Yesterday I posted and article titled POSITIVITY that was sent to me by Mike Kenavan. When I posted his email I wrongly assumed the forword was written by Ken and credited him. Ken has contacted me and advised me that the forword was written by a mate and sent to him.

Sorry Ken

Ray

The ADF’s broad range of trades, roles and responsibilities is reflected in this year’s King’s Birthday military honours list.

The list of 82 high achievers and contributors features everything from intelligence, security and safety experts to capability innovators, strategic advisers, technical staff and special forces instructors.

Among those recognised in the Order of Australia’s military division are Rear Admiral Justin Jones, who has been made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguishing himself in significant senior command roles in the Navy, the ADF Joint Operations Command and Maritime Border Command.

Others to be appointed as AOs in the military division are Major General Matthew Pearse, for his leadership during a period of significant national uncertainty, and Major General Anthony Rawlins, for delivering and maintaining a “capable, agile and potent” joint force.

The 25 appointments and 57 recipients of awards in this year’s honours list are:

OFFICER (AO) IN THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

Navy: Rear Admiral Justin Jones CSC RAN.

Army: Major General Matthew Pearse AM; Major General Anthony Rawlins DSC AM.

MEMBER (AM) IN THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

Army: Colonel B; Brigadier Brendan Casey; Brigadier James Davis CSC; Brigadier Duncan Hayward CSC; Brigadier Natasha Ludwig; Brigadier Paul Smith.

Air Force: Air Commodore Veronica Tyler.

MEDAL (OAM) IN THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

Navy: Chief Petty Officer William Carter; Chief Petty Officer Patricia Kelly; Captain Michael Nipperess RAN; Commander Paul Pelczar RAN; Captain Robin Swift RAN.

Army: Warrant Officer Class One Warrick Butterworth; Lieutenant Colonel Jane Evans; Warrant Officer Class One Cameron Gee; Major Kevin Heyne; Warrant Officer Class One John Lines MG; Warrant Officer Class Two Paul Styles; Warrant Officer Class One Craig Webb.

Air Force: Warrant Officer J; Flight Sergeant M; Wing Commander Matthew Kelly.

CONSPICUOUS SERVICE CROSS (CSC)

Navy: Captain Sean Andrews RAN; Captain Jody Bastian RAN; Captain Benjamin Favelle RAN; Lieutenant Thomas Icke RAN; Captain Glen Miles RAN; Commander Michael Pounder RAN; Captain Christopher Smith RAN; Chief Petty Officer Belinda Wyard.

Army: Colonel L; Lieutenant Colonel S; Major Geoffrey Brennan; Lieutenant Colonel Joel Domigan; Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Gilmore; Lieutenant Colonel Owain Griffiths; Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Howard; Colonel Scott Jamieson; Lieutenant Colonel Dayton McCarthy; Colonel Richard Niessl; Lieutenant Colonel Leigh Partridge; Brigadier Nicholas Wilson.

Air Force: Flight Lieutenant Jack Devine; Flight Sergeant Ludovico Lico; Group Captain Craig Nielsen; Air Commodore Jarrod Pendlebury; Squadron Leader Brent Purcell; Flight Lieutenant Scott Taylor.

CONSPICUOUS SERVICE MEDAL (CSM)

Navy: Lieutenant Commander Timothy Craig RAN; Petty Officer Stephen Dunlop; Lieutenant Commander Alexander Finnis RAN; Captain Belinda Greenwood RAN; Captain David Hannah RAN; Lieutenant David Loynd RAN; Commander Lauren Milburn RAN; Petty Officer Jim Schacht; Lieutenant Commander William Stow RAN.

Army: Corporal T; Warrant Officer Class Two B; Warrant Officer Class Two C; Warrant Officer Class Two T; Lieutenant Colonel Brian Bearman; Major Timothy Bowers; Warrant Officer Class Two Anthony Campbell; Major Justin Cross; Warrant Officer Class Two Julian Evans; Lieutenant Colonel Steven Frankel CSC; Warrant Officer Class Two Peter Hopkins; Corporal Dylan Neumann; Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Price; Major Gregory Sargeant; Warrant Officer Class Two Brenda Smith; Sergeant Leighton Wilson.

Air Force: Corporal  J; Squadron Leader Michael Berry; Corporal Andrew Fowler; Squadron Leader Darrin Lindsay; Squadron Leader Lindy Perrett; Squadron Leader Rebecca Trembath.

Multiple students at the Australian National University (ANU) are facing expulsion and police referral over their behaviour at pro-Palestinian encampments. These activists have held protests and set up Gaza solidarity camps since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7.

Despite Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell acknowledging instances of unacceptable behaviour and confirming disciplinary actions against 10 students, only two have been expelled, and five cases remain unresolved. Furthermore, four incidents have been referred to police.

ANU claims to take these matters seriously, emphasizing procedural fairness and support for all students. However, the slow and minimal action taken raises concerns about the university’s commitment to upholding its codes of conduct and ensuring campus safety.

Protesters have demanded ANU divest from companies linked to Israel and cut academic ties. Despite police and campus security ordering the removal of encampments by May 28, some still remain. Offensive stickers and slogans continue to be displayed on campus, with limited efforts to remove them.

This situation highlights a disappointing lack of decisive action by ANU in addressing the ongoing protests and maintaining a safe and respectful campus environment.

The Russian Navy Kilo Class submarine which was hit by Storm Shadow / SCALP cruise missiles has been moved. The Rostov on Don is now in a new hiding place further inside the Crimean port of Sevastopol. It is camouflaged but has not gone unnoticed.

