The Norfolk Island RSL charter began many decades ago.  In 1921 the Norfolk Island men returning from WWI formed a Returned Service League for the veterans’ who served.  For WWI and WWII Norfolk Island contributed more service personnel per capita than any other Commonwealth nation of the world.  A proud history.

Norfolk Island has the first service in Australia owing to the time differences.  We have a very poignant Kapyong Day service remembering the Korea War and then ANZAC services begins with a Dawn service on Emily Beach which is very memorable.

This is our first time using a Travel Centre in Norfolk Island to market and sell our (RSL) packages; this being  ANZAC week 2024.  This launch is late in the travel industry nuances so there are only 37 packages available on a first come basis?

Would you consider distributing this NI RSL Sub Branch ANZAC 2024 package to your Diaspora and colleagues and social motorbike club for ex-service members please?  The package is shown at the attachment.

Thankyou for leaving your card with Eddy and I hope to see you and your friends next year or perhaps in subsequent years.

Kind regards,

Tet

Kind regards,

Terence (Tet) Grube JP

Hon Sec

Norfolk Island RSL Sub Branch

Ph: +6723 54848

Email: [email protected]

CLICK ON THESE LINKS TO VIEW TRAVEL PACKAGES

Anzac Day 2024 – BPT Package (1)

Anzac Day 2024 – NITC Package

The first nuclear-powered submarine to be constructed under the AUKUS alliance is anticipated to be sold to Australia in the year 2038, as disclosed by a high-ranking US naval officer. Additionally, the officer, Vice Admiral Bill Houston, shared that the initial transactions involving used Virginia-class submarines are likely to take place in 2032 and 2035.

Visiting Sydney for a separate media event, the commander of the US Pacific fleet assured Australians that their country would maintain complete sovereignty over the American technology when the submarines are eventually deployed. Vice Admiral Houston outlined a provisional timeline for the transfer of Virginia-class submarines to Australia within the AUKUS framework during a briefing in Washington.

As reported by Breaking Defence, Vice Admiral Houston indicated that the planned sales of “in-service submarines” to Australia are scheduled for 2032 and 2035. Subsequently, in 2038, Australia is expected to acquire a newly constructed Block VII version of the Virginia-class submarine. Notably, this Block VII submarine will lack the Virginia Payload Module, a mid-body section found on certain fleet boats that enhances missile capacity.

In adherence to the AUKUS agreement, the United States is committed to selling a minimum of three, and potentially up to five, Virginia-class submarines to Australia in the 2030s. Following this phase, the United Kingdom will collaborate with Australia to jointly construct a new SSN-AUKUS submarine fleet.

While Defence Minister Richard Marles has yet to comment on the specifics of the proposed pathway for nuclear-powered submarines, he expressed optimism earlier in the week, highlighting broad political support for the project in the US. He noted ongoing legislative efforts in the US Congress aimed at facilitating the sale of Virginias and enabling Australia’s contribution to the American industrial uplift.

To enable the transfers to Australia, US officials emphasize the need to increase the annual production rate of Virginia-class submarines from the current 1.2 vessels to well above 2 per year. Marles underscored this requirement at the International Maritime Exposition in Sydney, stating the importance of enhancing production capacity.

In a revealing disclosure, Vice Admiral Houston conveyed that Australian assets had been targeted by the Chinese military in numerous dangerous intercepts conducted in the South China Sea over the past two years. He expressed deep concern about the increasing provocations and hazards posed by these actions.

Despite concerns raised by critics of the AUKUS partnership, suggesting potential entanglement in a future US-China conflict over Taiwan, Admiral Paparo dismissed these worries. Emphasizing the importance of sovereignty as an expression of human dignity at the state level, he underscored mutual respect as the foundational principle of the alliance. Admiral Paparo also expressed his confidence in the Australian government’s recent decision not to terminate a Chinese-owned company’s lease of Darwin Port.

As Iceland prepares for a potential volcanic eruption, the nation has declared a state of emergency, prompting the evacuation of over 3,000 residents from the coastal town of Grindavík in the southwestern peninsula. The Icelandic authorities, particularly scientists from Iceland’s Met Office, have noted changes in the situation, suggesting that magma might be nearing the surface. On Monday, it was determined that the primary area of magma upwelling is approximately 3.5 kilometres northeast of Grindavík.

