The Top Ender Magazine October November 2020 Edition

Tri-Services Magazine Inc October | November 2020

A magazine created by Defence families for Defence families

Land, Sea, Air

36 75th Anniversary of Victory in the Pacific

50 WWII Reconnaissance Pilot Honoured at Coomalie

Airfield

54 Marine Rotational Force–Darwin Strengthens Alliance

Support

8 DCO – Experience our own Backyard!

27 DFA – From your Delegate

29 Doctor’s Notes – Going ‘Troppo’

Features and Regulars

4 Cross of Sacrifice

45 NCAP Photographs – a Good Find

60 1st Darwin Sea Scouts:

Carrying on the Scouting Journey

Committee

Executive

Chairperson Position vacant

Vice-Chairperson Position vacant

Treasurer Amanda Letcher

Secretary Kylie Kurtz

General Members

Deb Muir, Gesima Olney,

Stephanie Fahey, Deb Herring

Staff

Editor Emma Short

Art Director Deirdré Bartie

Administration Officer Denna Menz

GENERAL ENQUIRIES

Phone: 0419 274 735 (New number)

Email:

admin@thetopendermagazine.org.au

Postal Address:

PO BOX 35874 Winnellie NT 0821

Address:

(Rear of) Building 6, ‘Sahara Room’,

Melville Road, Defence Establishment

Berrimah

October

1 Start of Wet Season

1–4 NT Writers Festival

3 Kakadu Bird Week ends

3–9 Sukkot (Jewish)

Diary Dates

2020

5 World Teachers’ Day

7 Draconids Meteor Shower

10 World Migratory Bird Day

11 Simhat Torah (Jewish)

12 Schools go back for Term

November

1 Official start of Cyclone Season

1 All Saints Day (Christian)

1 Veterans’ Health Week ends

1 Vietnam War broke out in

1955

3 Milad un Nabi (Shia Muslim)

5 World Tsunami Awareness Day

8 Genghis Khan’s Birthday

(Mongolia)

11 Remembrance Day

DISCLAIMER

The Top Ender Tri-Services Magazine Incorporated welcomes

manuscripts, photographs or other material for publication;

however, we do not accept responsibility for loss. Please

ensure your copy fits to a specified dimensions and is

received by the editor on the Copy Deadline for the month.

Copy can be accepted on disk or via email. All artwork

produced remains the property of The Top Ender and cannot

be reproduced without permission of the Editor. Editorial

Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed in this publication are

not necessarily those of the Editorial Staff or of the Defence

Community Organisation or Department of Defence. All

articles in this magazine are printed on the understanding

that they are the original work of the authors and not

necessarily those of the Editorial Staff or Designer. Editorial

Staff reserve the right to reject, edit or rearrange any item

submitted. They are not responsible for the accuracy of

items submitted but will make every reasonable effort to

verify information. The Trade Practices Act provides severe

penalties for false and misleading advertising. Because it is

not possible for this magazine's staff to check the accuracy

of advertising claims, the responsibility for accuracy lies with

the person or companies submitting material for publication

in their advertisements. The Top Ender Tri-Services Magazine

Incorporated is a non-profit organisation, partially funded

by the Family Support Funding Program administered by

the Defence Community Organisation. Over 4,000 copies

are produced bi-monthly and distributed free to defence

families, members and units in Darwin and Palmerston.

Revenue raised from advertising helps directly to pay for

printing and production costs as well as improvements to the

facilities used by volunteers.

Printed by

86 Cavenagh Street, Darwin, NT, 0800

P (08) 8982 4000 |www.colemanprint.com.au

13 Mars in Opposition

16 World Food Day

17–24 Navaratri (Hindu)

18 Santos City2Surf Fun Run

24 Veterans’ Health Week starts

25 Last day of The Moment

Eternal: Nyapanyapa

Yunupingu

25 Mango Madness Festival

26–29 Darwin International Laksa

Festival

30 Milad un Nabi (Muslim)

30 Last Palmerston Market for

the year

31 All Hallows’ Eve / Hallowe’en

(Christian)

14 Diwali (Sikh & Hindu)

16–17 Leonids Meteor Shower

17 National Revival Day –

Azerbaijan

19 World Toilet Day

20 White Ribbon Day (Stop

Violence Against Women)

21 Tactile Arts Christmas Craft Fair

24 Martyrdom of Guru Tegh

Bahadur Sahib (Sikh)

25 The Very Reverend John Flynn,

OBE, DD, "Flynn of the Inland"

was born at Moliagul, central

Victoria, 1880

26 Thanksgiving – USA

30 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse at

moonrise

October/November 2020 1

The 4inch deck gun of USS Peary on

Darwin's Esplanade points to where

the Peary lies on the floor of Darwin

Harbour. Refer to page 15 and page 36

for more information.

Photo: Emma Short

Contents

1 DIARY DATES 2020

4 THE CROSS OF

SACRIFICE

5 FROM THE EDITOR

6 THE ADF FAMILY

HEALTH PROGRAM

We have your family

covered

7 BORED THIS HOLIDAY?

Get going on this list of ten

things to do

8 DCO

Experience our own

‘Backyard’

9 LUKE GOSLING

Victory in the Pacific – the

end of World War II

12 POEM

On First Looking into

Chapman's Homer

12 FROM THE PADRE’S

PEN

13 MARRARA CHRISTIAN

COLLEGE

AND NT CHRISTIAN

COLLEGE

15 4-INCH DECK GUN OF

USS PEARY

16 LOCAL CLUBS AND

SOCIETIES

Genealogical Society of the

NT

17 OPEN ARMS

18 HIDDEN GEM

Bare Sand Island: Turtles,

Tours and a Tragedy

21 BLAST FROM THE PAST

23 AUSTRALIAN OF THE

YEAR AWARD

Dr Geoffrey Thompson

24 DCO TINDAL

24 AUSTRALIAN ARMY

CADETS – NORTHERN

TERRITORY

25 ROBERTSON

BARRACKS FAMILY

GROUP

26 LARRAKEYAH

NEIGHBOURHOOD

HOUSE

27 DFA – FROM YOUR

DELEGATE

Finding Jobs – Recruiters

and Career Coaches

28 POEM

The Cow

29 DOCTOR'S NOTES

“Going troppo…”

30 DEPARTMENT OF

VETERANS' AFFAIRS

Staying hydrated through

the wet season

31 DEPARTMENT OF

VETERANS' AFFAIRS

New mental health strategy

supporting veterans and

their families

32 SPECTACULAR

JUMPING CROCODILE

CRUISE

34 IN SUPPORT OF THE

ADF

Tips and tools for leaders

36 VICTORY IN THE

PACIFIC

75TH ANNIVERSARY

38 THE INNER MONKEY

Safe motorcycling

40 WHAT'S ON IN

OCTOBER AND

NOVEMBER

41 POSTHUMOUS VC FOR

ORDINARY SEAMAN

'TEDDY' SHEEAN

42 THE ROAD LESS

TRAVELLED

44 KNOW THE TERRITORY

WATCH OUT!

Two Insects

45 NATIONAL

COLLECTION OF

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

(UK) – A GOOD FIND

46 SURVIVING

CHRISTMAS FROM A

DISTANCE

49 ... AND FOR THE

TODDLERS

Coconut Kisses – an easy

recipe

50 WWII

RECONNAISSANCE

PILOT HONOURED AT

COOMALIE AIRFIELD

52 RIM OF THE PACIFIC

2020

Ships, Helicopters and

Castaways

53 FROM THE VET

When is the right time? –

Making the choice to

euthanise your pet

2 The Top Ender | Tri-Services Magazine Incorporated

Dates for Submissions

If you wish to submit an article, please contact The Top Ender Tri-Services

Magazine at editor@thetopendermagazine.org.au

The deadlines for submitting articles for December/January:

21 October

Committee Meeting Dates

You are welcome to attend The Top Ender Magazine Committee meetings,

please confirm with Denna Menz (Adminstrator) – 0419 274 735.

29 October | 26 November

Be on the Mailing List

If you would like to receive this magazine on a

regular basis, please contact us so we can put

you on the mailing list.

We produce six issues a year that are delivered to DHA

houses throughout the Top End. If you live in private rental

accommodation, or a new DHA house, or an area not yet

reached, then ask us to put you on the mailing list. Email

us at admin@thetopendermagazine.org.au.

Likewise, if you don’t yet live in the Top End, but have

come across the magazine and you’d like to know more,

please let us know.

54 NINTH ITERATION OF

MARINE ROTATIONAL

FORCE-DARWIN

STRENGTHENS

ALLIANCE

56 CRAIG'S FISHING

Barramundi Mania

57 WHAT’S THE TIDE

DOIN’

57 TEEN SCENE

Things to do around Town

58 COLOURING

COMPETITION

59 CAUGHT IN THE

SPOTLIGHT!

60 1ST DARWIN SEA

SCOUTS:

CARRYING ON THE

SCOUTING JOURNEY

61 ADF CHAPLAINS IN

THE NT

62 HANDY DIRECTORY

Stuffing Days

Stuffing Day is a chance for you to meet and

get to know other Defence spouses, and make

new friends. Come along to the Sahara Room

in Defence Establishment Berrimah and join us

in morning tea. Refreshments are supplied – as

are the tools of the trade, plastic mailing bags,

address labels and heat sealers. Help distribute

this great magazine far and wide! Children are

welcome.

2020: 6 November

Father’s Day Competition – Winners

Congratulations

I hope you have a great time in Bunnings with your father

and help him choose wisely!

Joint first prize Zach (aged 13) and Molly (aged 9) from

Muirhead

Second prize Austin

(aged 6) from Larrakeyah

My dad is funny because

he tricks me. When I say I

am hungry, my dad says,

“Hello Hungry I'm Dad”.

This makes me laugh.

Third prize Alistair

(aged 9) from Larrakeyah.

My dad is funny because he talks to and blames ‘things’ on our

pets. Our pets definitely don't do ‘things’ that often.

25 Years of

Continuous Publication

Become a

Member.

Our Committee

Needs You!

Playing an important role for Defence

families and personnel across the

length and breadth of the Northern

Territory; The Top Ender values the

diversity, knowledge and ranging perspectives

offered by our committee.

If you would like to play a role

in the magazine or to receive

more information on joining

the committee, send us an

email or come along

to the next meeting.

New members

are always

welcome.

29 October | 5.30pm

Defence Establishment Berrimah,

Sahara Room

Light dinner provided, kids welcome,

once a month meeting on the last

Thursday of each month


0419 274 735



Feature

The Cross of Sacrifice

Common to almost all Commonwealth war cemeteries

containing more than forty graves is the

Cross of Sacrifice. The Crosses are almost all the

same, freestanding, made of plain limestone and

usually mounted on an octagonal, stepped base.

The basic design, although with the proportions

of a Celtic cross, is a Latin cross (the main upright

below the horizontal crosspiece being longer than

the two horizontals and the vertical part above

the crosspiece) with an octagonal cross-section.

There are three different heights of cross ranging

between 5.5 and 9.75m (18 and 32 feet). On the

face is a bronze broadsword, with its blade running

downwards and its guard corresponding with the

arms of the cross. The nearest one to Darwin is in

Adelaide River War Cemetery, facing the gate as you

walk in, and outlined against the sky between two

enormous tamarind trees.

Who designed this Cross of Sacrifice, and when?

Sir Reginald Blomfield, the son of a bishop, was born

in 1856 in England during the reign of Queen Victoria.

He was a renowned architect, garden designer, and

author, but by 1919 he was slowing down, as World

War I had decreased the demand for the large houses,

schools and public buildings for which he was known.

He was encouraged to submit his design for the Cross

to the Imperial War Graves Commission (now the

Commonwealth War Graves Commission), and it was

accepted. Another famous monument of his is the

Menin Gate at Ypres in Belgium commemorating the

loss of those who died in the Ypres Salient in WWI.

A Cross was recently erected

in Glasnevin Cemetery in

Dublin, Ireland, in 2014 on the

anniversary of the outbreak of

WWI. The YouTube clip below

shows it being made from Irish

limestone.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-OBohGMFdg

www.monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/multiple/

display/91565-cross-of-sacrifice

www.firstworldwar.com/bio/blomfield.htm

Adelaide River Cemetery

Kanchanaburi Cemetery, Thailand


Regular

From the Editor

Once again posting season

approaches, and for those of you

leaving – bon voyage and safe travels

as you shake off the red dust of the

Territory and leave the heat behind. I

hope your preparations to move go

smoothly. For those of you who are

new, or returning to the Top End, I

hope you enjoy yourselves here and

settle in soon.

If you are keen on experiencing the

Territory, camping and exploring, then

the Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruise

(page 32) or The Road Less Travelled

(page 42) might be suitable for you. Sit

in a boat (there are several cruises to

choose from) and watch the mud, the

mangroves, and the river pass by, and

see the crocodiles in their natural environment,

or perhaps discover what there

is to see off the beaten track around lilycovered

billabongs. With a few days of

school holidays left, there might be a

chance to squeeze in one more trip before

you start school again or before you leave

the Territory altogether – or before the rain

starts. I hope you manage it.

With the end of the year approaching

the temperatures start to climb, and the

effects of heat and humidity are covered

in Doctor’s Notes (page 29) as he discusses

going ‘troppo’ or suffering from

‘mango madness’. Once again DVA has

contributed an article about health, this

time about the importance of remaining

hydrated (page 30). Remaining hydrated

is always a consideration when leaving

the house for the morning, or meeting

friends at an outdoor venue. ‘Too long’

out of doors in October or November

on a sunny day is not very long at all, so

take care.

Also on the matter of health – COVID-19

seems to be on the wane in the Territory,

with most of us being able to move

around freely once again, even though

there are constant reminders wherever

we go to maintain our distance from

other people. The pandemic, though,

has caused plenty of mental health

problems around the world, and the NT

isn’t exempt from this. From the Padre’s

Pen (page 12), Open Arms (page 17),

DVA’s 2020–2023 Veteran Mental Health

and Wellbeing Strategy (page 31), and In

Support of the ADF (page 34), all cover

the subject from different perspectives

and give details about whom to contact

if you or a family member needs help.

Victory in the Pacific – what a huge

subject! My article regarding the 75th

Anniversary (page 36) started out as

a short bullet-pointed list, but it rapidly

grew to its current size. It wasn’t until I

started compiling the list that I realised

that Japan was invading the Philippines,

Malaya (as it was then) and Thailand all

at the same time, and all three only one

day after Pearl Harbor. There are doubtless

plenty of events that could have

been, and should have been, on my list.

If I have left holes that should be filled,

do feel free to write in – I’d love to hear

from you, and they could be good for

future articles.

This brings me to contributions to this

Magazine – we are always on the lookout

for articles, so if you have an idea

for one, or you want to try your hand

at writing, or have one already written,

please do contact me by email. Thank

you to everyone who writes regularly, or

who has contacted me about writing, I

really enjoy reading your contributions.

As you might have gathered from the

August/September issue (pages 42–43)

where we reproduced ten pages from the

original, and from the medallion on the

front cover of this issue, The Top Ender

Tri-Services Magazine has been published

regularly for twenty-five years – an enormous

achievement – a lot of work from a

lot of people, especially those who have

volunteered or who volunteer on the

committee, and of course the compilers

and editors over the years. This is my seventeenth

issue, but I still feel a newbie.

We said farewell recently to Nicole Coble

(Chair) and Stacie Bodnar (Treasurer)

after their years of work – thank you

to both of them for their efforts. They

accomplished a lot since starting in early

2017, and we wish them well in their

future endeavours.

If you wish to find out what is involved in

putting out a regular publication, please

come to the next Committee meeting –

see the advertisements on page 3. We

hope to see you there.

One last point – the email address and

mobile ‘phone number for The Top Ender

has changed – please see under General

Enquiries on page 1.

Emma Short

Editor

The Top Ender

editor@thetopendermagazine.org.au.


Feature

The ADF Family Health Program

Families can claim unlimited

reimbursement of gap

fees for visits to Medicarerecognised

GPs

´ Petty Officer Marine Technician David Munckton with his family. – Photo: LSIS Tara

Byrne.

Copyright – Australian Govt. Dept of Defence

We have your Family

Covered

Did you know that the Department of Defence offers

to reimburse ADF families fully for any out-of-pocket

expenses for a number of Medicare-recognised services?

The ADF Family Health Program makes healthcare more

affordable and accessible for recognised dependents of full-time

ADF Members and Reservists on Continuous Full-time Service.

Families can claim unlimited reimbursement of gap fees for

visits to Medicare-recognised GPs, and also receive a financial

allocation (up to $400 per dependent) for use towards allied

health and medical specialist services.

Easy registration and electronic claiming make the Program

extremely user friendly.

Let’s get registered!

Please note: dependents must be recognised by Defence in

accordance with ADF Pay and Conditions manual (PACMAN);

and listed in the Dependent/Beneficiary section of PMKeyS.

The ADF Member can register family members by

completing WebForm (AD858-1) or complete the form at

adf.familyhealth.com.

Once you have been notified that your registration has been

successful, you can start claiming quickly and simply, either

through our website or the ADF Family Health App which is

available for both Android and Apple devices.

Adding a new dependent

Adding a new dependent is easy. Simply ensure that your

new family member has been recognised by Defence and

included in PMKeyS (Webform AD150). Then submit the ADF

Family Health Program registration form (AD858-1) to include

your new dependent.

We are pleased to backdate the registration of newborns if

you register them within 3 months from date of birth. For all

other new dependents, their eligibility will commence from the

date you are notified of successful registration.

Remember your entitlements

when visiting the GP

You can visit a GP anywhere in Australia as many times as

required. Claiming the gap amount after receiving the Medicare

Rebate is also unlimited, so once you are registered for the

Program, significant savings can be made by families on GP

visits.

Note: Reimbursement of the GP gap payment is not

deducted from your $400 allocation.


Feature

Bored this Holiday?

Get Going on this List!

Bored on your school holidays? Want

something different to do? Are your

eyes almost square from looking at

screens? Have you done everything

you can think of? Well, here are ten

suggestions to keep you busy.

