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The Naval Association

of Australia

WOW - A VISIT TO WESTERN AUSTRALIA IS AN EYE OPENER! - SEPTEMBER 2006

National President Les Dwyer and Lynda visited Western Australia to attend the RSL National Congress and while there took a look around at some of the magnificent scenery and developments that have been changing the face of Western Australia.

With slightly more than half of the RAN Fleet based at HMAS STIRLING the obvious influence of the Navy's activities and input into local communities particularly those suburbs surrounding Rockingham - is extraordinary. Expansion of industries other than oil and ore is dazzling. the Margaret River wine region - and the other wine regions surrounding Perth are generally excellent although we did find one particular winery that lacked, and was simply a rip off.

Rockingham Navy Club (Rockingham Sub Section) is ideally located at the end of the causeway directly outside HMAS STIRLING offering an opportunity for casual and relaxed contact and community involvement by community groups such as PROBUS etc.

It is ideally positioned to give pensions, rehabilitation, compensation and other assistance that would complement that which the Navy may offer its members. Experience over a long period has shown that although the ADF attempts to provide all these services members departing the Service usually have one thing in their minds when leaving... getting out with the least fuss. TMS is a service that attempts to solve some of these challenges on departure, but still misses.

During the time we were in the area exciting things were happening in the Navy. HMAS WESTRALIA decommissioned and was replaced by HMAS SIRIUS. HMA Submarine ORION was finally towed out of HMAS STIRLING to the TENIX facility at Henderson for breaking up...I understand various options for disposal of the submarine were considered however her fate seems to be the breakers. It is ironic that the Naval Association of Australia has made been making representations regarding the service of our submariners in this boat and others and it seems sad to see ORION sitting on the hard in the TENIX facility looking forlorn while awaiting the breakers.

HMAS PERTH commissioned. State Executives of the NAA commented that they were not invited to attend significant events in the history of the RAN. It was good to note some of the ship association members invited and attending the commissioning of HMAS PERTH. HMAS SIRIUS on the other hand has no predecessor and may have warranted more support than given in much the way that the first ship commissioned in its name port received ie HMAS NEWCASTLE some years ago. Hopefully Navy may become more thoughtful in the future in this regard.

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