THE TRADE

esponsible for the maintenance and defect
rectification on all weapon types. As to be
expected, the maintenance standards are
extremely high and the quality assurance
process is rigorous. All TMF procedures for
maintenance and maintenance administration
are detailed and precise. I have gained a
greater appreciation in keeping documentary
evidence accurate for inspections, which are
frequently initiated.”
PO Brown also adds “My posting to TMF
has been extremely rewarding and a
pleasant experience. I have felt privileged
to take on a role representing Navy, working
alongside the APS staff at TMF. I would
recommend a posting to TMF to others
as it presents a valuable opportunity to
broaden their experience, make a positive
contribution at TMF and allow for technical
mastery to be developed. This posting also
provides the opportunity to work away from
a predominantly uniformed workforce and
interact with our APS equivalents. I would
be a willing volunteer for future postings to
TMF”.
Recently four ABETSM billets were re-located
to TMF and these positions were quickly
filled. ABETSM Fruscke goes on to say “I
started my posting at TMF in January 2016,
following a sea posting to HMAS Sheean.
At TMF I am required to work alongside
our aviation and civilian counterparts, in all
areas of torpedo and EHCTV maintenance.
I have been involved in the repair of systems
down to component level and performed
repairs on circuit cards, instead of sending
the item away for repair by contractor or
manufacturer. This work is achieved utilising
extremely strict standards and procedures
to ensure that all TMF policies are adhered
to. I have set myself some fairly high goals
for my posting to TMF. I want to leave this
position being the best technical sailor that I
can be, knowing that my depth of technical
knowledge has improved vastly, during my
tenure.”
An additional two SM billets are planned to
be established in FY2016/17, these being for
Inventory Control (LS ML-SC SM) and Stock
Control (AB ML-SC SM). There is a further
intention to create additional technical and
logistic SM positions over the next few years.
Another Able Seaman recently posted to
TMF is ABETSM Zdjelarevic who states “I
have been working at TMF for approximately
five months and thoroughly enjoy it.
My work at the TMF entails breaking down
Mk48 exercise weapons, to the lowest
replaceable level and re-building the engine
section, including functional and vacuum
tests. It takes roughly a week to build up an
engine and 3-4 days to break down the whole
weapon. After posting off HMAS Rankin and
coming to this facility I have embraced the
Able Seaman Electronics Technician Anthony Zdjelarevic
uses a piston ring expander to adjust a piston ring from
the engine section of a MK48 Heavyweight torpedo.
Able Seaman Aviation Technician Avionics Matthew Dockrill conducts a routine inspection between the after body and
fuel cell of a MK48 Heavyweight torpedo.
Navy and Air Force personnel in the Torpedo Maintenance.
change in my working environment and
enjoy an excellent work-life balance. There
is a constant workload at TMF allowing for
plenty of hands on experience. Each day is
different, allowing exposure to a variety of
technical areas that I expect to enhance my
overall technical skill sets”.
If you are professional, tenacious and resilient
and interested in a posting to TMF as part
of your ET career plan, TMF can offer you a
varied and interesting job that will assist in
your professional development. All enquires
should be directed to your Career Manager
at NPCMA WEST, via your Divisional Staff.•
Something I will
never forget …..
By POCISSM I.F. Crouch
I joined the RAN almost 30 years ago, and
in that time I have amassed quiet a few
memories of my time in the service, good,
bad and ugly.
However, one of favourite recollections is
also one of my first. At 24, after working
for almost 10 years in various jobs ranging
from storeman to undertaker I decided to do
something different with my life, so I joined
the Navy in 1989.
I originally joined as a Clearance Diver, but
due to medical issues I found myself in the
situation where I could be stuck as blocks
party (which back then meant cleaning toilet
blocks and vacuuming floors) for a year and
then possibly being able to start another dive
course or change rate to another category.
Now before I joined the Navy I did not even
know we had submarines, but decided that
it was just the challenge I wanted. As a result
six months later I found myself as a Part III
baby Underwater Controller (UC) on HMAS
Oxley on the Gallipoli Deployment around the
Mediterranean.
In mid May, we pulled into Souda Bay,
Crete, and during our time there I managed
to get a day off (Day off, you’re a Part III
not a tourist), with another Part III, ‘Chook’
Fouler. So in the spirit of adventure we
decided to abandon the town and head for
the hills. We secured the use of a couple of
40cc motorised bikes and left the coastal
plane (small flat bit) and ventured up into the
mountainous regions of Crete.
After several hours, we found ourselves going
through this little half horse town (this place
was not even big enough to be called a one
horse town). As we went down the main
(only) road of the town we were surprised
to see and old man standing in the middle
of it as we roared flat out (about 25 kph)
into town. He just stood there, watching us
and as we parted around him, me to one
side, Chook to the other, he stopped us by
pivoting as we went passed and with each
of his hands plucked us off the bikes, held
us aloft and carried us into an official looking
building and released us.
With a gnarled hand and a booming
voice, “SIT” he admonished us. So rather
apprehensively we sat wondering exactly
what obscure laws we had broken and
exactly how much trouble were we in. As he
appraised us and I him, I was not so sure we
had done anything wrong and it turns out I
was correct.
PEOPLE
POCISSM Ian Crouch is presented a Certificate of Appreciation for 25 years service in the Royal Australian Navy by
the COMSUB CAPT Matt Buckley, CSC, RAN.
Stavros was his name, he was 76 years old
and he was the Mayor, Police Chief, and
various other sundry jobs in his little town
(the name of which is sadly lost to memory.)
He was also, during the occupation of Crete
during the war, a resistance fighter.
“You Aussie yes?” was his next statement,
(I think), his English was almost non existent
and our Greek was even worse, but we
did manage to assure him of our country
of origin. “Good” he boomed and retreated
to the rear of the Café/Courthouse/Police
station which seem to be his place of work
and well as his home, and returned with a
platter of goat, several local cheeses and a
clear liquid called as best as I can recollect
as Rakki.
We spent the next several hours being wined
and dined by Stavros. Funnily enough, as the
Rakki flowed the language barrier descended
into an area somewhere between ancient
Mesopotamian and Double Dutch and we
seemed to be able to understand each other
easily and he told us his story.
During THE war he was attached to a partisan
unit that also had two Australians that had
been left behind during the evacuation. They
spent several years raising hell against the
Germans.
During an operation that went pear shaped
Stavros had been injured severely. His Aussie
friend ‘Bill’ carried him around the mountains
for three days before they could shake
pursuit and get to a doctor.
The others wanted to leave him, but ‘Bill’
would not leave a mate behind.
Stavros then took a photograph down from
the wall; it was a group of around a dozen
men in ragged clothes and brisling with
guns. He pointed out himself and Bill, and
explained to us that he was the last of his
group and when he passed none would
remember ‘Bill’ or what he had done; now
someone would.
Next to his photo in a new frame there was
another photo, obviously the front page of
one of the local papers that showed the
Oxley and taking about it being the first
Australian Submarine to visit Crete. He took
that down too, opened it up and asked us
to sign it, so he would have something to
remember his new Aussie mates by.
It was an amazing afternoon, spent with an
amazing old man who taught us the spirit of
the ANZAC’s was alive and well in the hearts
of the people of Crete half a century after
the fact.
I often wonder does that signed picture of
the Submarine still hang on the wall next to
those brave men.•
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22 THE TRADE
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EDITION 2, 2016 EDITION 2, 2016