1. Learn the Imperial system of

weights and measures

Ever wondered what the older people of your acquaintance

mean when they say things like, “Oh my goodness, I weigh

more than ten stone”, “The queue is a mile long”, “I was so hot,

I drank a gallon of water”, or “The horse ran out of puff at the

fifth furlong”. Check out conversion tables online and familiarise

yourself with the vocabulary. You need never be left out of a

conversation again!

2. Photos – sort and label them

Do you have lots of photos jammed into folders on your

iPad, laptop or phone? Now is the time to sort them all, delete

the bad ones (out of focus, blurred movement, accidental ones

of the ground, sky and bits of people), save the rest, sort them

by event or time, and label them.

3. Learn Morse code

And while we’re on the subject of alphabets – how about

Morse code? It appeared in the recent film Parasite, it’s been

used by prisoners to communicate between cells, and of

course it was used by telegraph officials and military signallers

worldwide. There are different speeds – slow at five words per

minute, and fast at twenty and more words per minute that are

learnt reflexively with practice – a bit like the difference between

sounding out a word when you are learning to read, and looking

at a word and understanding it when you are proficient.

There’s plenty on the internet about this so I won’t spell it

out, but it’s interesting stuff. Senders of telegrams were charged

by the word (up to fifteen letters) so messages were brief.

https://morsecode.world/international/morse.html

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsDk5_bktFo

4. Make your favourite food

Learn to make your favourite snack or dinner. Think of something

you want to cook – but check with your parents first! Look

up the recipe in a recipe book, or online. Write out a shopping

list with the exact quantities. Check to see if you already have

them. Go out and buy the required items (at a social distance

of course). Start early to allow plenty of time to cook. Amaze

your parents, and because you cooked, your sibling can do

the washing up.

5. Change your hairstyle

Bored with your hair, want to try something new? How about

archaeology in the hair salon? Rediscover ancient hairdos, for

men and women, for the peaceful and the warrior.

The female Ancient Greeks went in for very complicated

up-dos with plenty of plaits (or braids), coils, twists and

continued on page 20

Allied Health and Medical

Specialist Allocation

Once registered, dependents are entitled to a $400 allocation

per financial year towards various allied health and medical

specialist services. You can even combine the $400 with others

as it is transferable between family members.

Under the Program, most medical specialist and allied health

services are claimable, such as paediatrics, obstetrics, radiology,

psychology, orthodontics and a number of other services. For

a full list of eligible services please visit adf.familyhealth.com or

contact our team on 1300 561 454.

Fringe Benefit Tax

The benefits claimed through the Program are considered a

fringe benefit and reportable for tax purposes. We recommend

that you seek financial advice if you think Fringe Benefit Tax

might affect your financial situation.

Get Registered

To have access to the free benefits of the ADF Family Health

Program, visit the ADF Family Health website at adf.familyhealth.com

or contact our friendly team on 1300 561 454 for further

information.

Kerstin Mahoney

Assistant Director | Health Programme & Plans – Joint Health Command


Support | DCO

Defence Community Organisation

Experience our Own ‘Backyard’

We look forward to seeing more Darwin families at

our next Meet us in the Community

With the lifting of some of the

previous COVID-19 restrictions,


Darwin has enjoyed running faceto-face

community engagement

activities again for ADF families.

Some of the activities included:

Absence from home and

deployment support

ADF families had a great time at DCO Darwin’s ‘Absence

from Home’ school holiday events. ADF children enjoyed interactive

team building with Corrugated Iron Youth Arts Centre,

who taught circus tricks and acrobatics. Families also got into

the action of laser tag at Zone 3. Parents were able to connect

socially at both events while the children had a great time

hanging out and sharing their stories.

Meet us in the community

ADF families in Darwin recently came along to our event

‘Meet us in the Community’ in Wanguri Park. Families relaxed

while listening to the Australian Army Band play some great

tunes as part of the City of Darwin’s Twilight Series. We look

forward to seeing more Darwin families at our next Meet us in

the Community.

Planning is currently underway for our upcoming activities,

which include Art, Cyclone Awareness Information Sessions

and Coffee Conversations.

To find an event in your area, check the national events

calendar on our website www.defence.gov.au/dco.

Sukhjot Kahlon

Family Liaison Officer Darwin

Defence Community Organisation NT

www.defence.gov.au/dco

#ADFfamilies #ADFcommunities #DarwinLife


Advertorial

Luke Gosling

Victory in the Pacific – the End of World War II

On Saturday, 15 August, Territorians

gathered at the USS Peary

Memorial to mark the 75th Anniversary

of Victory in the Pacific. The Territory

was our nation’s front line of World

War II. Darwin sustained Japanese

bombing in 1942-43 as did other

towns and cities across the North.

Many Territorians served in the war

and of the 12,000 veterans still with

us in Australia, we honour the three

living in the Territory today.

Charlie enlisted

in 1939 in the

2nd/8th Infantry

Battalion, in Victoria.

One of the first to step forward was

Charlie Parrott, now of Howard Springs.

Charlie enlisted in 1939 in the 2nd/8th

Infantry Battalion, in Victoria. He fought in

Palestine, Libya, Greece and his ship was

torpedoed in the Mediterranean. He was

captured by the Germans on Crete, taken

to Germany and then Poland, where he

was forced to work in a coal mine. After

these terrible hardships, he managed to

get back to England after the war. Known

to all as “Cheeky Charlie”, it is his positive

nature that got him through those hard

times and his years of work and service

to the Territory.

We salute Syd Kinsman of Alice

Springs, a Rat of Tobruk. Syd was sent to

the Middle East in the 2nd/48th Infantry

Battalion, and endured the eight-month

siege of Tobruk, holding out against

Rommel’s Afrika Korps. He was then sent

to Syria and was captured at El Alamein.

He escaped from a work camp in Italy,

walked across the Alps, and got back to

the Allied side through Switzerland. Since

arriving in Alice Springs in 1948 he has

devoted his life to service to the Alice

´ Luke Gosling MP presenting a commemorative medallion to World War II veteran Austin Asche AC QC at the service

for the 75th Anniversary of Victory in the Pacific

Syd Kinsman of Alice Springs, a Rat of Tobruk

Springs community, as a volunteer fire

fighter, creator of May Day Parade floats,

life member of the Alice Springs Show

Society, member of the RSL, and contributor

to Legacy and The Salvation Army.

The Christmas lights at his home are an

annual Alice Springs institution.

Austin Asche AC QC joined the

RAAF in 1944 at the age of 18 and

worked as a radar operator on islands

off the Kimberleys, keeping the northern

approaches to Australia safe. Austin

also served here in the NT on Bathurst

Island, which was handy, as he was raised

in Darwin. Austin graduated in law in

Victoria and worked as a barrister in both

Queensland and Victoria. He became a

judge in Victoria in 1976. He returned

to Darwin in 1986 as a Judge of the

Supreme Court and was appointed Chief

Justice in 1987. He was Chairman of the

University College of the NT 1986–88,

and Chancellor of the Northern Territory

University 1989-93. He was Administrator

of the Northern Territory 1993–96.

Perhaps there are yet others that

have never spoken of their service – to

all who served and to those who paid the

ultimate sacrifice, we honour and thank

you. We remember too, the families and

widows of the brave Australians who did

not return home.

We are indebted to the generation

who helped shape our nation and who

we are today.

We salute Charlie Parrott, Syd Kinsman

and Austin Asche – truly great Territorians,

serving our community and our nation, in

time of war and in time of peace.

Luke Gosling OAM MP is the Federal Member

for Solomon (representing Darwin and

Palmerston)


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POEM

On First Looking into

Chapman’s Homer

By John Keats

Much have I travell'd in the realms of gold,

And many goodly states and kingdoms seen;

Round many western islands have I been

Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold.

Oft of one wide expanse had I been told

That deep-brow'd Homer ruled as his

demesne;

Yet did I never breathe its pure serene

Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and

bold:

Then felt I like some watcher of the skies

When a new planet swims into his ken;

Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes

He star'd at the Pacific—and all his men

Look'd at each other with a wild surmise—

Silent, upon a peak in Darien.

John Keats was born in north London in 1795, the

eldest of four children. When Keats was nine, his father

fell off his horse, and died the following day. By 1809,

his mother, too, had died and at fourteen he was the

‘man in charge’. His grandmother took in the family,

and in 1811 at the age of sixteen, Keats became an

apprentice to a surgeon, becoming in 1816 a dresser

at Guy’s Hospital where he obtained his licence. He

also wrote his first poem Solitude in the same year.

While at school he had become serious about writing

poetry, although the possibility of a career as a poet

was ignored in favour of a steady income to help support

his younger brothers and sister.

Over the next four years, he wrote fifty-four poems in

three volumes of poetry and some magazines, that

have greatly influence British romantic poetry, while

he is seen as one of the greatest poets in the English

language.

In 1820, Keats moved to Rome, in an effort to cure his

tuberculosis contracted during the previous summer.

He died on the night of 23 February 1821, aged 25

and lies in the Protestant Cemetery there.

This sonnet describes his experience of reading another

poem – by the Ancient Greek poet, Homer – that had

been translated in 1616 by George Chapman, and

previously dry words came to life for him, affecting him

deeply.

From the

Padre’s Pen

The Year of Many Things

Well, 2020 the year of many things. For some the first

time they became parents, for others their first posting

to Darwin, their first marriage and for others the more difficult

situation of their first loss. In any other year these significant

life events would have been celebrated with extended family

and friends around to support us. However, the whole world

has experienced the effects of COVID-19. In living memory

none of us has experienced a global pandemic. We are living

uncharted waters, dealing with daily uncertainty.

I am reminded of the story of Moses from the Book of Exodus.

God asked Moses to take the Israelites from their home in Egypt

to the Promised Land. Like ourselves the Israelites were asked to

go on a journey of great uncertainty, great risk and great faith in

God’s plan (umm sounds a bit like a road map to recovery). I still

have the NT road map to recovery stuck on the fridge at home, and

as we went through the several phases of lifting restrictions, there

remained many questions as to what the new normal would be.

For the Israelites, it was a time of simplicity, where would they

get the next meal from. For us the question was one of when

can I have a meal with others outside my house or room. Having

left behind the rules and structures of Egypt what were the new

social rules? We too are faced with a new set of social rules, social

distancing, getting tested if you have symptoms, and the like. The

Israelites did eventually find their promised land. Whilst in the

NT, we might have found our new normal, we remain very much

affected by the other states and their situations, and if we think

globally COVID-19 still has a fair way to go before it is consigned

to the pages of history.

My parting thought is that we as a community can be

strengthened by our shared

experiences. For most of you

I hope that you have grown

to know the strengths and

wisdom of those closest to

you and are able to draw

strength from this shared

understanding, our time

in the wilderness, maybe

mourning the old ways but

also embracing the new. If

you are still being affected,

please reach out to the support around you, the members’ Unit,

Chaplains, DCO, Open Arms, to name but a few.

Chaplain Garth Mayger

S08 | 1 CSSB

a journey of great

uncertainty, great

risk and great

faith in God’s plan

(umm sounds a bit

like a road map to

recovery)


Advertorial

Marrara Christian College

and NT Christian College

Congratulations

on your posting

to Darwin!

What an exciting time, you’re

heading to the safest place in

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Yes, it can get a bit hot and humid, but that’s a small price

to pay for all that the Top End has to offer. Beautiful

beaches, incredible sunsets, the friendliest people, awesome

fishing and camping, a truly unique art scene, some

seriously good food and there is so much more. We think

your family will love this posting.

Darwin is also home to some great schools and Marrara

Christian College and NT Christian College are two of these.

Conveniently located on one campus, the College accommodates

children from Early Learning Centre (Kingdom Kids) all the

way up to Year 12. The ELC is open to enrolment for children

from 3 to 5 years of age. In the NT, children begin their full-time

schooling in Transition from five years old (must turn five before

30th June of enrolment year). For over forty years, Marrara

Christian College has provided high quality Christian Education

for students from Transition to Year 9 with NT Christian College

being their Senior Years Education Provider for Years 10–12.

The Marrara Campus is centrally located to all Service

Residence locations and is close to RAAF Base Darwin and

Robertson Barracks. The school bus service is easily accessible

from the Larrakeyah Barracks and HMAS Coonawarra, with

routes that cover Darwin and Palmerston. For those who need

it, there is also Outside School Hours Care services available

after school.

Marrara is also the sporting hub of Darwin with the Marrara

Sporting Complex just down the road, making your child’s afterschool

sports activities easily accessible.

The College has a Defence School Mentor to assist and

encourage students as they transition into their new school,

access support programs and adapt to changes that arise

throughout the year due to parental deployment, training

exercises and unaccompanied postings. The DSM also assists

children and families to integrate into their new community

and the different education system.

“Marrara Christian College is a place where young people are

loved, valued, disciplined, encouraged and nurtured throughout

every stage of their education. This is achieved through the provision

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with students and their families”, says Principal Joel van Bentum.

Marrara Christian College and NT Christian College are part

of the NT Christian Schools family which has schools in Darwin,

Palmerston, Coolalinga, Alice Springs, Nhulunbuy and Gäwa

and are part of the Christian Education National (CEN) network.

For more information contact Marrara Christian College on

(08) 8920 2000, admin.mcc@ntschools.net or visit mcc.nt.edu.au or

ntcc.nt.edu.au.



Know Darwin

4-inch Deck Gun of USS Peary

One of USS Peary's 4-inch

deck guns forms the memorial

to the ship on the esplanade

in Darwin.

This gun was salvaged by Carl

Atkinson in the 1950s, and now points

towards the Peary's grave. Further salvage

of the Peary took place between

1959 and 1960 by the Fujita Salvage

Company from Japan. Mr Ryugo Fujita

later gave 77 bronze crosses manufactured

from bronze his company

had salvaged from SS Zealandia to

the Darwin Memorial Uniting Church,

which is in Smith Street. The crosses

are attached to the pews, the pulpit

and communion rails to this day.

This plaque in the accompanying

photograph can be found on the base

of the gun (cover photo).


Feature

Local Clubs and Societies

I have been fortunate to find a

group of like-minded people at the

Genealogical Society of the NT

Genealogical Society of the NT (GSNT)

Northam Road Cemetery, Penang

Since I was a small child, I have been fascinated by my family history. I distinctly

remember when I was little my grandmother telling me the story of

how we were descended from a Thai princess. While I have never managed to

confirm the Thai princess story I have since come across ancestors who were

pirates (and pirate catchers), slaves (and slave owners), many members of

different militaries including a WWI Military Medal recipient and a Boer War

veteran, Australian Fenians (Irish rebels), diamond and jewel merchants, and

the odd king and queen.

I am the custodian for a treasure trove of family relics including handwritten

recipe books, family bibles, cursed jewellery, and many, many photographs. There

are not many people in my age group (under 40s) who are seriously interested in

family history research. Luckily, I have been fortunate to find a group of like-minded

people at the Genealogical Society of the NT (GSNT) or ‘Genies’ as I call it.

While genealogists focus on studying family lineages, family historians take a

broader perspective and like to get to know a little (or a lot) about their ancestors.

Genies caters to both genealogists and family historians. June Tomlinson who is

the driving force behind Genies has been a member since it was established in the

1980s. Since I started going in on a regular basis three years ago, I have learnt a lot

from June. She is an absolute font of wisdom on so many research areas including

NT history; Australian, English and Irish family history, and Indigenous family history.

Genies’ Family History Library at 84, Smith Street, Darwin City, is open to the

public on Mondays and Tuesdays (9:30am–5:15pm) and Saturday afternoons

(1:00–5.30pm). The annual membership fee is really reasonable and significantly

less than you would pay ‘down south’. Library access includes use of the

worldwide Ancestry and Findmypast subscriptions

and enhanced access to the

Family Search online database (we are

an affiliated library). Additionally, members

receive copies of our family history

journal, Progenitor, and reciprocal access

rights to other major family history societies

around Australia.

I often hear people say researching

your ancestors is simple, you can just

Google it or do a DNA test and ‘hey

presto’ there is your family history. While

I do use Google a lot and I have DNA

tested a few family members, family history

research takes work. What makes

it easier is having access to a group of

(friendly) people who are experienced in

a wide range of subject areas. Over the

last twenty years most of my research into

our family history has been concentrated

on Australia (Western Australia, South

Australia and Victoria), British India and

south-east Asia (Singapore, Malaysia and

India) and Ireland (Co Longford, Co Clare

and Co Derry). If you have any questions


Family photographs.

The Group Program Schedule for all states is also

available on the Open Arms Website at www.

openarms.gov.au, scroll down to find the button

for the section you want.

Expressions of Interest for the Group Programs

can be submitted on the Open Arms Website or

directly via email to openarms.centralwest@dva.gov.

au. Alternatively interested parties can call Open

Arms direct on 1800 011 046.

Mental Health First Aid

A 2-day workshop that teaches practical skills for

helping a family member or friend who is experiencing

mental health problems.

Katherine

Tuesday, 13 – Wednesday, 14 October

9:00am–4:30pm

Library access includes use of the

worldwide Ancestry and Findmypast

subscriptions

on ancestors living in these regions feel free to drop in and see me.

We are entirely volunteer-run and are always on the lookout for

new volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, we also have

a range of volunteer projects running including the NT Pioneers

Database (pre-WWII), WWI Servicemen from the NT, and historic

cemeteries of the NT.

It can be really challenging either working for Defence or being

the partner of someone in Defence. The realities of defence life are

something we are familiar with at Genies, as June’s husband is a

veteran, my brother-in-law is in the RAAF (and currently based at

Woomera), and we have other members who have either served

or were married to someone who served.

In late September–early October (please check on our Facebook

page as new information will appear there), we are planning on

holding the postponed 2020 GSNT Family History Seminar. As is

usual these days, it will be a virtual seminar, as our presenter Helen

Smith, a leading Australian family historian lives in Brisbane. She

will present a range of topics including DNA genealogy.

If you would like to meet some new people, we would love to

meet you, so come along and say hello.

Ione Jolly

Family Historian

Stepping Out

A 2-day workshop for ADF members and their

partners who are about to, or who have recently,

separated from the military.