The looming eruption raises questions about its nature, associated risks, potential travel disruptions, and the geological factors contributing to Iceland’s seismic activity. If the volcano erupts, it would be an unprecedented event for the country’s 360,000 residents, reminiscent of the unexpected 1973 eruption in Vestmannaeyjar that destroyed 400 homes.

The Civil Protection Agency reports a 15-kilometer-long magma corridor extending from just northwest of Grindavík into the Atlantic Ocean, based on data collected on Saturday. Magma, a mix of molten and semi-molten rock beneath the Earth’s surface, can lead to eruptions when it reaches the surface, manifesting as lava. Experts suggest that an underwater eruption would be more explosive due to the interaction with seawater, with the potential for a Surtseyan eruption similar to the 1963 incident that formed the island of Surtsey.

Despite uncertainties, experts like Michele Paulatto from Imperial College London and Bill McGuire from University College London offer insights. While Paulatto emphasizes the potential explosiveness if the magma interacts with seawater, McGuire notes the difficulty in predicting the eruption’s size. The evacuated town of Grindavík faces an uncertain fate, depending on where the magma eventually reaches the surface.

There remains a possibility that the magma may not breach the surface at all, as pointed out by volcanologist Dave McGarvie from the University of Lancaster. He suggests that the best-case scenario is the dike formed by the magma cooling and solidifying without erupting. Nevertheless, seismic activity has already taken a toll on the region, with damaged roads and infrastructure resulting from earthquakes.

In response to the potential threat, the Civil Protection Agency evacuated Grindavík, citing the risk of the magma tunnel reaching the town. Despite evacuations, some residents were permitted to return briefly under police escort to retrieve pets and essential items. Additionally, precautionary measures include the closure of the famous Blue Lagoon, a popular geothermal spa north of Grindavík, due to the potential release of toxic fumes, including corrosive sulphur dioxide, which could pose health risks to the local population and tourists depending on wind direction.

Former Special Forces Commando Heston Russell says he was disgusted by politicians who “grandstand” on the back of Remembrance Day to show support for Palestine. “I was disgusted by that …

I was disgusted by politicians who select to politically grandstand on the back of what is Remembrance Day,” Mr Russell told Sky News host Sharri Markson.

“To promote their support for Palestine or anyone other than Australian veterans.

“I cannot believe we’re at that place in Australia … we allow actions like the desecration of that memorial to occur … the common conversation is this is not the Australia I serve to support.”

Mr Russell sat down with Ms Markson to discuss Remembrance Day and the pro-Palestinian protesters desecrating a memorial.

By Neil Andrew

I spoke to you in whispers

As shells made the ground beneath us quake

We both trembled in that crater

A toxic muddy bloody lake

I spoke to you and pulled your ears

To try and quell your fearful eye

As bullets whizzed through the raindrops

And we watched the men around us die

I spoke to you in stable tones

A quiet tranquil voice

At least I volunteered to fight

You didn’t get to make the choice

I spoke to you of old times

Perhaps you went before the plough

And pulled the haycart from the meadow

Far from where we’re dying now

I spoke to you of grooming

Of when the ploughman made you shine

Not the shrapnel wounds and bleeding flanks

Mane filled with mud and wire and grime

I spoke to you of courage

As gas filled the Flanders air

Watched you struggle in the mud

Harness acting like a snare

I spoke to you of peaceful fields

Grazing beneath a setting sun

Time to rest your torn and tired body

Your working day is done

I spoke to you of promises

If from this maelstrom I survive

By pen and prose and poetry

I’ll keep your sacrifice alive

I spoke to you of legacy

For when this hellish time is through

All those who hauled or charged or carried

Will be regarded heroes too

I spoke to you in dulcet tones

Your eye told me you understood

As I squeezed my trigger to bring you peace

The only way I could

And I spoke to you in whispers……

From: Alarna Vrieling <[email protected]>

Good morning.

My name is Alarna Vrieling and I am an independent solo researcher.

My dad, 2785574 Arne Vrieling is a Vietnam Veteran he served with 7RAR 1967-68
I would be most grateful if you would help me advertise my study and recruit participants. Detail below.

Sincerely,
Alarna Vrieling [email protected]

CLICK LINK BELOW

2023 – Media Notice with logo

Picture: EOS R800 system with new CUAS Dazzler technology. Photo: Supplied.

Australian defence, space, and communication technology firm Electro Optic Systems unveiled a new laser countermeasure system at the Indo Pacific 2023 International Maritime Exposition. The non-ballistic laser Dazzler countermeasure, designed to counter unmanned aerial and seaborne threats, was demonstrated in conjunction with the company’s R800 remote weapon system at the Sydney expo.

