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THE special military relationship between Australia and PNG has reached the next level of maturity with a PNGDF officer appointed to a competitive senior 3rd Brigade role.

LTCOL Boniface Aruma, will become deputy brigade commander, replacing an Australian officer, LTCOL Ken Golder.

A June 1999 Duntroon graduate, his career has paralleled his military college classmates, attending the Australian Command and Staff College in 2016, plus dual master’s degrees in international relations and defence studies from Deakin University and ANU.

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PNG officer’s appointment strengthens ties | Australian Defence History, Policy and Veterans Issues (targetsdown.blogspot.com)

Hi ALL,

I apologise for the abrupt interruption and failing to post over the last few days. Last Tuesday night, after my routine colonoscopy earlier that day, I experienced severe bladder pain that woke me up around 11 PM. Without hesitation, I drove myself to emergency, where I received excellent care. By around 3 AM, I was feeling better, but the doctor decided to admit me for observation due to some concerns.

As it turns out, my heart rate dropped to around 30 beats per minute, which raised some alarms. A cardiologist was called in to evaluate my condition. While my heart was strong, my heart rate was erratic. The cardiologist recommended that I have a pacemaker implanted to stabilise my heart rate.

I’ve been allowed to leave the hospital for the weekend with strict instructions to rest completely. The pacemaker will be fitted on Tuesday, which coincides with Melbourne Cup Day, bummer! If all goes well, I should be discharged late on Wednesday afternoon and back at my desk on Thursday.

I’m actually feeling quite ok but resting as per their instructions.

Cheers Ray

Hi All,

Ray (Dad) is currently in hospital unfortunately. He is doing well but will be off-line for a little while.

Glenn

In the ever-evolving landscape of the digital age, where information flows freely but often without direction or purpose, there stand entities that focus on bridging the gap between need and provision. Frontline is one such beacon, guiding Australian veterans, ex-service members, and active personnel through a quagmire of information, offering clarity and precision.

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The AUKUS project, priced at $368 billion, is under scrutiny as former foreign affairs minister Alexander Downer predicts the future federal government might forgo local submarine construction due to high costs. Downer suggests that Australia could eventually purchase submarines from overseas, asserting that it would be 30% to 40% cheaper to have them built in the UK or US.

Countering this, SA premier Peter Malinauskas stresses the importance of Australia having the capability to build these submarines for national security, highlighting challenges in sourcing enough nuclear submarines from external sellers. Malinauskas critiques Downer’s stance, finding it inconsistent given Downer’s experience.

Downer further questioned the economic feasibility of building submarines in Adelaide and raised concerns about the unresolved issue of nuclear waste storage.

The current AUKUS terms have Australia receiving three Virginia-class submarines from the US while planning to construct up to eight nuclear-powered submarines domestically.

In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm and three or more is a government.
  John  Adams

Suppose you were an idiot.  And suppose you were a member of government.  But then I repeat myself.
   Mark Twain

I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.
Winston Churchill

A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
George Bernard  Shaw

Foreign aid might be defined as a  transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.
   Douglas Casey,  Classmate of Bill Clinton at Georgetown  University

Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage  boys.
P.J. O’Rourke,  Civil Libertarian

Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavours to live at the expense of everybody else.
Frederic Bastiat, French economist (1801-1850)

I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.
    Will Rogers

If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it’s free!

P.J. O’Rourke

In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.
      Voltaire (1764)

Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you!
       Pericles (430 B.C.)

No man’s life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.
Mark Twain (1866)

Talk is cheap…except when government does it.
Anonymous

The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.
Mark Twain

What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.
Edward Langley, Artist (1928-1995)

A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.
      Thomas Jefferson

We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.
Aesop

In a groundbreaking move, Lieutenant Colonel Boniface Aruma from Papua New Guinea’s Defence Force (PNGDF) will take up the position as deputy commander of the Australian Army’s 3rd Brigade in Townsville next year. This appointment marks the first instance of a foreign military officer achieving such a significant role in the Australian Army.

Lieutenant Colonel Aruma, with a service record spanning 27 years in the PNG army, voiced his enthusiasm, stating, “This is a monumental step for us as an organization. It represents the most senior position we’ve ever sent abroad.”

Having received his education in Australia, Aruma holds two master’s degrees from Deakin and the Australian National University in international relations and defence studies. He believes that both nations will see enhanced defence capabilities due to this collaboration. Aruma remarked on the shared values and aspirations of the two countries, emphasizing their mutual desire for a safe and secure Pacific region.

Speaking on the evolution of Australia-PNG relations, the outgoing deputy commander, Lieutenant Colonel Ken Golder, noted that this decision would cultivate a direct and genuine connection at the heart of the brigade’s leadership. This step further reinforces the already active exchange and training programs between the two forces.

While foreign officers serving in allied armies isn’t new, the involvement of Pacific neighbours in such roles is. There is value of this partnership, as it offers insights into PNGDF’s strategic, operational, and tactical planning. Moreover, it underscores the equality in the Australia-PNG relationship, distancing from any superior-subordinate dynamic.

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Housed within the Imperial War Museums is a treasured artifact: a genuine, airworthy, combat-veteran Spitfire Mk 1. This remarkable aircraft is more than just a piece of history; it embodies the spirit of the British defence during World War II and stands as a testament to aviation engineering and innovation.

The initial design of the early Spitfires featured an armament of eight machine guns, all of which utilized the .303 rifle calibre machine gun round. This setup was formidable in its time and was a crucial part of the British air defences during the early days of the war.

However, the story of the Spitfire didn’t end with its initial design. As with many pieces of military hardware, the Spitfire underwent several modifications throughout its service. These were not just limited to performance tweaks like the addition of more powerful engines, but also significant enhancements in its firepower. Over time, the Spitfire’s armament evolved, incorporating larger weapons such as the 20mm cannon and the .5-inch machine gun.

The journey of the Spitfire’s armament development is intricate and multi-faceted. While these changes were essential to keep the aircraft competitive on the battlefield, they also sparked debates and discussions. Some of these debates remain unresolved and can be viewed as controversial even today. The decisions to modify the Spitfire’s armament weren’t taken lightly, and each change represents a balance between engineering challenges, strategic necessities, and tactical advantages.

To delve deeper into this captivating narrative, we’ve collaborated with an expert in the field. Jonathan Ferguson from the Royal Armouries will provide an in-depth exploration into the main weapons of the Spitfire. His insights promise to shed light on the intricate decisions behind the evolution of this iconic aircraft, offering enthusiasts and historians a detailed understanding of its armament transformation.