Darwin

Wednesday, 14 – Thursday, 15 October

9:00am–4:30pm

Recovery from Trauma

A 2-day workshop to help current and ex-serving

members, their partners and adult children understand

and manage the effects of trauma upon

their families.

Darwin

Wednesday, 18 – Thursday, 19 November

9:00am–4:30pm

Relaxation and Stress Management

A 2-day program that will provide you with practical

techniques in mindfulness to reduce the stress

in your everyday life.

Katherine

Tuesday, 24 November

9:00am–4:30pm


Regular

Hidden Gem

Bare Sand Island: Turtles, Tours and a Tragedy

BARE SAND ISLAND:

TURTLES, TOURS AND A

TRAGIC INCIDENT IN

TERRITORY AVIATION HISTORY

If you are new to Darwin and looking for something really

unique to do, you will probably ask “Where is Bare Sand

Island?” and “Why is it so special?”

To orient and possibly entice you, it is one of a number of

the small islands of the Grose group on the western side of the

entrance to Bynoe Harbour and is some 65km south-west of

Darwin. Can you get there? Yes! It takes time and a few dollars,

by fast tour boat from Darwin Port but is worth every minute and

is a very special experience which

will probably stay with you a lifetime.

It takes time

and a few

dollars, by

fast tour

boat from

Darwin

Port but is

worth every

minute

Bare Sand Island is the nesting

home of Flatback and Olive Ridley

turtles. These wonderful creatures

have been around since the age of

the dinosaurs, no doubt finding their

way to Bare Sand Island as soon as

it emerged from the sea. If born or

‘hatched’ there, these turtles somehow

have the ability to return to

almost the same spot for their breeding

lifetime which may be as long

as fifty years. The nesting season

for a Flatback turtle is usually from

November to January but sometimes they may lay the year

round. She will lay her eggs at intervals over three weeks, on

average, laying about fifty eggs in each clutch. The hatchlings

begin to leave their nests at the beginning of December and

make their way across the sand to the sea, a relatively short but

´ Family members at the crash site. Photo: Betty Franklin. Courtesy of Ralph Duttson.

perilous journey if predators are around! The moment that the

first wave washes over them they start to swim and you can

imagine that they set their inbuilt positioning system to pinpoint

their home or birthplace: if they survive, it is exactly to that spot

they will return, year after year. How their inbuilt GPS works,

nobody really knows but it seems to be almost 100% efficient!

If you take a trip to Bare Sand Island you will find that the

tours are carefully managed by knowledgeable experts, so as

not to disturb ‘the girls’ coming in to lay. It is very upsetting if

there are fishing boats cruising around and frightening them

away. The tours are directly geared to the lunar cycle and are

set to get you there just as the sun is setting and the Moon

rising. Sitting on the sand you will, most times, see at least one

female turtle, emerge from the sea and slowly make her way

up the beach to the soft sand nesting area of her choice. She

can be up to a metre long and weigh up to 90kg so her speed

does not break any records. When she gets to her chosen spot

she will use her flippers to dig a hole into which she lays her

fifty eggs before covering them with sand again, and when

satisfied they are safe and no doubt exhausted, she makes her

way back down to the water. It is a wonderful experience that

you can closely watch, being careful not to disturb or interfere

with her labours. If you use a red light you can photograph her,

under supervision.

She will lay her eggs at intervals

over three weeks, on average,

laying about fifty eggs in each

clutch.

When the eggs hatch, the tiny, toy-like, turtles let themselves

out of the egg, fight their way up through the sand and start their

journey to the sea. It is wonderful to watch but, again, be careful

not to disturb or divert them; they know exactly where they are

going! You will be warned that the turtles are not the only wildlife


around: there are resident saltwater crocodiles, stingers and

jellyfish, as well as, maybe, the odd 450kg unexploded bomb.

So keep to the safe areas and stay out of the water!

Apart from the turtles, Bare Sand Island and the adjacent

islands of the Grose Islands group are traditionally owned by the

Larrakia people who call it Ngbulbitjik. It is of cultural significance

and the centre of the island, with its single tree is a sacred site,

so visitors are limited and access is restricted.

as well as, maybe, the odd 450kg

unexploded bomb

In their modern history, the island and the adjacent Quail

Island were employed, from the early 1940s until the late 1980s

as a practice bombing range. The many years of practice bombing

has left a large number of large, up to 450kg, unexploded

bombs in the soft sand at various depths.

Since 2013, however, the Department of Defence has

commenced locating and destroying the unexploded bombs,

which are now over fifty years old and somewhat unstable!

Consequently the ongoing work is difficult. The islands are

frequently declared an exclusion zone whilst the remedial detection

and counter-blasting work is in progress, but care is taken

to avoid any disturbance of the turtle nesting sites.

During World War II and until it ceased being used, the area

was known as “Quail Island Air Weapons Range” and that’s

where the tragic incident occurred in May 1944. Number 18

Squadron of the Netherlands East Indies Air Force was based

at Batchelor and was undertaking practice bombing over Quail

and Bare Sand Island. The island appears, from the air, somewhat

ship-shaped and four Mitchell B25 light bombers were

engaged in bombing at what they termed ‘mast height’, in other

words, very low altitude. They made their practice bombing runs

in pairs, and aircraft N5-188 released a bomb, but the water

thrown up by the explosion blew the wings off its partner aircraft

N5-176. N5-176 immediately crashed into the water off the

south-western corner of Bare Sand Island. There were no survivors;

five Netherlands personnel and one RAAF crew member

died in the accident. Then in 2013, during work to locate and

destroy unexploded bombs at Bare Sand, the remains of the

crashed aircraft N5-176 were located and recovered but no

human remains found. Local Historian and tour guide Betty

Franklin recalls seeing part of the wing of N5-176 washed

ashore in 2010. Later, she brought relatives of the deceased

crew to view the island to commemorate their lost ones.

How do you get to see this wonderful place? A local company

named Sea Darwin operates two high-speed craft from

Darwin Port to Bare Sand Island. It is not cheap, and the trip

takes over six hours but has the benefit of highly experienced

guides who have an in-depth knowledge of turtle research and

the area. The trip is a once in a lifetime experience and only

happens with the permission of the Custodians of the Island

and the Department of Defence and the cooperation of the

Moon and the turtles! Apart from the coastal scenery en route,

passing Charles Point historic lighthouse, one is treated to a

gourmet supper and an efficient bar! Passengers must be over

eight years old and all passengers in relatively good health.

It’s a night out you will never forget, you might even go again!

Thank you to Betty Franklin for her assistance in researching

this article.

“Quail Island Air Weapons Range”

and that’s where the tragic

incident occurred in May 1944

Lt Col Mike Bowman (Ret’d)

Photos: Alison Worsnop


continued from page 7 | Bored this Holiday?

decorative bands and ribbons. Ancient Greek sculptors did a good job of depicting

hair, and modern archaeologists recreate the hairstyles using thread and a large

bone needle to hold everything in place. They are all there on YouTube.

Fancy yourself as a well-to-do ancient warrior? – Tie your hair in

a Swabian (Suebian) knot so it sits over your right temple, plait your hair in the

manner of a Scythian from the steppes of central Asia or rediscover the hairdo of

a Viking. Again, these hairstyles are on YouTube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=puzgpBoesss

Female Norse people (whose husbands made a career of fighting) also had

intricate hairstyles involving lots of plaits or braids. www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwWWcai0OE

Ancient Scythians, Vikings and Swabi have been excavated from burial

mounds, and there were also statuettes, drawings and paintings to copy.

Others, like Elling Woman’s plaits and Osterby Man’s wonderful hair-dos

were recreated after their bodies were found preserved in the peat bogs in northern

Europe where they had lain for a thousand years. www.ancient-origins.net/unexplainedphenomena/bog-bodies-0011872

Make sure your hair isn’t too clean, but by mid-afternoon in the Territory

you shouldn’t have a problem! And for those who are doing the styling – don’t

pull your model’s hair!

6. What bone is that?

Everyone knows that their bodies are kept upright and in the correct shape

by their bones, that bones protect delicate organs and that they generate

blood cells – but what are those bones? Which mysterious lump on your body

is caused by what bone? I contacted a friend, a retired GP, to find out. So,

starting at your big toe on your left foot and heading in a clockwise direction

… let’s get going.

First, like your thumb, your big toe contains two bones (the phalanges,

although one on its own is a phalanx), your other toes all contain three

although that’s hard to believe of the little toe that usually resembles a gnocchi

or noodle of some sort. If your foot is very thin and bony, you might find a lump

sticking out of its outer edge – this is the base of the 5th metatarsal (the long

bones that make up the middle of your foot) also called the tuberosity of the 5th

metatarsal. Wow! Next stop, the heel, where you may or may not feel the calcaneus,

a large backward pointing bone covered in cushioning. On the front of your foot

you might feel some very knobbly lumps – these are the tarsals, each with its own

name, that fit together like building bricks, giving structure and springiness to your

foot so you can run and walk. Around the side is the ankle bone – one that gets

knocked painfully. This is the bottom end of your fibula, the rest of it is covered by

your calf muscles.

Now on the front of your leg is the shin bone or tibia. A good knock

on this one also makes its owner hop around on the other leg wailing. Then it’s

on to your kneecap or patella that floats above the joint behind it where the fibula,

tibia and thigh bone meet, kept in place by the tendons of the associated muscles

and ligaments. The next lump, heading north, is the top of the pelvis, the iliac crest.

The latin word pelvis, means basin, and yours is – it contains all sorts of things like

your bladder and bowel and sometimes a baby, and surgeons who operate on this

area have curved scissors to fit!

Next your arms, and as you can see, they are very similar to your foot with

all the bony fingers at the end. It even has knobs in the wrist that are painful when

knocked. The lump on the inside of your wrist is the base of the radius, the one

on the outside is the base of the ulna. The top end of the ulna, the olecranon,

forms your elbow.


Harry Butler’s Red Devil. – Photos: Roohulla Danish

The First

On 9 November 1889, Henry John

Butler was born at Yorketown

on the York Peninsular, SA. He soon

developed a passion for mechanics

as he heard about the development

of cars, motorcycles and aeroplanes.

The Wright brothers’ flight in 1903

filled him with enthusiasm and

he studied aviation at night while

farming by day. Although he was

accepted in the Air Force at Point

Cook, he didn’t progress as quickly

as he would have liked, so he went

to the UK to enlist in the Royal Flying

Corps.

His lack of formal education meant

that he didn’t make the grade as a

pilot so he became a mechanic, but

his knowledge and experience were

noted, and by 1916 he was flying in

France and remained in the RFC until

1918 in spite of being wounded twice.

He came up with the idea of


Regular

Blast from the Past

His first ‘air mail’

flight took place

in 1917 when he

flew letters from

Glasgow in the

west of Scotland to

Turnberry

Air Mail Flight

dropping messages from his aeroplane to those on the ground

– overcoming an ongoing problem in communications by doing

so. His first ‘air mail’ flight took place in 1917 when he flew

letters from Glasgow in the west of Scotland to Turnberry, about

80km to the south-west.

He returned to Australia in 1919, formed the Butler & Kauper

Aviation Company, and on 6 August, flew across the St Vincent

Gulf in the teeth of a gale with winds of 110kmph! He arrived

in Minlaton in time for lunch, with a full mailbag, to an audience

of 6,000 people who were also treated to an aerobatic display.

In March 1920, he escorted the Smith brothers and their

crew in their Vickers Vimy, won Australia’s first Aerial Derby, and

married Elsa Gibson in Minlaton where she had been teaching.

Alas, as happened to many early aviators, he crashed, on 11

January 1922. Although he recovered sufficiently to re-start his

business, on 30 July 1924 the effects of the accident caught

up with him and he died from a cerebral abscess.

Thousands of people turned out for his funeral to

see the gun carriage bearing his coffin on its way to

North Road Cemetery. His aeroplane, a Bristol M.1C

Monoplane Scout (the only British monoplane to go into

production in World War I) nicknamed Red Devil, was restored

by the Balaklava Gliding Club, and is now preserved in a glass

hangar on the edge of Minlaton. Red Devil is the only surviving

Bristol Monoplane left.

‘Holdout’ Officer Surrenders

On 11 March 1974 one of the last remaining Japanese

‘holdouts’, an Intelligence officer of the Japanese Imperial Army,

Hiroo Onoda, surrendered to President Ferdinand Marcos of the

Philippines after 29 years of continued guerrilla warfare against

local villagers on the Philippine island of Lubang.

Born in Wakayama prefecture, south of Osaka in Japan, in



continued from page 21 | Blast from the Past

1922, he was totally loyal to Emperor Hirohito,

and the idea that Japan had surrendered was

totally unbelievable – he thought it was a lie to

lure him out of the jungles of Lubang where

he had been continuing to wage war for years.

Of the three soldiers who had retreated to the

jungle with him, one emerged and returned

to Japan fairly early on in 1950, one died of

illness also in 1950, and the third was killed

in 1972 in a shoot-out with a local resident.

In spite of messages being sent to him,

he refused to believe that the war had ended,

and said that he would believe it only when

his old commanding officer told him so. His

last order that he had received in 1945 was

to “stay and fight” – so he did.

His CO, Major Yoshimi Taniguchi, now following the peaceful

trade of a bookseller, flew to Lubang and met Onoda on 9

March 1974 fulfilling his promise of 1944, "Whatever happens,

we'll come back for you".

On being given his official orders, Onoda surrendered

to President Marcos, and weeping, handed over his elderly,

although well maintained rifle, his sword, ammunition and few

remaining grenades. Marcos subsequently pardoned him for

murdering the thirty people over the intervening years whom he

had mistaken for enemy soldiers, and handed his sword back.

He spent the rest of his life living between Japan and Brazil,

and visited Lubang Island in 1996 when he donated US$10,000

to the local school. He died in 2014.

www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/17/hiroo-onoda-japanese-soldier-dies

https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/18/world/asia/hiroo-onoda-imperialjapanese-army-officer-dies-at-91.html

The Duyfken

Many years ago, my family and I decided to head to the

wharf in Darwin for an evening out and a meal. The tide was out,

and as we walked from our parked car along to the restaurants,

we noticed a wooden ‘stick’ with a red flag on top somewhere

level with our knees. I probably exaggerate, but it was a very

In spite of

messages being

sent to him,

he refused to

believe that the

war had ended,

and said that he

would believe it

only when his

old commanding

officer told him so.

unexpected sight, and we peered over the

edge. And there, moored to a pontoon, with a

young man sitting on the poop deck polishing

his boots was the 24m-long Duyfken (or ‘little

dove’ in Dutch).

Of course, I quizzed him thoroughly –

they were on their way to Indonesia, then on

to The Netherlands, where the Netherlands

Government was going to give them a ‘crow’s

nest’ as a gift. He was from Sydney, he’d been

bored with his job, he could sail, so here he

was in Darwin polishing his boots.

The Duyfken was a modern replica of the

1606 original captained by Willem Janszoon,

and was the first recorded European ship to arrive in Australia,

and whose sailors were the first recorded Europeans to meet the

resident Aboriginal populations. She was owned by the Dutch

East India Company (or Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie

– VOC) that had mapped most of the Australian coast by 1644.

Michael G Kailis and a small group of maritime enthusiasts

in WA came up with the plan for building the replica, which

was built according to traditional techniques and materials and

launched in 2000, after support from thousands of people.

The maiden voyage involved sailing to Banda in Indonesia,

then sailing around Australia following Janszoon’s original route,

meeting the Aboriginal communities of the Pennefather River

(on the western side of Cape York, at almost the same latitude

as Nhulunbuy) and requesting permission to land in an act of

reconciliation.

The next voyage took them to the Netherlands.

The Duyfken is now moored at 40 Mews Road (behind

Little Creatures), Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour, where it is

possible to go for trips on her, although at the moment due

to COVID-19 the ship is closed.

www.duyfken.com


Regular

Australian of the Year Award

Dr Geoffrey Thompson

´ Tarnished Brass adding to the festive atmosphere with (L–R) Craig McGiffen (trumpet), Geoff Peach (French horn), Andrew Stone (tuba), Carol Atkinson (euphonium)

and Bruce Cartwright (trumpet).

± Dr Geoffrey Thompson.

On 11 July, on a delightful dry season evening, the 2020

NT Australian of the Year Award was presented to Dr

Geoffrey Thompson. Dr Thompson was born in rural SA

in 1945, and had served in the RAAF as a Flight Surgeon

and Medical Officer, and he oversaw the evacuation of

Darwin after Cyclone Tracey on Christmas Day 1974, even

though his own home and possessions had gone. On leaving

the RAAF, he took to running medical clinics in remote

Aboriginal communities, often flying his own aeroplane.

His speciality is sports medicine, and he was the first President

and founding member of Sports

Medicine Australia (Northern

Territory); in addition, he has

worked with the Australian

Paralympic Committee as Chief

Medical Officer since 2008.

oversaw the

evacuation of

Darwin after

Cyclone

The ceremony was held at

the Aviation Museum – a fitting venue – beside the Lockheed

Orion AP-C3 outside the main hangar. Tarnished Brass, a small

group of local brass players (who all also play in other groups

around town), provided a festive ambience with their background

music.


Support | DCO


Tindal

What’s

happening

at DCO

Tindal?

Our Family Liaison Officer Debbie

recently challenged the Tindal

Defence community to get creative

and build Lego creations to submit to

our Brick by Brick Challenge. We had

three categories that included children,

family and single members/couples.

Some very imaginative entries

were received, which made it very

difficult for Chaplain Andrew to judge

our winners. However, in true military

style he dug deep and came up with

a great group of creative submissions

that were all awarded a Lego prize.

DCO Tindal are also compiling

the recipes for the cookbook and

NT camping guide with assistance

from our Defence families. We have

had some great contributions on the

It’s also a great time to ask about the

support and services DCO provides,

connect with others and share some of

those tips

best places to fish and camp and some

fabulous recipes that are easy to make

whilst out and about. The book will

be available to all our members and

families and at our Welcome activities

in 2021.

We have our Father’s Day cake

decorating activity coming up, as

well as our Tindal Rock Art Garden

project where members, families and

children will to decorate pavers and

river rocks to be placed in our ‘My

time at Tindal, members and families

garden’. Stay tuned to the next edition

of the Top Ender for some great

images of our activities.