The Dazzler system offers operators a flexible range of kinetic and non-kinetic response options against unmanned aerial and surface vessel threats. It is integrated with an R800 30mm cannon and 7.62mm coaxial machine gun.

Scott Hicks, Vice President of Sales and Business Development at EOS Defence Systems highlighted the EOS’s reputation as a trusted partner for accuracy and counter-drone capabilities, citing the success of the Slinger system. The Dazzler, he noted, builds on this experience, utilizing cutting-edge Australian-designed technology to expand non-lethal payload options. He emphasized that it reflects lessons learned from modern warfare, addressing the use of non-lethal effects in urban areas and EOS’s innovative approach to countering the growing employment of drones in various contemporary operating environments worldwide.

Designed and developed in Australia, the Dazzler is specifically tailored for export markets to tackle emerging unmanned aerial and surface vessel threats based on insights from recent conflicts, such as in Ukraine.

EOS recently signed a memorandum of understanding with New Zealand-based military technology distributor Cratos. The aim is to broaden the export market for remote weapon systems and enhance interoperability between the New Zealand and Australian Defence Forces. Hicks expressed pride in partnering with a sovereign New Zealand defence company, highlighting EOS’s commitment to equipping allied defence forces with lethal, adaptable, and versatile systems through continued innovation and partnerships.

Photo: A semi-circular wall in black granite embedded with flecks of natural gold listing the names, rank and home base of 645 men who lost their lives on the HMAS Sydney in 1941

The tragic sinking of HMAS Sydney in November 1941 sent shockwaves reverberating through Australia, etching its place as the most significant loss of life in the country’s naval history. Prior to this fateful event, HMAS Sydney had garnered national acclaim for its victorious return from the Mediterranean, where it had dealt a decisive blow to the Italian cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni near Crete in 1940. The ship and its crew were hailed as the ‘toast of the country,’ providing a much-needed morale boost to the Australian public in the early stages of World War II.

The ill-fated encounter occurred on November 19, 1941, off the West Australian coast when HMAS Sydney engaged the German raider Kormoran. The Kormoran, disguised as the Dutch freighter Straat Malakaa, cunningly lured the technologically superior Sydney into the range of its formidable guns and torpedoes. The ensuing battle left both ships critically damaged, and they ultimately sank in the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean. The tragic outcome claimed the lives of all 645 men on board HMAS Sydney, leaving no survivors.

The first earnest attempts to locate the Sydney were initiated on November 24 when the ship failed to return to port as scheduled. On that same evening, a British tanker crew reported rescuing 25 German seamen from a raft, providing the first clues to the encounter’s grim aftermath. Subsequent searches revealed 315 more survivors from Kormoran’s crew, shedding light on the magnitude of the maritime catastrophe.

For 67 years, the location of HMAS Sydney remained a mystery until its discovery in 2008, resting 2,468 meters below the ocean surface and approximately 20 kilometres from the wreckage of the Kormoran. The revelation of the site brought closure but also intensified the solemnity of the tragedy for the people of Australia, particularly the families of the victims.

The impact of the loss of HMAS Sydney extended beyond the immediate aftermath, as the circumstances surrounding its demise remained shrouded in mystery. People had to rely on the accounts of Kormoran’s survivors to piece together the events leading to the ship’s sinking.

One poignant story emerged from the tragedy—the tale of ‘the Unknown Sailor.’ It is believed that only one Australian sailor managed to reach a life raft during the sinking. Despite surviving the battle, he met a tragic end at sea. For 80 years, he remained nameless, remembered only as ‘the Unknown Sailor.’ However, on the anniversary of the sinking, it was revealed that new DNA evidence had conclusively identified him as Able Seaman Thomas Welsby Clark from New Farm in Brisbane.

In a move to honour all those who lost their lives on HMAS Sydney (II), the Office of Australian War Graves announced that next year, on the anniversary of his identification, Tom’s grave in Geraldton War Cemetery will be marked by a new headstone bearing his name. This marks a significant step in ensuring that the sacrifices of those aboard HMAS Sydney are remembered and commemorated appropriately.

As the nation reflects on the anniversary of the Sydney’s loss, it serves as a solemn occasion to remember the victims of this tragedy and pay tribute to all Australian servicemen and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country. The sinking of HMAS Sydney remains a poignant chapter in Australia’s naval history, a testament to the profound impact of war on individuals, families, and the collective memory of a nation.