CLICK LINK to read the article from Naval News

Russian Submarine Hit By Missiles Now In New Hiding Place In Sevastopol – Naval News

Mitchell Wiggins Blog

The rapid downfall of British power in the East, marked by Japan’s swift conquest of Malaya and the fall of Singapore in 1942, shattered Australia’s belief in British invincibility. This event had profound and lasting consequences, reshaping Australia’s defence and foreign policy outlook.

In response to the looming Japanese threat, Prime Minister John Curtin urgently recalled Australian troops from North Africa and appealed to both the Australian public and the United States for support. Curtin’s speech underscored the peril facing Australia and the strategic importance of the Pacific, warning, “If Australia goes, the Americas are wide open… The saving of Australia is the saving of America’s west coast.”

This strategic pivot led to the signing of the ANZUS Treaty in 1951, a collective security agreement between Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. This treaty significantly alleviated Australia’s strategic anxieties, dating back to colonial times, and allowed for the development of an independent strategic doctrine known as “Forward Defence.” This doctrine aimed to deter adversaries by creating a layered defence system that could respond before involving the United States.

Despite Australia’s significant contributions under the ANZUS framework, the nation has often been perceived merely as a “Loyal Deputy” to the United States. This perception was particularly reinforced during the Vietnam War and the Global War on Terror, causing some regional unease. However, the ANZUS Treaty and Australia’s proactive defence policies have provided stability, positioning Australia as a key player at the crossroads of the Indo-Pacific.

Australia’s journey from reliance on British power to becoming an independent strategic leader underscores its evolving role in regional and global security. The ANZUS Treaty, coupled with the Forward Defence policy, has been instrumental in this transformation, ensuring Australia’s pivotal position in the Indo-Pacific amidst shifting global dynamics.

Media Release

Hanwha Redback infantry fighting vehicles will be equipped with Mk44 Stretch Bushmaster chain guns through a newly announced industry partnership. The Mk44S guns are compatible with Northrop Grumman’s advanced ammunition suite, featuring programmable air burst munitions. This provides Australia with cutting-edge ammunition technology.

Over 20,000 Bushmaster chain guns are used globally by 65 allied nations across various combat platforms. Northrop Grumman’s Jennifer Zonneveld praised the guns for their performance and reliability, highlighting their choice by international customers. She emphasized the partnership’s goal to equip the Australian Army with the world’s most advanced medium calibre capability.

The advanced ammunition suite includes multifunction airburst, armour-piercing, and proximity-fused munitions, enabling crews to counter diverse ground and aerial threats effectively.

The program extends the Bushmaster legacy in Australia, where these chain guns are already integrated into the Australian Defence Force’s combat platforms. Earlier this year, Hanwha Defence Australia’s training team conducted driver training for the Redback IFV in South Korea as part of an ongoing skill development initiative.

The Australian government has signed a $4 billion contract with Hanwha Defence Australia for 129 Redback IFVs, set for manufacture in Australia with deliveries starting in 2027 and completion by 2028. Eight prototype vehicles will be produced in both South Korea and Australia. The contract also includes development and delivery of training and support systems, with initial support covering the first five years post-delivery.

Today as I was getting depressed about the world we live in and dwelling on pessimism and optimism I asked myself what the difference is. I concluded that:

An optimist is someone who has sinned all his life but starts taking harp lessons in his old age.

A pessimist is someone who is presented with the choice of two calamities always takes both.

You usually don’t get much comfort from politicians, but I then turned my thoughts to one who was a bit different and I thought I should share it with friends a relatives, in case they are feeling a bit down.

Mike Kenavan

It’s a nice story about a President who seemed like a genuinely nice bloke and I refer to Ronald Reagon.

When he was first elected President the Whitehouse arranged a function for him to meet the Congressmen and Senators. At the start of the function he appeared behind the microphone, leaning forward on the lectern with everyone expecting a typical politician’s speech.

He started by saying that he was an optimist and that his country could get back to the good times and then said, “I am going to tell you a story about optimism before I declare what I intend doing.”

These parents were blessed with twin boys but as they began to walk and talk the mother and father began to notice that one was becoming a pessimist while the other was always looking on the bright side. This presented a problem around suitable gifts on their birthday – something that might lift the spirits of one and perhaps dampen the over exuberance of the other.

They had a large house so they decided to fill one empty room with some wonderful toys to brighten up the pessimist and to put a load of horse manure in the other to bring the other back to the reality of sometime disappointment.

They dispatched the boys to the respective rooms and waited an hour before inspecting the results of their experiment.

At first, they went to the room with the toys and there they found the first twin crying and when asked why he said, “This toy isn’t going to last, this toy won’t work when it runs out of batteries and this toy is going to be stolen along with a lot of other negative comments.”

Sullen-faced they went into the adjoining room to see how the other little boy was getting on. On opening the door, they saw this smiling face digging his way through the pile of horse manure with his cupped hands. Surprised they said, “Son, what on earth are you doing that for?”

He said, “I’m looking for the pony.”

And the President said, “That’s what I’m going to do, look for the pony.”

We have received advice of the death on 5 June 2024 of John Fredrick Tonkin.
He was 79. John served as a Bombardier with 104th Field Battery of 12^th Field Regiment in Vietnam from May 1968 until December 1968.

A funeral for John will be held on Saturday 15 June 2024 commencing at 1000 hours in the West Chapel of Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park, Perth.

Messages of condolence may be sent to jnbt@iinet.net.au or by mail to 4 Ospringe Street, Gosnells, WA 6110.

RIP John Fredrick Tonkin

Peter Bruce, OAM
Obituary Resource Officer
RAAHC
pjbruce8@bigpond.net.au