Planning is also underway for our

DCO Tindal school holiday activity,

from Junk to Funk: Recycled Art

Sculpture. Children will be challenged

to build a sculpture from recycled

boxes, bottles and household packaging

with assistance from a parent.

All participants will get to take home a

nature craft kit to build at home.

We are also still hosting regular

Coffee Conversations and lunch in

Katherine eateries at which members

and families relax and enjoy the

company of others. It’s also a great time

to ask about the support and services

DCO provides, connect with others and

share some of those tips.

Debbie Marshall

Family Liaison Officer Tindal

Defence Community Organisation NT

https://www.defence.gov.au/DCO

#ADFkids #ADFfamilies #ADFcommunities

#KatherineNT

Take Note

Australian Army Cadets –

Northern Territory

We have moved!

Celebrating over 30 years of quality Christian Education in Palmerston.

www.pcs.nt.edu.au admin.pcs@ntschools.net

Building 33-GF-05, Defence Establishment

Berrimah, Stuart Hiway, Winnellie NT 0820


Regular

Robertson Barracks

Family Group

Adjacent Lone Pine Chapel, Robertson Barracks

email: robertsonbarracksfamilygroup@gmail.com | Contact: 0490 151 944

Welcome back to Robbo

First, I want to start by introducing myself, my name's

Sam, and I have recently taken over as Coordinator of

the Robertson Barracks Family Group. I have been a part

of the RBFG community for just over 12 months now and

am really enjoying my new role as Coordinator.

After an amazing three-week dry season break, the centre

got straight back into its usual activities. Our attendees have

been loving workouts at Fit for Robbo, they have been making

the most of what is left of this beautiful dry season weather

with lots of outdoor workouts. We have had our coffee and

cake mornings on a Monday, and playgroup on Fridays that is

always growing. We have been lucky enough to meet lots of

new families!

Over twelve weeks

RBFG had an

awesome team

competing in the

‘2020 Defence

Virtual Race Around

Australia’

Over twelve weeks

RBFG had an awesome

team competing in the

‘2020 Defence Virtual

Race Around Australia’.

The results are in,

AND with a whopping

14,431kms under their

belt, Team Robbo came

in 3rd place! Thank you

to all 36 members for

participating and thank

you to the Cairns Defence Community Support Group for

organising such a great event.

During Term 3, the centre has been lucky enough to have

Georgie, our very own dance teacher, begin a class for our 0–5s.

The children have enjoyed lots of dance and movement, music,

games and lots of activities. Georgie has done an amazing job

implementing skills such as balance, coordination, role play,

and imagination into the activities.

We have also hosted Bee’s Wax Wraps sessions, which have

been thoroughly enjoyed. The wraps all looked great and we

look forward to running another session soon.

RBFG also held a Paint ‘n’ Sip night, going with a

Darwin theme. The paintings looked absolutely amazing!

It was a great night to catch up with friends, enjoy drinks and

nibbles, and work on beautiful art taught by Paint and Create

Darwin. The painting night was very popular and we hope to

run another such night towards the end of the year.

With the end of the year fast approaching we are still busy

planning lots of activities. There will be lots of events coming up

and I hope we can continue seeing all of our amazing families! If

you are new to Darwin, we hope you are settling in well; you’re

always welcome at RBFG.

Samantha Maloney

Centre Coordinator

Robertson Barracks Family Group

What’s on each week

at the RBFG centre

Mondays

9–10am

10am–12pm

Fit for Robbo group workout

Coffee & Cake

Every second Tuesday

5–7pm

Fridays

8.30am–12.30pm

Kids Club (for ages 1–12 years)

0–5s Playgroup


Regular

Larrakeyah

Neighbourhood House

Email: larrakeyahhouse@hotmail.com

Mobile: 0447 586 591

We were extremely excited to open Larrakeyah

Neighbourhood House back up after being

closed for a few months due to COVID-19 restrictions.

While we were closed, we managed to make a few

changes to the centre, purchase some new toys and were

very delighted at the response we received when people

walked in.

Our families have been enjoying many exciting activities

over the past two months! Here are some photos

to show you what we have been up to.

It has been wonderful to meet all the new families

who have visited the centre for the first time or attended

one of our activities. Darwin has certainly provided beautiful

dry season weather to allow us to enjoy all the hidden gems.

One activity was the Ladies Dinner we hosted at the newly

opened Picnic at Cullen Bay indoor venue. We were treated to

a beautiful picnic setup, delicious food and thanks to the high

numbers in attendance, lots of great company!

We have an amazing team of volunteers who all go above

and beyond our expectations to support other Defence Families.

We are so grateful for them! If you have any hidden talents or

skills that you would like to showcase, please let us know as we

are always looking for new ideas and activities

to offer our families.

A reminder that all our activities are

open to all Defence Families and everyone

is always welcome.

Our families have been enjoying

many exciting activities over the

past two months!

Charné Saunders

Co-ordinator | Larrakeyah Neighbourhood

House


From your Delegate

Support | DFA

Finding Jobs – Recruiters

and Career Coaches

Defence Families of Australia is an advisory body that

was established in 1986 to advocate for Defence families.

Its executive team is based

in Canberra with several National

Delegates located in key locations

around Australia. These delegates

allow DFA to advocate for Defence

members and their families at a local

level.

Getting help with your

Job Hunt, working with Recruiters and/ or

Career Coaches

Both Recruiters and Career Coaches can help you land

the perfect job but the roles they perform are quite different

although complimentary. This can be a confusing field initially

when you first look into it as they can both go by a variety

of similar names, recruitment agent, employment consultant,

employment advisor, job network provider, etc. The way to tell

the difference between the two quickly and easily when you

are doing your research is to identify who pays them for their

services.

A recruitment consultant/ agent,

we will refer to them here as recruiters

for the purposes of simplification,

is paid by the employer. They are

paid a commission based on the fee

the recruitment company charges the

employer – normally a percentage of

the annual salary you are offered. A

career coach/ consultant/ practitioner

(coach) on the other hand, is paid by you for the services you

choose to receive.

So when and why would you choose one or the other? And

can you use both? The simple answer is yes, you can use both,

if you need to, and we will start by looking at coaches because

as you will see this is the natural progression of your job search.

A coach works for you; they are a great option when you

have been out of work for a while, or you are looking at a

change in career. Think of a coach as a support team, guiding

and advising you to the best outcome for you.

Depending on their area of specialisation they can:

» produce a new resumé or curriculum vitae

» help build your online profile

A coach works for you;

they are a great option

when you have been

out of work for a while

» review your job search strategy

» identify your transferable skills

You don’t necessarily

have to be in the same

physical location as

your coach to get great

results.

» they can help you prepare for an interview

» identify gaps in your skills or further training that you need

to develop to land your perfect job

» help you plan your career progression.

Not all providers offer the same range

of services. Some may create a fantastic

new resumé for you and advise you on

updating your LinkedIn profile, but may not

be as knowledgeable on career options in

your chosen field or how to leverage your

strengths. So, before you start make sure

you know what you want to achieve. Another

thing is that career coaching can be a largely unregulated field,

so it pays to do your research and ask for testimonials as well

as a clearly itemised quote specifying what services are covered

and the timeframes involved. You can look for a registered

coach to assist you with Career Development Association of

Australia, or alternatively ask friends for recommendations on

whom they have worked with. You don’t necessarily have to be

in the same physical location as your coach to get great results.

As with any professional service we would recommend

discussing your requirements with a couple of coaches to see

whom you feel most comfortable and confident with, someone

to whom you feel you can talk freely, openly and honestly. You

will get the best results with a coach with

whom you have a good rapport.

The services offered by coaches general

fall within the professional employment

services category of the employment

assistance offered by the ADF to Defence

Partners through the DCO PEAP program

and may be funded as long as they meet

the eligibility criteria. But remember that

services cannot be covered retrospectively, the application must

be submitted and approval received first.

Get in touch

Contact Jessica Hanison

Mobile: 0418 807 548

Email: nt@dfa.org.au

Facebook: www.facebook.com/

DefenceFamiliesofAustralia



continued from page 27 | From your Delegate

POEM

The Cow

By Robert Louis Stevenson

The friendly cow all red and

white,

I love with all my heart:

She gives me cream with all her

might,

To eat with apple-tart.

She wanders lowing here and

there,

And yet she cannot stray,

All in the pleasant open air,

The pleasant light of day;

And blown by all the winds that

pass

And wet with all the showers,

She walks among the meadow

grass

And eats the meadow flowers.

Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was

born in Edinburgh in 1850, into a

family of well-known lighthouse engineers.

As a boy, he was sickly and spent

many hours in bed, reading and

imagining. He started his studies at

Edinburgh University, engineering,

before realising that literature was his

forte. He then studied law, and was

admitted to the Scottish bar, before

taking off to travel around Europe. After

travelling to the USA, he married and

then returned to Britain where he wrote

A Child’s Garden of Verses in 1885,

dedicating the book to his nurse Alison

Cunningham, who nursed him through

his many childhood illnesses.

He eventually moved to Upolu, in

Samoa, where he remained for the rest

of his life.

Image by analogicus from Pixabay

Can a coach find you a job?

A coach can help you plan and prepare for your job hunt, but won’t arrange

interviews for you or connect you directly with employers. A coach doesn’t work

directly with an employer, so that’s where you would start working with a recruiter, or

alternatively have a look on the DFA website for Defence Family Friendly Employers.

Why would you work with a recruiter? Especially if you have had help from coach

with your resumé and online profile, you might think, isn’t that enough?

A good recruiter is like a talent agent, they are the ones to help get you the perfect

job. They have the connections with the employers to get you directly in for an interview,

so you’re not just one of hundreds

You don’t necessarily

have to be in the same

physical location as

your coach to get great

results.

of applications to come through their

Seek job ad. They also sometimes know

about jobs that have yet to be advertised.

Recruiters also know their markets, they

know how many jobs are available, and

realistic salary expectations for your experience

and qualifications. They can also

advise you on the types of jobs you could

consider in smaller markets.

Note: A recruiter should not charge you a fee of any kind either to secure an

interview or if you accept a job offer. However, if the recruiter is part of a Job Support

Agency providing assistance if you are unemployed they may charge you a fee to

update your resumé or other services normally provided by a coach.

Do I need to see a coach?

If the recruiter has the employer connections why do I need a coach?

A coach can help you prepare in so many other ways, especially if you have

been out of the paid workforce for a while. Your resumé needs to be good enough

for the recruiter to see your potential so that they can ‘sell’ you to the employer.

It also makes it easy for them to work

If the recruiter has the

employer connections

why do I need a coach?

with you. Sometimes if you ask, they will

make suggestions on how to improve

your application but it’s not their focus.

They generally only work with candidates

who are ‘job ready’.

How do I start working with a recruiter? Do I already need to be in the

location where I am looking for my next job?

You don’t need to be in the new location to start contacting recruiters. The same as

when you are looking for a coach, a little research will help you find a good recruiter.

If you start with a Seek job search looking at your preferred location and job type

you will see job adverts by recruiters who specialise in that field. You will find a few

names and companies to have a closer look at.

We would suggest checking company webpage and LinkedIn page along with the

LinkedIn profile of the individual recruiter as a minimum. Or alternatively you can ask

friends or family for recommendations. From there you can either call the recruiter

directly or apply for one of their advertised jobs followed up with a phone call. If

you were placed in your current role by a recruiter and are happy to work with the

company again you can always call them and ask if they can refer you to someone

who covers your new location .

Happy Hunting!

More Information Further information is available on the PostingConnect

website at ext.defence.gov.au/postingconnect.

Jessica Hanison

National Delegate – Northern Territory and Kimberley


Regular

Doctor's Notes

“Going troppo …”

Tropical Seasonal Affective Disorder

The days are hot and humid, the air conditioner is turned

on, the clouds look like they want to rain but won’t — it’s

the build-up. And with the build-up, comes the risk of going

troppo, or as it’s sometimes known, mango madness.

When I first moved up to Darwin at the end of a dry season,

people warned me of the impending build up and people going

troppo. As the heat and humidity increased, I did see quite a lot of

patients experiencing stress and burnout, and for some, worsening

of their mental health conditions. Initially I put this down to their

busy jobs, stressful lives, and sometimes drinking too much — but

to some degree they might have also been going a little bit troppo,

or the condition of tropical seasonal affective disorder.

So, what are its symptoms of going troppo?

Researchers at Charles Darwin University have found that the

tropical heat is linked with anxiety, stress, aggression and irritability.

People also tend to have less sleep, poorer appetites, and reduced

energy levels.

To support this, in the Top End, violent crimes such as homicide

and sexual assault tend to be higher during the humid months;

and hospitalisations for broken bones also increase by 40% at

Royal Darwin Hospital.

This has been found elsewhere in the world, such as in the

United States where it is the hotter cities that have higher violent

crime rates; and in Chicago the number of daily assaults during

the summer increases with temperature.

Some believe that the symptoms are similar to northern winters

where people become miserable and depressed with the cold

and lack of sun.

Historically, the term ‘troppo’ seems to have come from

Australian troops operating in the tropics during World War II, and

it might have even originated from Darwin. These days, the term

has taken on a broader meaning, and the School of Literature,

Languages and Linguistics at the Australian National University

define it as ‘to become mentally disturbed; to go crazy or wild’.

Irrespective of how the term is used, the heat and humidity

can affect our mental health, and it is something that we should

be aware of during these long, hot, humid days.

So, in the lead up to the Wet, if you’re becoming

increasing stressed, irritable or maybe even feeling down

— stop and think about how the heat and humidity may

be affecting you. Try to keep cool in airconditioned rooms

or in front of a fan, drink more water and avoid the temptation

to drink more alcohol, slow down and try not to

rush things, and make sure you are eating well and getting

enough sleep.

Let’s hope we get a decent wet season and a bit

of a relief soon. In the meantime, please take care of

yourselves and each other, and if you need a little bit

of extra help, please see your doctor.

Dr Andrew Flint

Medical Officer | HMAS Coonawarra

the term ‘troppo’

seems to have

come from

Australian troops

operating in the

tropics during

World War II


Support | DVA

Department of Veterans' Affairs

Staying

hydrated

through the

wet season

We all know that staying well hydrated is good for our

health, but as we move into the wet season and the

humidity rises, our bodies need more water to sustain

themselves in a healthy way. We often forget to increase

our water consumption in the humid months as we spend

more time inside in the air conditioning.

Water makes up most of your body weight, helps to regulate

body temperature, as well as having benefits for your

brain function, detoxification and digestion. Staying hydrated

also helps the heart to pump blood easily through the blood

vessels to muscles, making your muscles work more efficiently

and reducing the risk of injury.

The first signs of dehydration are thirst, fatigue, dizziness

or constipation. Keeping an eye out for these signs may assist

you in preventing ill health or even heatstroke. Other ways to

The first signs of

dehydration are thirst,

fatigue, dizziness or

constipation

assess your hydration

is through the

colour of your urine.

If your urine is dark

or strongly coloured

you probably haven’t

drunk enough water. You should aim to have clear to pale

yellow urine.

Ensuring you are well hydrated is more than just preventing

heatstroke, it can improve your overall health. Try carrying a

water bottle with you wherever you go, this will also help you

keep track of how much water you are consuming.

If water doesn’t do it for you as a drink, you can try adding

some lemon, lime or fruit to add some flavour. Ensuring that

your diet is full of water-rich foods like vegetables, fruit and

broth-based soups can also assist in hydrating your body.

Remember to continue teaching your children about the importance

of water and offer water as an option rather than sugary

alternatives like cordial or soft drinks.

To find out more about the importance of hydration and

signs of dehydration you can go to www.healthdirect.gov.au/

dehydration.

Jacqueline Cleghorn

Community Support Advisor

Department of Veterans’ Affairs


Support | DVA

Department of Veterans' Affairs

New Mental Health Strategy Supporting

Veterans and their Families

Recently, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) released a 2020–2023 Veteran

Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The strategy provides guidelines for a

proactive and balanced approach to mental wellness for ex-serving ADF personnel.

DVA works closely with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and other key veteran

support agencies to ensure that veterans and their families are living and ageing well,

and aims to empower health professionals to deliver the best care possible, which is

tailored to the specific needs of ADF veterans. This includes engaging with and supporting

current serving personnel from enlistment through to transition, and into civilian life.

After various consultations with veteran community networks, researchers and peak

health bodies, the follow four priority areas have been identified in the new mental

health strategy.

Priority One Facilitating high quality, evidence based, accessible and tailored

healthcare that responds to the unique nature of military service and its effects on

veterans and their families.

Priority Two Supporting veterans and their families to transition well from military

to civilian life.

Priority Three Enhancing partnerships across government, communities, business,

service providers, researchers and ESOs to improve mental health and wellbeing

outcomes for veterans and their families.

Priority Four Engaging, communicating and educating veterans, families and

the community better and more often about the positive mental health and wellbeing

support and services available.

Both nationally and locally in the NT, DVA and Open Arms are striving to deliver

services that directly involve these priority areas. “Incentivising wellness is about giving

tools, not giving answers” – quoted from a female Veterans and Veterans Family Policy

Forum participant – gives an insight on the direction DVA is working towards to support

the wellbeing of the veteran community.

ESOs also play a vital role in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of veterans

and their families through advocacy, lived experience, understanding veteran’s unique

needs, and offering wellbeing-focused activities.

Veterans and their families should know that DVA and the broader Australian community

are working together to support them to maintain and optimise their mental

health and wellbeing.

DVA is also supporting veterans and their families at a grassroots level. The latest round

of Supporting Younger Veteran grants has seen more than $1 million go to mental health

projects directly focused on services and programs for younger veterans who may be

at risk of experiencing poor mental health. Some of these programs include developing

improved emotional and relationship skills, assistance in accessing tertiary education,

shared experience radio and podcasts, and programs to assist in employment.

To find out more about upcoming grant opportunities, visit www.communitygrants.gov.au.

If you have any questions about your transition, or any entitlements for which you

may be eligible, or even information about what veteran support services are available

in your local area call DVA on 1800 222 254 or email darwinvan@dva.gov.au.

