that their questions regarding employing a Reservist and the associated benefits and obligations would be answered and backed up by written confirmation in our brochures and the Employer Handbook, which once again, proved very popular.” “We actually received several compliments on the professionalism and supply of information given by us over the period.” During the Convention over 200 people visited the DRS stand and took away information. Trekking Kokoda History  Two Australian Defence Force (ADF) Reserve personnel supported by Reserve and Employer Support Division (RESD) will join ten Victorian Police in retracing one of the bloodiest campaigns of World War II as they prepare to tackle the Kokoda Track from 8 – 19 June 2008. The two Reserve members representing the ADF are Squadron Leader Del Gaudry, for RAAF No 22 Squadron; and Lance Corporal Guyai Newie, 51 FNQR from Thursday Island. Four of the Victorian Police are also serving or former Reservists. Carrying backpacks through rugged mountains on the 96km ten day journey, the group of enthusiastic trekkers will set off on the arduous track, which is renowned as the location of many critical World War II battles between the Japanese and Australian force. Team members were taking part in the trek for a variety of reasons. SQNLDR Del Gaudy is a current Reservist with No 22 (City of Sydney) Squadron and is representing 22SQN (the Squadron Victoria Cross awardee Flight Lieutenant William Newton VC flew with in PNG during WWII). She also has a relative who died at Kokoda during the campaign. “My father’s second cousin, Private Jack Gaudry, was just 21 when he was killed in action on 11 November 1942,” said SQNLDR Gaudry. He was with 2/1st Battalion and died in the battle of Oivi-Gorari. He is buried at Port Moresby. “I am looking forward to experiencing some of what he would have gone through and also visiting his grave. It will mean a lot to our family.” Look out for more about their experiences on the trek and photos in the next edition of E-News. Looking for some part-time action? The Army Reserve gives you the opportunity to experience real adventure, excitement and earn a healthy part-time tax-free income. On Saturday 21 June the Army Reserve Information Expo puts the Army Reserve on display with a huge range of military equipment and activities. Phone: 1300 301 814 or 1800 648 332. Information sessions will be held at Gallipoli Barracks, Lloyd Street, Enoggera, Brisbane at 1000, 1130, 1300 and 1430 or telephone 1300 301 814. Additional Information Expos will also be held at 13 Concorde Place Caboolture, 42 Commercial Drive, Southport and 41 Milford Road Ipswich at 1000, 1200 and 1400 or telephone 1800 648 332. What's happening near you? June 8–19 - Kokoda Trek by DRS team and Victoria Police from Melton, Papua New Guinea 14–20 - BOSS LIFT to Exercise PITCH BLACK, Darwin, Northern Territory 21 - Army Reserve Information Expo, Enoggera Barracks, Brisbane, Queensland July 5–8 - BOSS LIFT to Solomon Islands 19 - Defence Charity Ball, Brisbane, Queensland – For further information and tickets visit www.defencecharityball.com.au | ||
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