Meghan Bailey

Deputy Commissioner | Department of Veterans’ Affairs

healthcare

support

transition

families

partnerships

communities

service

improve

mental health

wellbeing

education

assist

healthcare

support

transition

families

partnerships

communities

service

improve

mental health

wellbeing

education

assist


Feature

Spectacular

Jumping Crocodile Cruise

On a lovely dry season day in late

June I decided that the time had

come to test one of the jumping crocodile

cruises – I’ve only lived here for

twenty-four years,but as I’d received

an invitation to attend the opening

of the new facilities it seemed that

this was the year!.

Three companies

operate jumping crocodile

cruises; I went

to the Spectacular

Jumping Crocodile

cruise, on the edge

of the Adelaide

River and on the

traditional lands

of the Woolner

or Turtle People. It is very easy

to get to – it’s 36kms from the

Humpty Doo turn-off from the Stuart

Highway, from where you drive in a

straight line until the turn-off on the

left for Window on the Wetlands

at Beatrice Hill. The road curves

clockwise around the base of the

hill and on the far side is a blue

sign pointing to the left (right

takes you up Beatrice Hill to the

top). Follow the well-maintained

dirt road to its end (just over a couple of

kilometres) and there is a carpark, a visitor

centre and various facilities.

Upstairs there is a small shop with

refreshments (tea, coffee, soft drinks and

water) and outside on the balcony there

are plenty of tables with seating from

which to admire the view and enjoy the

breeze while you wait.

It is very easy

to get to – it’s

36kms from the

Humpty Doo

turn-off from the

Stuart Highway

You can also see red

plumes of dust as late

stragglers rush to get to

the boat on time.

It was a typical

Darwin day – I

promptly bumped into

a bird spotter I knew,

and I believe I first met

the young man in charge of the boat

before he was old enough for Transition!

Eventually, we all headed down a

ramp to the boat, and we were given strict

instructions – no hanging over the rail,

nor waving arms or legs over the edge,

and no standing unless told to do so. We

were told that there would be plenty of

photo opportunities, and visitors on both

sides of the boat were given the chance

to take photographs of each crocodile.


no hanging over

the rail, nor

waving arms or

legs over the

edge, and no

standing unless

told to do so

We headed off

downstream on the

swirling muddy waters

of the river, and in no

time at all we found

our first – and we

saw plenty more over

the course of the trip,

some in the water,

and others sunning

themselves on the

slimy, muddy banks. Some were large

males, some smaller females, some were

young males trying to find their place in

the world. One, named Pearl, was an oatmeal

colour, a feature of the condition

hypomelanism (low levels of pigmentation)

although she wasn’t albino.

Back to the jumping

– a crew member

hung a lump of

meat and bone (the

croc equivalent of a

square of chocolate)

on a rope from a long

stick over the edge. If

the croc attempted to

catch it twice, he (or she) was allowed to

catch it on the third time – the noise of a

crocodile’s jaws snapping together with

a loud, hollow ‘pop’ is something to be

admired from a distance I feel. Several

crocodiles obliged us by jumping – they

rise a fair distance from the water – and

by the time I’d seen all that snapping,

Several crocodiles

obliged us by

jumping – they

rise a fair distance

from the water

any desire to dip my toe

into water of any depth

in the Top End had gone.

It’s not worth it. Keep your

feet dry! The Saltwater

Crocodile knows what it’s

doing when it comes to

catching dinner.

Apart from the crocodiles,

there was plenty to

see if you wished to sit back and enjoy

the view. The river banks were filled with

mangroves overhanging the water, with

their aerial roots packed closely sticking up

out of the mud like drinking straws. There

were plenty of birds, and we saw a Greatbilled

Heron, huge and grey standing

on a tree stump, before

flying up a creek into

the trees. Alex, behind

the wheel, seemed very

knowledgeable about

the local wildlife, including

the crocodiles. Ask

about their early morning

bird-watching trips.

We arrived back at the jetty about 90

minutes after our departure – an interesting

trip as it’s great to see crocodiles close up in

their natural environment, as you can really

appreciate their size and agility.

With thanks to the Arirrki

Aboriginal Corporation for the trip.

Four sailings per day

9am | 11am | 1pm | 3pm

Adults $45

Children $30

Under threes free

Family ticket $125


Feature – Support

In Support of the ADF

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Larrakeyah Defence Precinct and HMAS Coonawarra have

led the way during COVID-19 in ensuring that all ADF

personnel are ‘fit to fight’ at all times. Maintaining and

looking after their mental and physical health is a high

priority and is also important to continue to look after your

family’s mental wellbeing as well. The Defence community

is able to respond to different situations through our

strengths by adapting to change, working together, and

looking out for each other.

Command, supervisors and managers must remain flexible in their approach

to personnel leave and to encouraging people to work flexibly, for example

shift work or split shifts wherever possible. Personnel can work from home

via DREAMS, if it works for both the organisation and the individual while still

meeting ADF workplace targets and goals.

Tips and Tools for Leaders

As a leader, you are critical to workplace mental health and wellbeing because you

know your people and can recognise changes in behaviour. Improving your communication

and promoting self-care practices will help your teams to feel connected and

supported. This improves work relationships, productivity and willingness to seek help.

Improving Communication:

People need frequent and authentic communication in times of change, stress

and uncertainty. Good communication helps people to remain productive and find

meaning in their work. Whether your team is large or small, in an office or homebased,

there are things you can do to improve communication.

Frequency

» Increased contact provides reassurance. If meetings are weekly, consider two per

week – one about tasks and the other on wellbeing.

» Include self-care and wellbeing at the beginning of discussions, not as an afterthought.

» Encourage people to seek conversations with you. Let them know you have created

‘space’ for them and that it is no bother.

Authenticity

» Have open and genuine conversations about wellbeing to destigmatise mental

health concerns and reduce barriers

to seeking care.

» Foster a culture where people can ask

for help before stress becomes a serious

concern.

» Encourage sharing of self-care strategies

and value how people are

adapting to circumstances.

Planning

» Anticipate concerns and manage

expectations to build trust. Be flexible

about agendas. Create a standing item

for wellbeing.

» Start meetings by checking how

people are. Encourage sharing (as far

as people are comfortable) about selfcare

strategies.

» Be timely, clear and concise in written

communications so you don’t overwhelm

people. Consider periodic

is also important

to continue to look

after your family’s

mental wellbeing as

well


Whether your team is large or small,

in an office or home-based, there are

things you can do

Practice

» Encourage personnel to practise resilience in their

daily routine. Resilience should be exercised in

the same way as our body and mind.

Looking after yourself

emails to highlight achievements and discuss upcoming activities,

plans and challenges.

» Talk to your team about their mental health and wellbeing. If someone

is showing signs of mental distress, recognise signs and symptoms,

engage the person, actively listen, check reactions and take action.

People should seek help if their distress escalates or if it becomes

overwhelming and effects normal functioning. If they or you are concerned

about risk of harm to self or others, take the appropriate action.

Promoting Self-care

Promoting self-care can help with resilience and stress. Self-care takes

different forms, but everyday things can improve mental health and wellbeing.

Work–life balance

» Encourage a healthy approach to work, especially if people are working

from home. Promote balanced work hours, star and finish times, and

breaks. Help people to draw a line between ‘work’ and ‘life’ time.

» Encourage people to participate in recreational activities. Emphasise

social connection and supportive networks using technology.

» Check whether people are sticking to their work–life approach.

Leading in volatile, uncertain and complex times

can affect your own mental health and wellbeing.

Stay alert and reflective on your own experience,

emotions, thoughts and behaviours. You will be

better able to support your team if you are effectively

managing your own wellbeing.

Finally, Larrakeyah Defence Precinct and HMAS

Coonawarra want to reiterate our thanks to all of

our people who are working tirelessly in support of

the COVID-19 response. Your efforts are helping to

keep our community safe and we are proud of your

professionalism and contributions.

Lieutenant Jimmy Fitzgerald

RAN | Maritime Logistics Officer

Emphasise social

connection and supportive

networks using technology

Walk the talk

» Model the positive mental health and wellbeing practices you are

encouraging for your staff.

Proactive self-care

» Encourage people to think about self-care now, even if they are doing

well. Encourage a healthy approach to sleep, diet and exercise.

» Schedule a weekly wellbeing check-in.

Self-care planning

» Encourage people to prepare a self-care plan to identify activities that

support wellbeing during COVID-19.

Optimising Resilience

While our workforce is generally very resilient, make the most of opportunities

to build resilience.

Build resilience

» Encourage use of the High Res App and website to build resilience

fitness in much the same way as gym work increases physical fitness.

Share goals

» Share resilience goals and resilience tools. Reinforce positive actions

and acknowledge goals achieved.


Feature

Victory in the Pacific

75th Anniversary

Bridge over River Kwai

Just over a month ago, on 15

August, the 75th Anniversary of

the Victory in the Pacific (VP Day,

also known as V-P Day, Victory

over Japan Day, VJ Day or V-J

Day) was commemorated with a

service in Darwin at the site of the

memorial to the USS Peary on the

Esplanade. Darwin Military Museum

at East Point also held an open day

involving stalls from the Navy, Army

and Air Force, and Darwin City Brass

Band, set up in the dappled shade of

a large tree, set the ambience with

music suitable for such an event.

Although Victory in Europe Day was celebrated on 8

May this year in Europe, in 1945, World War II was still

being fought in South East Asia and in lands around (and

in!) the Pacific.

Below are some of the main events of the war with Japan in

South East Asia and the Pacific – during the compilation of this

list, I couldn’t help but note that the Japanese Imperial Forces

were extremely busy – bombing Pearl Harbor one day, invading

Thailand, Malaya and the Philippines the next. Japanese imperial

expansion was rapid, efficient and very brutal. It was marked

by atrocities still commemorated today, and changed the lives

of millions forever.

Three sea battles in mid-1942 at last caused them check,

and gave the Allies a chance to fight back.

The final blow delivered by the Allies was the dropping

of two atomic bombs, the result of the top-secret Manhattan

Project in the USA. Two Japanese cities were flattened and

between 130,000 and 226,000 people were killed, half of that

number dying on the first day, the rest in the weeks and months

following from radiation sickness. They were the first, and one

hopes the last, atomic bombs to be dropped during wartime.

Significant Dates and Events

1937 Japanese imperial expansion in China and other territories.

22–26 September 1940 Japanese forces temporarily

occupy French Indochina (now Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam).

27 September 1940 Japan signed Tripartite Pact with

Germany and Italy and enter World War II as an Axis power.


VP Day at DMM | Photo: Baz Ledwidge

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

Plaque to MacArthur in Batchelor

Darwin Millitary Museum VP Day

Strauss Air Strip – completed 1942

December 1940 Alice Springs to Birdum (7km south of

Larrimah) stretch of North–South Road (now Stuart Highway)

sealed and capable of bearing military traffic.

28 July 1941 140,000 Japanese troops invade southern

French Indochina.

August 1941 Japanese garrison of 8,000 troops established

in Cambodia.

7 December 1941 Bombing of Pearl Harbor, brings US into

the conflict.

8 December 1941 Japan initiates invasion of the Philippines

Invasion of Malaya starts

Japan invades Siam (now Thailand), forms alliance

New Zealand declares war on Japan.

10 December 1941 Royal Navy ships HMS Prince of Wales

and Repulse sunk off Malaya. In his memoirs, Winston Churchill

wrote, "I put the telephone down. I was thankful to be alone.

In all the war I never received a more direct shock".

12 December 1941 American Asiatic Fleet withdraws to Java

in Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia).

14 December 1941 Japanese forces attack Burma (now

Myanmar) at Victoria Point (now Kawthaung), its southernmost

town, and then occupy the area on 16 January 1942.

16 December 1941 Borneo invaded by Japanese 35th

Infantry Brigade under Major General Kiyotaki Kawaguchi.

17 December 1941 Japan requests surrender of Hong Kong;

Sir Mark Young, Commander in Chief, declines.

18 December 1941 Japanese troops arrive and slaughter

Chinese and British alike, take control of reservoirs, threaten

death by thirst.

25 December 1941 Hong Kong falls.

11 January 1942 Kuala Lumpur falls.

Japan attacks Dutch East Indies (ending Dutch colonial rule in

what is now Indonesia).

23 January 1942 Japan invades Australian administered

New Guinea.

1 February 1942 Japan invades Singapore.

15 February 1942 Singapore falls.

19 February 1942 Bombing of Darwin, and the loss of eight

out of the forty-seven ships in the harbour and many military

personnel and civilians.

12 March 1942 General Douglas MacArthur leaves the

Philippines for Australia.

17 March 1942 MacArthur arrives in Batchelor, before

travelling to Brisbane to establish his Headquarters.

22 March 1942 Bombing of Katherine.

27 March 1942 Residents of Katherine evacuated.

29–30 March 1942 Japanese invade western New Guinea,

part of the Dutch East Indies.



Regular

The Inner Monkey

I

’ve spent a large part of my riding life finding enjoyment on

two wheels, in very simple ways. As kids we would chase

kangaroos through paddocks (as cows were too docile and

slow) and up and down mountain sides, with our posse

of motorcycles, travelling at breakneck speeds. Cows also

turn on you, kangaroos are more polite. Rabbits, good

luck, as they turn too quickly and they have the advantage

of being able to duck down burrows and

use blackberry bushes as natural protection.

I once pushed a rabbit to its limits and

found myself having to be extricated from

a blackberry bush. Blackberry fruit for your

necessary education is quite a nice treat.

People have been consuming the berries

since time immemorial, the leaves, and

stems have also been used to dye fabrics and hair. Native

Americans have even been known to use the stems to

make rope.

The plants have also been used for barriers around buildings,

crops and livestock. For rabbits, it offers a Fort Knox level of

defence and survival as the plants have sharp,

thick prickles, which offer protection against

enemies and large animals – and mad kids

on motorcycles. In one blackberry bush, you

can accumulate a year’s-worth of scratches

and cuts in one simple indiscretion.

Childhood follies didn’t stop at just chasing

any form of wild animal that wouldn’t turn on

you as foxes, emu’s and wild dogs all have differing defensive

abilities against kids on motorcycles. When animals were scarce,

a good game of motorcycle jousting would ensue. But I’ll stop

the story there – your mother won’t thank me if you end up

in hospital!

I have often wondered why adult males are particularly

prone to taking risks. Riding a motorcycle is an inherently dangerous

and risky undertaking, which is a heavily male-biased

past time. Most of the recorded accidents and fatalities on

motorcycles are, yep, you guessed it: male. While most riders

understand and accept the risk of the ride, rarely do they dwell

on the negative aspect of being in a crash or suffering injury.

To do so, would realistically make us paranoid and nervous,

which is only one step away from fear and terror. Not a great

place to be on a two-wheeler. For some, the bike is an outlet, a

way to express themselves which can take various forms, such

as the customisation and modification of the motorcycle, or by

the way they ride and operate it. It is the latter form of expression

which can be a cause for concern. ‘Stunting’ and other

high-risk behaviours often result in seriously negative effects on

the rider, other roadway users, property and

It is the latter form

of expression which

can be a cause for

concern

even worse, family and income. Stunting is a

very high-risk and potentially deadly activity,

which requires the rider to recognise the

consequences and ramifications of such

actions. Some riders never do, but why?

Well my theory is that we male riders

are all affected by the Inner Monkey. In technical terms, it is a

negative personality trait, related to our impulse and emotional

regulation abilities, that sometimes goes haywire (look up the

mischievous emoji and you will understand). Charles Darwin’s

Theory of Evolution still remains valid and it is no secret that

chimpanzees and monkeys share approximately

99 per cent of our DNA, with gorillas

trailing at 98 per cent. The Darwinism and

Evolutionary Science theory has been substantially

accepted in the ‘western’ world.

With the great apes being the smartest, with

orangutans and chimpanzees consistently

beating monkeys and lemurs on a variety of intelligence tests.

We come top in this group, by the way, but could apes ride a

motorcycle safely? Technically, we inherited their versatile hands,

amazing vision and capable brains. They are said to feel similar

complex emotions such as loyalty and jealousy. They can even

learn sign language and put together short sentences, but they

are smart enough to realise that stunting ends in misery.

Stunting is a very

high-risk and

potentially deadly

activity

Control your inner monkey and

Ride safely!

Grom

Monkey Photo by Cottonbro from Pexels


continued from page 20 | Bored this Holiday?

Next? Ribs – they’re very obvious, and they help you

breathe. What’s that pair of sloping bones at the top of your

chest that don’t quite meet in the middle? They’re the clavicles

or collar bones. Break one of these and your arm won’t work.

And the notch in between them? The jugular notch of the

manubrium bone, that sits at the top of your sternum (that

holds all your ribs together).

At the top of your back, and triangular, is the shoulder

blade or scapula. The Romans used the term, but they took it

from the Ancient Greek skaptein ‘to dig’, in other words a shovel.

You probably can’t feel the bones in your neck – too many

muscles and tendons to keep everything in place and upright,

although you might feel the nobble at the base of the back of

your neck – one of your vertebrae.

Up a bit further, just in front of your ear, you’ll feel

the angle of the mandible, then past your earlobe that fits into

a small dent, you’ll find rounded lump or mastoid bone. It’s full

of air cells to protect your ear, and the bones beneath (they

think …). Finally, there’s your skull made up of several bones,

to protect your brains. For a final quick check, you’ll feel your

cheek bone – the zygomatic bone, the nose bone to which

the squashy bits of your nose is attached, and the ridge your

eyebrows sit on – the supraorbital margin (in other words, the

upper edge of your eye socket).

And that’s it – anyone want to become a doctor, orthopaedic

surgeon or an osteopath?

» Phalanx – Latin for battalion of soldiers

» Calcaneus from calx – Latin for heel

» Fibula – Latin for clasp/pin

» Tibia – Latin for pipe/flute (of bone)

» Patella – Latin for dish/plate

» Pelvis – Latin for basin

» Clavicle – Latin for tendril, because of its curve

» Scapula – actual Roman word for shoulder blade, meaning

little shovel.

» Ulna – Greek for elbow

» Olecranon – Greek for head of elbow

» Mandible – from Latin to chew

» Zygomatic – from Greek meaning yoke (for oxen).

8. Around the house

Bath the dog, groom the cat, tip out the hamsters, guinea

pigs or mice, or clean the fish tank.

9. Get out the sprinkler

Pool closed? Hot and bothered? Get out the sprinkler, turn

it on low, and lie in your swimmers/togs/bathers in the cool.

Just don’t forget to put sunscreen on.

10. Bread echidnas

(or hedgehogs)

Many years ago, as a student in pursuit of a hot loaf of bread

in the wee small hours, I watched a Scottish baker make a batch

of hedgehog bread rolls for a children’s party. They looked

wonderful. I’m going to assume that you have the bread dough

ready, and that it’s ready to be formed into rolls and proved.

Being Australian, we’ll make echidnas!

Break your dough into balls about the size of a golf ball or a

bit bigger. Shape them into a pear shape. With the sharper end

towards you make two deep dents with your index and middle

fingers to form the nose and eye sockets. Press a currant in

each. Turn it around and with a pair of scissors (blade facing

the nose and the handles near the rounded end), snip some

prickles. Brush on a bit of milk, sprinkle on a few oats. Leave

20 minutes or until doubled in size, then bake in a hot oven.

Enjoy with butter and jam.

7. Art and perspective

Lie on the floor of your house, observe the tiles apparently

sloping upwards to the ‘horizon’ formed by a door or cupboard.

This is the basis of one-point perspective. Draw the tiles and

the doors, and research Dutch interiors by artists like Vermeer.

Two-point perspective is great for buildings and needs two

vanishing points. For this you need to sit in your garden in the

shade, diagonally out from the corner of your house so the two

vanishing points are beyond the back right and back left corners

of your house. Their ‘construction lines’ will meet in the middle

at the corner where you are sitting.


Regular

What's On

in October and November

1–4 October NT Writers Festival Held in George Brown

Botanic Gardens, the Festival is a four-day event involving books,

writers, discussions, storytelling and more. Connect virtually with writers

from across Australia and overseas. The festival alternates between

Darwin and Alice Springs and is in its 21st year. www.ntwriters.com.au

3 October Kakadu Bird Weekends. Kakadu is home to

more than a third of Australia’s bird species, and so is a paradise for

bird lovers. Meet traditional owners, Parks Australia and local birding

specialists to celebrate the Top End’s diverse birdlife. Take part in free

bird activities and join expert-guided tours. www.visitkatherine.com.au/

events/all-events/event/103484-kakadu-bird-week

13 October Mars in Opposition – every two years Mars

reaches the opposite side of the earth from the sun, and it should

appear even brighter than Jupiter. For this free event, head to your

balcony with a cold drink, your telescope or binoculars and relax! www.

smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/ten-biggest-celestial-events-nightsky-2020-180973956/

Closes 25 October The Moment Eternal: Nyapanyapa

Yunupiŋgu at MAGNT in Conacher Street, The Gardens. For more

than twenty years Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu has worked in the remote

community of Yirrkala 18km south-east of Nhulunbuy, where she

is known for her paintings, drawings and sculptures. The exhibition

explores her life story.

25 October Mango Madness Festival This is a chance for

you to sample mango prepared in numerous different ways – and in

the Top End there are a lot of mangoes. Down at the Waterfront, there

will be stalls, cooking workshops and displays, as well as food, drinks

and a mango-inspired menu. Costs apply. www.northernterritory.com/

darwin-and-surrounds/events/mango-madness-festival

26 October–29 November Darwin International

Laksa Festival is back. Follow the Laksa Trail, sample those delights

and vote for the People’s Choice. The winner will receive the Golden

Bowl, won in 2019 by Chok’s Place in the Galleria, Smith Street.

www.northernterritory.com/darwin-and-surrounds/events/darwininternational-laksa-festival

21 November Tactile Arts Christmas Craft Fair. Stalls

packed with everything you might need for Christmas – presents,

knick-knacks, jewellery, fine art, ceramics, candles – so drop in, meet

your friends and browse what's on offer. www.tactilearts.org.au/pages/

craft-fairs

November events usually involve

Christmas Craft Fairs and Carols in

various locations. Keep an eye open

for them all. Nothing seems to be

advertised at the moment.

Cancellations

10–17 October Alice Springs Masters Games (biennial

event) CANCELLED. Their website promises an incredible event in

2022. www.alicespringsmastersgames.com.au/

Postponed

31 October BASSINTHEGRASS Originally scheduled for

23 May but postponed to 31 October 2020, it has now been

deferred until 15 May 2021. Visit the www.bassinthegrass.com.au

for event information.

For more information, and to find out about other

events in the region during 2020, check the Tourism

Top End website

www.tourismtopend.com.au/events.

Also check the websites for the different city and

town councils. This list is far from complete, and please

be aware that although these dates were correct at the

time of writing, you are advised to confirm them.


News

Posthumous VC for

Ordinary Seaman 'Teddy' Sheean

On 12 August 2020, His Excellency

General the Honourable David

Hurley AC DSC (Ret'd), Governor-

General of the Commonwealth

of Australia, with Chief of Navy

Vice Admiral Michael Noonan

AO, announced that Her Majesty,

Queen Elizabeth II had approved a

posthumous awarding of a Victoria

Cross, for Seaman Edward Sheean

of the Royal Australian Navy at

Government House, Canberra.

Ordinary Seaman Edward ‘Teddy’ Sheean who served on

HMAS Armidale was killed when the ship was attached

by a Japanese aerial attack. It has become on his ship has

become a well-known episode in Australian Second World

War lore. Sheean, his parents’ fourteenth child, was born at

Lower Barrington in Tasmania, on 28 December 1923, was

educated in a Catholic school at Latrobe also in Tasmania

before taking work on farms in the same area. He enlisted

in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve in April 1941 and

underwent initial training in Tasmania.

He began service as an Oerlikon anti-aircraft gunner on

HMAS Armidale, which escorted convoys us the east and

northern coasts. Then, in October 1942 the ship sailed for

Darwin, so that with two other vessels, she could evacuate 2/2

Independent Company, Portuguese civilians and Dutch troops

from Japanese-occupied Timor. The plan went wrong, and

Armidale was required to sail for Betano the following night.

Shortly before 2.00pm on 1 December 1942, Armidale, was

attacked by thirteen Japanese aircraft, but in spite of her captain

Lieutenant Commander David Richards’ rapid manoeuvring,

a torpedo struck her port side at 3.15pm and another soon

followed and then finally she was hit aft by a bomb.

Sheean helped to free a life raft, then rushed back to his

gun in spite of being wounded and strapped himself to it. He

managed to shoot down two aeroplanes and kept other aircraft

away from his mates in the water. He was seen still firing his

gun as Armidale finally sank. He was 18. Only 49 of the 149

men on board survived the attack and subsequent time on

rafts and in life boats.

He was Mentioned in Dispatches and although many considered

that his actions deserved the Victoria Cross he was not

recommended for one.

In 1999, a Collins Class submarine HMAS Sheean was

named after him – the only ship named after a sailor. Finally,

after a long-running campaign, and as the result of a third

examination of the evidence a review panel recommended that

he be awarded the VC. He was the first member of the Royal

Australian Navy to be awarded the highest award for valour in

Australia.

www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-11/teddy-sheeans-victoriacross-true-story-always-there/12543226


Regular

Explore the NT

The Road Less Travelled

Red Lily (Djunda), Bucket (Ngarrababa)

and Alligator Billabong (Gurdurunguranjdju)

are the unknown waterholes in the centre

of Kakadu. So, what information do we

glean from Parks Australia.

“Here you’ll find a collection of three secluded campgrounds suited to adventurous

travellers. These sites are popular with local fishers but rarely used by

those unfamiliar with the region”. The fact that they are rarely used by those

unfamiliar with the region may have a lot to do with the lack of signs indicating

were to find them.

All three billabongs are located on a dirt road that runs for about 55km from the

Arnhem Highway to Jim Jim road. At the time of publication, the section of road from

Alligator Billabong to Jim Jim Road (25.6km) appears to be open. In late July, the

Kakadu Access Report classified the road from Arnhem highway to Red Lily Billabong

as 4WD essential. However, once past Red Lily Billabong, and on the way to Bucket

Billabong you will find a deep-water river crossing (with 0.9m of water over the road)

for which the Kakadu Access Report advises a ‘high clearance 4WD’. None of the three

billabongs has any camping facilities. This is bush camping with the only amenities

provided being the occasional fire pit.

How do you find these Billabongs? Well, look for a turn-off on the right when

heading along the Arnhem Highway towards Jabiru, some 36km after the information

bay on the highway or 5km before the Kakadu Holliday Village. The road is not signed

so you need to know where the turn-off onto the track is.

The road from the highway to Red Lily Billabong is a single lane dirt road, with

little in the way of corrugations and no challenges. The first sign to indicate you are

approaching the billabongs is found about 19km down the track at a Y-junction

with Red Lily to the left. Take the track to the left and Red Lily Billabong is on

your right as you travel along the length

of the billabong. The billabong is long

and narrow with a wide (200 to 300m)

grass floodplain running along its banks.

The banks are not overgrown, and allow

reasonable access to the water’s edge.

The official campsites are towards the

end of the billabong. We set up camp

on the edge of the floodplain, well away

from the banks of the billabong and any

potential salt-water crocodiles.

The next morning, we ventured on

towards Alligator Billabong, leaving Red

Lily behind us and crossed through the

All three billabongs

are located on a dirt

road that runs for

about 55km from the

Arnhem Highway to

Jim Jim road

only major obstacle on this section of

track, the river that is about 0.9 m (July)

deep. We continued down the track that

can be bumpy in sections due to deep

buffalo tracks created in the wet that have


Photos: Shane Bartie

now dried in the mud to create a very

uneven surface. After a further 5km of

travel, expect to see Alligator Billabong.

It has two campsites one towards the

northern section of the billabong, separated

by a seasonal spillway, and the

other in the southern area. As we travelled

to the southern campground we

spot a dingo trotting along through the

bush with a large hindquarters of a wallaby

in its jaws, followed closely by a

solitary juvenile dingo.

None of these billabongs has a dedicated

boat ramp, so if you wish to take

The road from the

highway to Red Lily

Billabong is a single

lane dirt road

your boat out, you will need to find a

launch site off the bank. We found

numerous sites along the banks where

boats had already been launched, so we

followed suit and went for an exploratory

trip.

Alligator Billabong at 3.6km in length

is the largest of the three billabongs and

certainly seems to be the most popular

with the local fishermen. We spent some

time fishing and had a good look around.

A large colony of fruit bats has made its

roost in the branches overhanging the

billabong and they could be seen hanging

upside down and gently flapping their

wings to cool down in the heat of the day.

On the bank a very large water monitor

moved slowly along as it explored the

ground with its forked tongue looking for

its next meal.

We then headed back to our camp

at Red Lily Billabong for a late afternoon

lunch.

Later that afternoon we head out for

a sunset cruise on Bucket Billabong. The

track from Red Lily to Bucket Billabong is

2km long and once again you need to

cross through the river to reach it. The

campsites at Bucket Billabong are scattered

along its southern banks under tall

shady trees and seem to offer the best

camping option on the three billabongs.

We launched the boat and took a

cruise along its length. Bucket Billabong is

about 1.5km long, narrow and very deep,

with its cool, dark water reaching 11m in

depth, and the steep banks are tightly

packed with tall trees. We spotted a large

water buffalo on the bank that retreated

warily as we approached but once it was

at a safe distance behind some trees, it

stopped to watch us, as we watched it.

As the sun dipped lower, a lazy saltwater

crocodile swam by looking for a spot to

ambush its next meal.

Finally, as the sun set, we headed

back to camp.

These three billabongs are part of the

South Alligator River’s floodplain and are

typical billabongs with steep banks, lined

with trees shading their brown-green

waters. Just 6km away as the crow flies

is the well-known tourist destination of

Yellow Waters with its large floodplains

surrounding the billabong.

This camping trip is great for a long

weekend.

When bush camping, please take

suitable precautions – let your friends

know where you have gone, wear suitable

clothing and take a satellite phone

with you.

Shane Bartie

Explore the NT

www.parksaustralia.gov.au


Regular

Know the Territory

Watch Out! Two Insects

Thank you to the Department of Health for supplying the calendars of the Salt Marsh Mosquitoes and Biting Midge.

For more information on either of these pests, visit the Department of Health’s website.

Biting Midges

Salt Marsh Mosquitoes


National Collection of

Aerial Photography (UK) – a Good Find

Feature

I found this one

of the Thai–Burma

Railway, of the bridge

over the River Kwai

at Kanchanaburi,

Thailand

Thai–Burma Railway, of the bridge over the River Kwai at Kanchanaburi (showing detail of the bridge). Courtesy of National Collection of Aerial Photography. http://ncap.org.uk/frame/000-000-051-949

Reconnaissance was, and still is, extremely important and

provides Intelligence with the information necessary

to out-guess the enemy, or direct their forces correctly.

Many a reconnaissance plane has been shot down in wartime

as troops on the ground or shipping recognised the

potentially deadly results of the aeroplane above equipped

with cameras. Many pilots of bombers and fighter aircraft

also took pictures – every photograph helped. Developed

photographs were sent to experts who were highly skilled

in analysing aerial images (photogrammetrists). They were

equipped with stereo-comparators for measuring details in

closely related or overlapping photographs, or stereoscopes

to produce a 3-dimensional effect. They analysed the length

and shape of shadows for example, to work out what they

were looking at. They looked at series of photographs taken

at different times to see what had been built, destroyed

or moved, to provide the necessary information to those

planning the attacks, or preparing defences. It is said that

photographs as well as bullets won the war.

Although the NCAP archive contains millions of photographs

covering Europe (cities, concentration camps, rivers, military

installations, beaches) there are also plenty of Asia (Thailand,

Hong Kong, China, Japan). I found this one of the Thai–Burma

Railway, of the bridge over the River Kwai at Kanchanaburi,

Thailand. The detail is incredible (although some of the clarity

has been lost during the publication process).

If you search for Colditz you will find several shots, and in

one photo (www.ncap.org.uk/NCAP-000-000-045-578 ), taken on 10

April 1945, the castle appears towards the top right, and there

appear to be people in the inner (northernmost) courtyard.

The news page lets you know what has been completed in

the way of digitising the collection – and on 6 June 2019 (the

75th Anniversary of D-Day), NCAP announced that they had

released “all known Allied cover of D-Day”.

If you wish to zoom into the photographs or download them,

you require a subscription.


Regular

Surviving Christmas from a Distance

Due to the worldwide impact of

COVID-19, our Christmas celebrations

for 2020 may look entirely different

from those of other years. As we are

feeling relatively safe in the Top End,

this may be an opportunity to plan a

‘stay-cation’ over the festive season,

and enjoy Christmas from a distance.

Spending time away from loved

ones does not need to be lonely or

disconnected, so we have some ideas

to help you embrace the magic of

Christmas.

Plan Early

Plan ahead for gifts to avoid last minute rushing. This also

includes allowing time for postage, which is often delayed in

the lead up to Christmas. Start making a list for your loved ones

and looking for gift ideas to take the pressure off.

There are also a number of free community events for Defence

and non-Defence groups that are available in most locations –

keep an eye on local newspapers and social media pages for

more information.

Cards

It is a traditional Christmas idea to send cards, and it’s a very

thoughtful way to send Christmas joy to loved ones around the

country. While we are so used to sending emails and posting

on social media, sending cards in the mail is a lovely way to

connect on a personal level, especially for loved ones who

would normally spend Christmas with you.

Newsletter

Catching up with friends and family over Christmas is always

an opportunity to share our experiences over the last 12 months,

which usually includes a lot of exploring and new opportunities.

In lieu of Christmas conversations, you might consider sending

out a personal newsletter with photos and updates about your

time in the Top End.

Treasure Hunt

It can be a lot of fun to organise a treasure hunt in the lead

up to Christmas – similar to an advent calendar idea, but a

daily activity to help pass the time and create more fun and

excitement. This activity provides a positive focus that will help

to make this time of year feel special. Look online for a number

of Christmas activities that are easy to organise, lots of fun and

keep your mind occupied.

Christmas Lights

When we find ourselves relocating every 2–3 years, we can

often miss the excitement of Christmas as we focus on packing

the house and moving on. It’s also not uncommon to be in

transit over Christmas and miss out on wrapping your home

in festive decorations! If you are not into Christmas lights and

decorations in the past, this may be the year to spread some

joy within your community and create new memories for a

Christmas at home.

Community

If you know of other families who are staying in location

this Christmas, it’s a nice idea to combine catering efforts and

embrace the opportunity to connect with other families. This

can help to reduce loneliness and make new social connections.


Calendar

Similar to the idea above, you could focus on creating a

calendar for 2021 with loads of photos from your adventures

throughout 2020. This is also a fantastic gift idea for loved ones

and a personal way to celebrate Christmas from afar. It’s also a

great way to share your experiences, adventures and memories

throughout the year. Check out the Vistaprint website to create

customised calendars and other photo gifts.

Budgeting

Take some time to plan ahead for the financial strain of

Christmas, which often leads to increased stress and tension

during the festive season and holidays. If you wish to enjoy your

Christmas and not become stressed about finances, it’s a good

strategy to put a few dollars away each fortnight throughout the

year to help cover expenses, such as gifts, groceries, outings,

alcohol, fuel, holiday activities and decorations. It’s as simple as

putting aside $30 per fortnight, which will come to $780 by the

end of the year. Although it may not seem as if you are saving

much, it will come in handy at the checkout!

Volunteer

If you are feeling lonely this Christmas and not sure how to

spend your time, maybe you could consider volunteering for a

number of organisations or events who have many people to

support at Christmas, like a soup kitchen or food bank. There

is also an option to bake some festive cookies or cook meals

for people who are less fortunate or who may be spending

Christmas alone (check on your neighbours).

Handmade

If you are not able to personally catch up with loved ones

this Christmas and have a bit of extra time on your hands due

to lack of travel, you may consider the option of making some

homemade gifts as a thoughtful way of spreading festive joy.

You may consider baking, sewing or other craft ideas and there

are loads of ideas on the internet! Baking and decorating gingerbread

is an enjoyable Christmas activity and also helps to

share the love.

Projects

This may also be a great opportunity to focus on some

projects that you have been putting off or haven’t had the

time to enjoy, such as recovering that old chair in the garage,

polishing the silver, learning how to sew or trying some new

recipes that you have always wanted to try. Spending more

time at home this Christmas could be a good time to start or

finish those longer projects!

Monsoon Magic

Although the humidity may be oppressive, the wet season is

an amazing time of the year to enjoy the sound of monsoonal

rain through open louvres, lightning shows, rolling storm clouds,

puddle jumping, dancing in the warm rain and searching for

croaking frogs amongst tropical foliage. The vibrancy and drama

of the wet season is something to be celebrated and a great

experience of life in the tropics.

Adventure

While you have some time at home, it’s a perfect opportunity

to relax and enjoy your own ‘backyard’, with so much

to do in the Top End and lots of businesses who are keen for

local support, this is a good time to invest in local tourism and

plan some ‘day-cations’. You could even book a room in a local

poolside resort for a few nights to get out of the house and

have a short break. You don’t need to travel interstate to have

an amazing time! There are plenty of travel brochures at most

major attractions and information desks around Darwin, so

start writing a list of places to go and make the most of some

new adventures!

Whatever you find yourself doing this festive season, stay

safe and try to make the most of every moment while enjoying

what the Top End has to offer!

Check out our website for some free Christmas planning

and fun activity printables available at: www.yolocoach.com.au/

printables – ENJOY!

Deb Herring

YOLO Coach

Casual Work

If you are not travelling over the Christmas break and have

more time at home, consider the option of some casual work

in the lead up to Christmas and the holiday season. You may

be able to use this time to save some extra funds or plan ahead

for your 2021 goals – a little bit extra can be a huge help to

the budget!

Decluttering

Once Christmas is over and the last string of fairy lights are

packed away, this may be a good time to declutter and clean

up around your home. It’s not uncommon to experience a lot

of stress when trying to declutter before relocating, so a quiet

Christmas at home could help to cleanse early for the next

round of postings.


Peter

Cavanagh

PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND TAX AGENTS

Over 40 years local knowledge &

experience in the tax industry

PALMERSTON

Shop 8 Palmerston Shopping Centre

email: palmerston@petercavanagh.com.au

CASUARINA

Unit 3 / 289 Trower Road, Casuarina

email: casuarina@petercavanagh.com.au

• Most refunds back in 14 days

• Electronic lodgements of

all Tax Returns

• Late lodgements available

8932 4522

Fax 8932 4292

8945 7455

Fax 8927 5521

“Continuing to support Defence staff by providing an honest

professional service in a language that can be understood”

MARK WINN formerly at

RAAF BASE SERVICE STATION

PHONE: 8981 4630

FAX: 8941 2124 PO Box 39872 WINNELLIE 0821


... and for the Toddlers

Coconut Kisses

Do your children like watching what you are doing while you are

cooking? Here is a tried and true recipe for them as it involves

very little cutting (always good when small children have big ideas),

simple ingredients and a couple of spoons, although the sticky surfaces

afterwards can be a bit daunting. The cakes are also gluten free.

Ingredients

1 tin of sweetened condensed milk

250 fine desiccated coconut, less 1 tablespoon

2 glacé cherries previously chopped by you into small pieces.

Method

Pour the condensed milk into a bowl, add the coconut and stir well, adding more if necessary,

so that the mixture is dry enough to hold its shape, while still being damp enough to stick

well to itself. Make 36–40.

With a teaspoon, scoop out rough lumps, and place them on a baking sheet lined with baking paper. Place a small piece of

glacé cherry on top of each one, bake at 160ºC for 8–10 minutes or until golden. Leave for a few minutes to firm up before

transferring to a cooling tray.

Now clean the kitchen before relaxing with a cup of coffee and a Coconut Kiss.

Owned by multiple Golden Guitar winner and horseman extraordinaire,

Tom Curtain, Katherine Outback Experience celebrates life in the outback

through real horse-starting and working dog demonstrations, horse riding

experiences, live music and bush tales.

Head to our website to find out more or to book our

OUTBACK SHOWS | HORSE RIDING EXPERIENCES

SPECIAL EVENTS

Winner of the best

Tourist Attraction in the

Northern Territory in

2018 and 2019.

Bookings Essential

For more information about our services visit

katherineoutbackexperience.com.au

1300 818 612 | admin@katherineoutback.com.au

Office Hours: Monday to Saturday 9am-5pm Online Bookings: 24/7

See website for special events and show schedule. Corporate and group booking

available by appointment.


Feature

WWII Reconnaissance Pilot

Honoured at Coomalie Airfield

´ Corporal David Anstee lays the wreath.

³ Walking to the aircraft crash site.

To commemorate the 75th

anniversary of the passing of

Squadron Leader James Gillespie, a

small service attended by members

of Nos 87 and 13 Squadron and No

114 Mobile Control and Reporting

Unit (114MCRU) was held at

Coomalie Airfield on 5 August 2020.

Squadron Leader Gillespie of No 87 Photographic

Reconnaissance Squadron died as a result of injuries

sustained when his Mosquito aircraft A52-605 crashed on

take-off from Coomalie Airfield in the Northern Territory

on 3 August 1945.

Coomalie Airfield was used during

World War II as a vital intelligence

collection point

Coomalie Airfield was used during World War II as a vital intelligence

collection point with No 1 Photographic Reconnaissance

Unit (1PRU) stationed there. 1PRU was later re-designated No

87 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron.

Mr Richard Luxton, the current owner of Coomalie Airfield

and a respected member of the Darwin Historical Community,

gave a speech on the threshold of Runway 17 where the ill-fated

Mosquito had commenced its take-off roll.

As is customary for those who served at the airfield during

WWII, a red flare was released in Gillespie’s honour.

The attendees then moved to the site of the crash about

200m down the runway, where Corporal David Anstee laid a

wreath on behalf of present-day 87 Squadron personnel and

RAAF Base Darwin’s Senior Australian Defence Force Officer,

Wing Commander Andrew Anthony.

A General Salute was performed by Squadron Leader Craig

Sedgman of 13 Squadron, Corporal David Anstee (87 Squadron),

Corporal Nevio Angrisano (114MCRU), Leading Aircraftwoman

Courtney Quick (13 Squadron), and Aircraftwoman Abby Cain

(114MCRU).

In his reply speech as the Officer-in-Charge, Squadron Leader

Sedgman quoted the work of a WWII historian to explain the

flying nuances of the Mosquito aircraft.

“The Mosquito was not an easy aircraft to fly”, Squadron


´ 13 Squadron

± Squadron Leader Craig Sedgman

Leader Sedgman said, adding, “In the words of combat aircraft historian, Bill

Sweetman, the Mosquito was: ‘A slightly nervous thoroughbred which could

perform impressive feats in the hands of the courageous and competent

… but would occasionally deal out a kick or a bite. Its power-to-weight ratio

and wing loading were both high, and its Vmc – the speed that needs to be

maintained to assure rudder effectiveness with one engine feathered and the

other running at full power –

Its power-to-weight

ratio and wing loading

were both high

was 172 mph (277km/h) or

more, probably the highest

of any WWII twin. There was

a substantial ‘no-man’s-land’

between lift-off and Vmc,

during which an engine failure was usually fatal. Below Vmc, power had to

be quickly retarded on the good engine to keep the aeroplane from rolling,

and this meant a loaded Mosquito could no longer maintain altitude.’”

So while the exact cause of the crash was never fully determined, what

does seem clear is that Mosquitos suffered performance issues in the takeoff

configuration, which could lead to fatal consequences under certain

conditions.

Squadron Leader Craig Sedgman

13 Squadron



Feature

Rim of the Pacific 2020

Ships, Helicopters and Castaways

Regarding our story in the August/September issue of this

magazine, a total of five ships, not four, visited Darwin

on their way to Exercise Rim of the Pacific, or RimPac 2020

– HMA Ships Canberra, Hobart, Stuart, Arunta and HMAS

Sirius (a supply ship). My apologies to the crew of Sirius

for that omission.

I have also since found out that I

made another error as well – HMAS

Canberra is properly referred to

as an Amphibious Assault Ship or

Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD).

Apologies for that also.

RimPac is a biennial exercise and is the largest international

maritime exercise in the world. This year’s exercise , held

off the Hawai’ian and Californian coasts included 22 surface

ships, a submarine and 5,300 personnel from ten countries

– Australia, Brunei, Canada, France, Japan, New Zealand,

Republic of Korea, Republic of the Philippines, Singapore and

the United States of America. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic,

³ 1HMAS Sirius (right) conducts a Replenishment at Sea with JS Ise as they sail in company

through the southern waters of Hawai’i during Exercise RIMPAC 2020. – Photo

LSIS Christopher Szumlanski

´ An Australian Army ARH-90 Tiger Helicopter from HMAS Canberra lands on Pikelot

Island in the Federated States of Micronesia where all three men were found safe and

healthy after missing for three days.

Copyright – Australian Govt. Dept. of Defence

the exercise was held at sea only.

After conducting a Regional Presence Deployment and after

departing with the Task Group, to head home, the crew of

Canberra were involved in a search and rescue which assisted

in locating three Micronesian sailors who had run off-course

and run out of fuel. The men were found on tiny Pikelot Island

almost 200km west of where they set off in their seven-metre

vessel. A huge “SOS” signal written in the sand was spotted

by aviation assets embarked onboard HMAS Canberra. Crew

of 1st Aviation Regiment in an Australian Army ARH-90 Tiger

reconnaissance helicopter landed on the beach, delivered food

and water, confirmed the men’s identities and performed health

checks. A Micronesian patrol vessel subsequently went to rescue

them.


From the Vet

Regular

Regular

When is the right time? –

Making the choice to

euthanise your pet

The decision to euthanise (commonly termed ‘put to

sleep’) your pet is never easy. In most cases the choice

is made because the quality of life of the animal has deteriorated

and it is suffering, and treatment is either unlikely

to change the prognosis or is not financially feasible for

the owner. Unfortunately, not everyone is

lucky enough to have their pet pass away

in their sleep and the kindest thing may

be for the pet owner to intervene and help

them in their final days.

Generally, there are a few situations which

may lead a pet owner to consider euthanasia

of their pet. It could be in an acute or

emergency situation, where perhaps injuries

or disease to the animal are so severe that

treatment is unlikely to bring a positive outcome or will be

too costly for an owner to finance. These situations are very

distressing and confronting for all involved, but it is important

to be realistic and to put the welfare of the

animal before anything else, and make a decision

quickly.

More commonly, the decision to euthanise

a pet is due to old age. Elderly animals

often end up with conditions such as arthritis,

faecal or urinary incontinence, kidney or

liver disease, cancer or heart problems which

cause a gradual decline in their health and

quality of life. If an owner is unsure about

whether their pet is nearing the end of their

life, I ask them to reflect on how their pet may

be now compared to 6 or 12 months ago and have them complete

a quality of life survey, to help them assess any decline in

their pet’s health. This often makes their decision easier when

they realise the animal has more issues than first thought.

Besides severe injuries or diseases, often unforeseen reasons

for euthanising pets may include behavioural problems,

recently diagnosed diseases which require lifelong medication

that the owner may be unable to afford or administer, or the

pet has attacked another animal or person.

it is important to

be realistic and to

put the welfare of

the animal before

anything else,

They should not

feel guilty if they

cannot afford

a treatment, or

cannot fix an

elderly animal’s

condition

Veterinarians have had an

abundance of experience with

guiding their clients in this decisionmaking

process

Whatever the circumstances, it is important that the pet

owner makes the most humane and ethical decision and tries

to be as selfless as possible putting themselves in the animal’s

shoes. They should not feel guilty if they cannot afford a

treatment, or cannot fix an elderly animal’s

condition, because guilt is often the reason

that an owner may delay putting their pet to

sleep, which may cause ongoing suffering to

the animal. Of course, as with any loss of a

loved one, itwill come great sadness but one

thing I’ve learnt, having been in the situation

many times myself, is the relief you feel for

your pet once they have passed and are no

longer in pain.

It is important that pet owners lean on their vet for guidance

and support during this difficult time. Coming to terms

Dr Kate Daymond

Litchfield Vet Hospital

with the fact that your pet is going to be in

a better place when you let them go is difficult.

Veterinarians have had an abundance

of experience with guiding their clients in this

decision-making process.

So, if you are feeling that this decision

may be nearing and you are overwhelmed

by having to make it, book an appointment

with the vet first and have a chat about it.

That’s what we are here for.

1

The information in this article has been

adapted from the Australian Veterinary

Association (AVA) Covid-19 Working Group

client fact sheet. For more information go to

https://www.vetvoice.com.au/articles/advice-to-pet-owners-during-covid-

19-from-the-australian-veterinary-association


Regulars – Explore the NT

Feature

Ninth Iteration of Marine Rotational

Force–Darwin Strengthens Alliance

Marine Rotational Force–Darwin has completed its ninth successful

rotation to the Northern Territory. While the arrival of

COVID-19 modified the planned rotation, the fact that it was able

to proceed during these unprecedented times is a testament to the

US–Australian alliance.

While MRF-D is a tangible demonstration of our strong relationship

with Australia today, our alliance extends back much further; nearly 100

years ago to World War I.

Recently, the MRF-D Commanding Officer Colonel David Banning,

addressed our extended history at a ceremony commemorating the conclusion

of World War II. Banning mentioned the inclusion of US troops

into Australian families and the development of strong bonds both in

professional and personal relationships.

As American families said goodbye to their sons, little did they know

that on the other side of the world their children would be welcomed with

open arms by “the wonderful people of Australia, many of whom became

surrogate families to thousands of young boys with funny accents who

didn’t like Vegemite or know what a chook was,” stated Banning.

The relationship forged extends deep into the hearts of modern-day

Marines. These long-established ties allowed this year’s MRF-D rotation to

succeed despite the uncertainty in the operating environment.

MRF-D efficiently executed a modified training plan through close

coordination with our Australian Defence Force counterparts. Marines

of MRF-D increased their capabilities and explored new concepts in line

with the Marine Corps Commandant General David H Berger’s Planning

Guidance which seeks to make Marines “first on the scene, first to help,

first to contain a brewing crisis, and first to fight if required to do so.”

2

1 3


4

5

6

Combined training coordinated by MRF-D allowed for the

successful integration of ADF and US Air Force elements while

conducting long range strategic bomber strikes. The training

opportunities increased our combined readiness and explored

new working relationships to include the ability for Australian

forces to call for air support from US aircraft.

The culminating event of the 2020 rotation, Exercise

Koolendong, served as a major bilateral exercise that saw the

seamless integration of MRF-D with Artillery unit 8th/12th

Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery and infantry unit 5th

Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment both of 1st Brigade and

armed reconnaissance helicopters of 1st Aviation Regiment,

16th Brigade.

The two partner forces concluded the exercise with a

dynamic training scenario that transitioned from humanitarian

aid operations into combined, live-fire, offensive and defensive

operations. This tough, realistic training develops operational

proficiency for each force and, more importantly, forges even

tighter bonds between the two allies.

The completion of this rotation serves as a reminder that

1. US Marine Corps Corporal Lydia Gordon a combat graphics specialist with MRF–D (right) and

Australian Army Lieutenant Olivia Miley-Dyer. – Photo Corporal Sarah Marshall

2. Sergeant Weston Davis with Ground Combat Element, MRF–D, introduces an Australian

Defence Force Army member to the M41 A7 Saber system at Mount Bundey Training Area,

NT. – Photo Corporal Lydia Gordon

3. US Marines MRF–D, and Australian Defence Force service members participate in a ceremony

commemorating Victory in the Pacific in Darwin, NT, August 15, 2020. – Photo Lance Corporal

Natalie Greenwood

4. Operating the RQ-20B Puma small unmanned aircraft alongside Australian Defence Force

forward observers from the observation post at Mount Bundey Training Area, NT August

2020. – Photo Corporal Harrison Rakhshani

5. Captain Benjamin Hovies with Command Element, MRF–D, and Australian Army Sergeant

Aaron Costas direct the flight path of a US Air Force B-2 Spirit Bomber at Mount Bundey

Training Area, NT. – Photo Corporal Harrison Rakhshani

6. Staff Sergeant Micheal Mendoza, a joint terminal attack controller with Command Element,

MRF–D (left), and Australian Defence Force Sergeant Aaron Costas, with 102nd Coral Battery,

communicate to a B-1B Lancer pilot at Mount Bundey Training Area, NT. – Photo Corporal

Sarah Marshall

the presence of a strong alliance allows for difficult obstacles to

be overcome. The Marines of the 2020 rotation will carry their

newly minted friendships with them and forever remember

the first time they tasted Vegemite alongside their Australian

mates.

1st Lieutenant Bridget Glynn

MRF-D COMMSTRAT OIC


Regular

Craig's Fishing

Barramundi Mania

This is my favourite time of year

for fishing! The build-up has hit

with a vengeance and that makes

our favourite sportfish go crazy …

BARRAMUNDI MANIA!

Water temperatures are up, and the big shallow flats

of Shoal Bay will see many big Barra over the 90cm

mark taking live baits and big minnow-style

lures in the low-tide holes

and around ‘The Rock’. Shallow

diving Reidy’s Big B52’s (Pearl Jam

is a ripper) or 16A Bombers are a

hit for the job, as is my personal favourite the Killalure

Barrabait, 8ft, in colour BDSI Goldhead.

Vibing the mouth of King Creek is also a popular tactic on

both Jewfish and Barra, the new Psycho Bling coloured Samaki

Vibelicious 100mm vibe proving way too

irresistible recently on both species including

big Threadfin Salmon.

Do not forget Darwin Harbour – you will

be surprised by just how good the Barra

fishing is so close to home. Woods Inlet

is prime on a spring low of about 1.2m.

Get there early, at least 2 hours before low tide. Be armed

with Rapala Flat Rap, 15A Aussie Bling Bombers, 4-inch Gulp

Swimming Mullets and an Ecooda Bling Lime Live Prawn. That’ll

just about cover it for the shallow flats and snake drain gutters

on the outgoing tide. Once the tide has turned, keep fishing

for the first hour of incoming then call it a day.

This time of year is also prime time for coastal rock fishing,

with big Barra cruising their way along the coastline toward the

big river mouths in preparation for the forthcoming wet season.

A bouncing Egret Wedgetail on a Flashy Swimmer jig head rig is

killer if you love your plastics, and the

go and have a great time for

a couple of hours

full moon at night.

trick is to work them real slow along

the bottom. I like to hit these spots

early in the morning on the new moon

phase if possible, or alternatively the

It’s not only the coastal Barra firing at this time of year, but

inland fishing also turns it on. The billabongs, and Manton Dam

are worth targeting and can be a great option early evening

under the approaching full moon phase.

you will be surprised

by just how good the

Barra fishing is so

close to home.

Slow trolling the weedy edges and bank

structures with mid-sized shallow minnows

or casting these same areas where the

sounder is showing fish holding up is the

easiest technique. The saying ‘never leave

fish to find fish’ is one to remember.

If you are heading inland, make sure you take some surface

lures also, things like Cultiva Tango Dancers and Live Target Wake

baits are dynamite at night or first light.

To maximise your next trip, get into Craig’s for the latest

info and advice!

Craig Grosvenor

Craig’s Fishing Warehouse

present this voucher at

Craig’s Fishing Warehouse

to receive 25% off all lures instore!

CRAIG'S FISHING WAREHOUSE – Shop 2 | 1 Berrimah Road | Truck City | Berrimah

Phone: 8947 4867 Email: sales@craigsfishingwarehouse.com.au


What’s the Tide Doin’

Teen

TIMES LAT AND 12° 28ʼ HEIGHTS S

OF LONG HIGH AND 130° LOW 51ʼ WATERS E

| TIME ZONE – 0930 2020

Scene

Times and October

Heights of High and Low Waters November

Time Zone –0930

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

m

Time

m

Time

m

Time

m

Time

m

Time

m

Time

m

STRALIA, NORTH

NORTH COAST

COAST – DARWIN

– DARWIN

2020

6.81

2.44

6.27

1.25

7.27

1.82

6.87

0.95

7.60

1.25

7.34

0.87

7.75

0.80

7.60

1.02

7.73

0.53

7.64

1.38

7.53

0.51

7.43

1.92

7.15

0.75

7.01

2.57

6.60

1.23

6.44

3.24

5.92

1.86

5.85

3.85

5.17

2.48

5.41

4.09

4.50

2.83

5.49

3.58

4.77

2.71

5.92

2.97

5.35

2.38

6.32

2.47

5.90

2.08

6.63

2.08

6.35

1

0004 1.86

0615 6.84

TH

1234 1.78

1822 6.71

2

0033 1.73

0640 6.97

FR

1257 1.53

1854 6.95

3

0059 1.71

0701 7.02

SA

1321 1.33

1924 7.08

4

0122 1.78

0718 7.00

SU

1344 1.20

1952 7.10

5

0144 1.95

0737 6.91

MO

1408 1.18

2021 7.02

6

0207 2.19

0756 6.73

TU

1436 1.28

2050 6.85

7

0232 2.51

0816 6.44

WE

1505 1.52

2121 6.59

8

0259 2.89

0834 6.07

TH

1535 1.87

2159 6.25

9

0332 3.32

0851 5.63

FR

1611 2.30

2244 5.86

10

0423 3.77

0912 5.16

SA

1704 2.72

2348 5.51

11

0558 4.11

0950 4.66

SU

1826 3.02

12

0124 5.38

0823 4.01

MO

1336 4.38

2021 2.97

13

0314 5.72

0957 3.43

TU

1530 5.03

2150 2.55

14

0413 6.25

1041 2.74

WE

1624 5.82

2246 2.06

15

0458 6.76

1120 2.01

TH

1713 6.58

2332 1.65

16

0536 7.18

1158 1.31

FR

1759 7.24

17

0013 1.42

0611 7.48

SA

1236 0.71

1844 7.71

18

0050 1.38

0642 7.61

SU

1312 0.28

1928 7.94

19

0125 1.54

0711 7.58

MO

1349 0.11

2009 7.92

20

0201 1.86

0741 7.37

TU

1427 0.24

2050 7.65

21

0238 2.32

0813 6.96

WE

1506 0.65

2132 7.19

22

0318 2.86

0845 6.39

TH

1547 1.28

2218 6.61

23

0405 3.41

0920 5.69

FR

1633 2.03

2312 6.03

24

0525 3.86

1010 4.94

SA

1739 2.74

25

0025 5.58

0739 3.88

SU

1249 4.43

1916 3.17

26

0211 5.50

0940 3.35

MO

1512 4.86

2105 3.16

27

0337 5.75

1030 2.79

TU

1609 5.45

2214 2.91

28

0426 6.05

1106 2.33

WE

1652 5.99

2259 2.66

29

0501 6.31

1134 1.95

TH

1729 6.45

2334 2.45

30

0529 6.50

1200 1.63

FR

1804 6.82

31

0004 2.31

0049 2.99

0553 6.64

0614 6.29

SA

1224 1.35

TH

1305 1.04

1836 7.08

1944 7.37

The Bureau of Meteorology gives no warranty of any kind whether express, implied, statutory or

wealth otherwise of Australia in respect to 2019, the availability, Bureau accuracy, of currency, Meteorology

completeness, quality or reliability of the

information or that the information will be fit for any particular purpose or will not infringe any third party

is Lowest Astronomical Tide

Intellectual Property rights. The Bureau's liability for any loss, damage, cost or expense resulting from use

of, or reliance on, the information is entirely excluded. Tidal predictions for Northern Territory Ports are

s supplied New by Moon

the National Tidal Centre of the Bureau First of Quarter

Meteorology, copyright reserved. Full Moon Last Quarter

© Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2016 represented by the Bureau of Meteorology

Moon Symbols New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter

Tides provided with permission of NT Government, Department of Transport

https://nt.gov.au/marine/for-all-harbour-and-boat-users/check-the-tides/tidal-information-nt-ports

1

0031 2.25

0615 6.73

SU

1247 1.13

1906 7.24

2

0056 2.26

0637 6.77

MO

1313 0.99

1936 7.29

3

0121 2.34

0659 6.72

TU

1339 0.98

2004 7.24

4

0147 2.49

0723 6.58

WE

1408 1.11

2034 7.09

5

0216 2.70

0747 6.35

TH

1437 1.37

2106 6.86

6

0248 2.99

0812 6.02

FR

1508 1.74

2143 6.55

7

0326 3.33

0839 5.63

SA

1545 2.18

2227 6.21

8

0421 3.67

0914 5.19

SU

1635 2.63

2324 5.88

9

0545 3.89

1024 4.73

MO

1751 3.00

10

0041 5.71

0740 3.72

TU

1305 4.61

1932 3.11

11

0209 5.83

0908 3.15

WE

1500 5.20

2105 2.91

12

0318 6.17

1003 2.42

TH

1603 5.98

2210 2.58

13

0408 6.55

1048 1.67

FR

1656 6.73

2301 2.30

14

0450 6.89

1129 0.99

SA

1746 7.35

2346 2.13

15

0527 7.13

1209 0.45

SU

1833 7.79

16

0026 2.08

0601 7.26

MO

1247 0.12

1917 7.98

17

0105 2.16

0636 7.24

TU

1325 0.06

1959 7.94

18

0144 2.35

0713 7.05

WE

1405 0.29

2040 7.69

19

0225 2.64

0750 6.70

TH

1445 0.76

2121 7.29

20

0311 2.97

0829 6.20

FR

1526 1.40

2205 6.80

21

0406 3.32

0914 5.61

SA

1611 2.11

2253 6.32

22

0522 3.56

1015 5.01

SU

1708 2.79

2348 5.90

23

0654 3.56

1212 4.63

MO

1824 3.29

24

0056 5.64

0827 3.28

TU

1417 4.82

1951 3.51

25

0213 5.59

0935 2.85

WE

1532 5.30

2112 3.48

26

0317 5.71

1019 2.44

TH

1623 5.81

2213 3.31

27

0403 5.87

1054 2.05

FR

1705 6.28

2258 3.12

28

0437 6.05

1123 1.70

SA

1742 6.68

2334 2.96

29

0507 6.20

1151 1.39

SU

1817 6.99

30

0005 2.83

0534 6.34

MO

1219 1.15

1850 7.20

1

0033 2.75

0602 6.44

TU

1247 1.00

1921 7.31

2

0101 2.72

0631 6.47

WE

1318 0.97

1952 7.32

3

0131 2.75

0702 6.43

TH

1348 1.06

2024 7.23

4

0204 2.83

0732 6.30

FR

1420 1.26

2057 7.08

5

0241 2.98

0806 6.09

SA

1454 1.57

2134 6.86

6

0325 3.17

0843 5.80

SU

1531 1.96

2216 6.60

7

0420 3.34

0932 5.44

MO

1618 2.40

2304 6.34

8

0531 3.41

1044 5.11

TU

1720 2.84

9

0001 6.13

0653 3.24

WE

1229 5.01

1840 3.17

10

0106 6.02

0813 2.81

TH

1415 5.35

2010 3.30

11

0214 6.06

0919 2.21

FR

1536 5.95

2127 3.22

12

0314 6.22

1014 1.58

SA

1639 6.61

2230 3.06

13

0405 6.43

1102 1.01

SU

1734 7.17

2322 2.89

14

0450 6.63

1146 0.58

MO

1824 7.58

15

0009 2.76

0532 6.77

TU

1228 0.34

1910 7.79

16

0052 2.68

0614 6.82

WE

1310 0.32

1953 7.81

Things 0136 17

to 2.66 do Around

0657 6.75

TH

1351 0.52

Town2033 7.67

18

21

0457 3.12

1006 5.40

MO

1629 2.64

2305 6.30

22

0558 3.19

1117 5.04

TU

1717 3.19

2346 5.94

0138 5.46

0912 2.72

FR

1545 5.42

2103 3.91

26

0248 5.43

1004 2.37

SA

1639 5.90

2215 3.77

28

0427 5.71

1122 1.67

MO

1759 6.74

2344 3.34

29

0504 5.91

1158 1.38

TU

1835 7.03

Regular

I

0221 2.72

t’s that time 0739 of 6.54

year again – examinations are looming.

FR

1431 0.91

Perhaps you 2112 have 7.40

already had your trial exams, or maybe

you’re in the 0309 middle 2.83

of them, who knows these days? There

19

0824 6.22

is a lot of

SA

work 1510 to 1.44

cover, assessments to hand in, and revision

to do before the NTCET and VCE examinations proper

2150 7.06

0401 2.98

start. Stress 20

becomes a feature of everyday life, so check this

0911 5.82

website – SU

www.au.reachout.com/everyday-issues/examstress

– for ideas, and if you need to take a step back,

1549 2.03

2228 6.68

perhaps one of the following will help:

Lake Alexander

Nice shaded grass, cool (sort of!) shady trees, and there are

barbeque facilities. In other words, go and have a great time

0702 3.16

for a couple 23

of 1244 hours. 4.87

Turn off along Alec Fong Lim Drive near

Fannie Bay WE

Gaol

1824 and

3.63

the Ross Smith Memorial. For those of

you who want to stretch your legs, follow the track from the

0036 5.65

carpark into 24

the 0809 mangroves 3.00

and if the tide is out you will see

TH

1423 5.01

all the Mud-Skippers 1941 3.88

and Fiddler Crabs putting in their ”nine till

five”. And afterwards, there is the Cool Spot which serves very

25

nice fruit sorbets and cold drinks.

Cool in the Pool

Meet a few friends and go for a swim in the Wave Pool at

Darwin Waterfront,

0344 5.53

or let off some steam at the waterparks in

Leanyer or 27

Palmerston. 1046 2.01

Or if you have no car, or can’t be bothered

with the 2306 crowds, 3.55

invite a few friends around and splash

SU

1721 6.36

around in your own pool.

Adelaide River

For a great day out with a few good friends and to ‘recharge

your batteries’, head down to Adelaide River for lunch. Perhaps

take a picnic and 0017 walk 3.16

along from the main road along Memorial

Terrace to

30

the

0539 War

6.12

Cemetery. The park between the road and

WE

1231 1.17

the river is a nice 1909 place 7.24

to picnic – but resist the urge to paddle.

Crocodiles!

31Outside the main gate is one of the best lawns

in the NT - thick, springy, and beautifully trimmed, and if you

enter – many of the trees are on the Tree Register as being

interesting specimens of their kind.

Head over the river and take the first right, follow the road

for the next few kilometres and visit Robin Falls. The walk in

is narrow and uneven, but there is deep shade and a trickle

of water.

I wish all of you with NTCET or VCE examinations

approaching, all the very best.


Croc Cove Colouring Competition

NAME: ....................................................................................

AGE: ....................................................................................................

ADDRESS ...............................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................

POST CODE:...............................................................................................

EMAIL: .......................................................................................................

PHONE: .....................................................................................

Entries close on Monday, 19 October 2020.

Send a good quality image of your artwork to

admin@thetopendermagazine.org.au or post it to PO Box

35874, Winnellie, NT 0821. Winners will be notified

by post/phone and announced in

The Top Ender.

Congratulations

go to Hariet, aged

7, from Lyons, for

winning the colouring

in competition in the

August/Sept issue.

Congratulations!


Regular

Feature

Caught in the Spotlight!

Searchlights were an essential defence

against night air-raids during World War II,

and there were plenty of batteries operating

in the Northern Territory.

They were originally developed for use against ships, so that land

guns could fire against harbour raiders. In turn, with the development

of electricity, lights were invented for use at sea, and then, as

military aircraft began flying at night in World War I the use of lights to

find aircraft developed so that gunners could see them well enough

to fire at them. In WWII they were grouped around vulnerable targets

such as towns and military installations, and as the Allies moved

northwards towards Darwin in WWII, the necessary searchlights went

with them. The more efficient the searchlights and their operators,

the more likely they were to light up an enemy force before serious

damage could be done – the element of surprise was lost.

The lights were mounted on a wheeled trolley and were powered by a

diesel-electric generator on a trailer or truck, in conjunction with a sound

locator. As electronics developed, the searchlights switched to radar detection,

capable of locating an aircraft at 30,000 yards (27 kilometres) and

assessing range, bearing and elevation with moderate accuracy. A range

operator watched a screen and brought a ‘strobe spot’ onto the echo (or

received signal of the radio waves bouncing back off the enemy aircraft)

he wished the light to follow. Two other operators (elevation (angle to

the object from the horizontal) and azimuth (angle of object from north

or south)) with their displays attached to two antennas each, assisted the

range operator in pin-pointing the target.

By the end of the war all Australian searchlights were tropicalised and in

the main operated on a three-ton truck, or even in aircraft. The searchlight

units generally operated with their own machine gun protection, which

was sometimes needed as the searchlights were targets themselves. For

example, on 20 January 1943, two Betty bombers attacked the Allied Works

Council, and the Anti-Aircraft searchlights at Ironstone Lagoon near Darwin.

By 1941, the 54th and 64th Australian Anti-Aircraft Search Light

Company was operating from camps at Ironstone Lagoon, Lee Point,

Peanut Farm, Quarantine Station, Nightcliffe (spelt with an ‘e’ in those

days), Fanny Bay, Dripstone, Leanyer, Bagot, Emery Point and Dudley Point

– all within 20kms of Darwin, with a posted strength of 283 people. By

mid-1943, there were 24 searchlight locations around the Top End of the

Northern Territory, operating 90cm, 150cm and Sperry projectors.

Dr Tom Lewis OAM

Military Historian

In WWII they were

grouped around

vulnerable targets such

as towns and military

installations

By a War

Correspondent of

The West

Australian

Searchlight Importance –

Speed and Efficiency

When, during the recent

full moon, the Japanese

made their seven abortive

raids against the Darwin

area, the most important

part in our defence against

them was played by searchlights.

Theirs was the job

of finding the bombers as

soon as they came within

range, flashing their millions

of candle-power dead

on the planes, and holding

them in the dazzling

glare, so that the ackack

[anti-aircraft guns]

could gauge its target

accurately. They worked

splendidly in every raid.

By mid-1943, there were

24 searchlight locations

around the Top End of

the Northern Territory,

operating 90cm, 150cm,

and Sperry projectors


1st Darwin Sea Scouts

Carrying on the Scouting Journey

This year, Scouts Australia celebrates

30 years of the ‘Joey mob’, designed

for children aged between 5 and 8

years. In honour of this, 1st Darwin Sea

Scouts had a beach day on 30 August

when scouts and their families came

together to celebrate with a morning

of beach games and challenges, ending

with an iconic Australian sausage

sizzle. As we focus on this milestone

it is important to reflect on the history

of the organisation in Darwin and the

meaning it holds for the children who

become members.

The Scouting movement itself was

established in 1908 when Lord Baden-

Powell, inspired by his experiences in the

Boer War in South Africa, published the

book Scouting for Boys. What started as a

guide for male youth in outdoor survival

skills has grown to become an international

organisation where males and females

can embark on a journey of growth that

is youth-led and adult supported.

In Darwin, the scouting journey began

in 1928 when Captain Leonard Robert

Samut established the Scouts as a means

of providing the boys of Darwin with a

chance to learn and develop skills that

would help shape them into future leaders.

Since the founding of 1st Darwin

Sea Scouts, the scouting movement has

evolved to become gender-inclusive and

includes Joeys (5–8 years), Cubs (8–11),

Scouts (11–15), Venturers (15–18), and

Rovers (18–25). Today the members of

1st Darwin Sea Scouts are continuing

in the scouting tradition by participating

in a range of adventurous activities that

include canoeing, bike riding, camping,

bushwalking and sailing. The success of

their efforts is recognised in the awarding

of badges for each new challenge they

embrace and conquer.

From the early days in the Northern

Territory, the scouting movement has

expanded to locations all around Darwin

and throughout the Territory, enabling

young people to be part of an organisation

where they can come together

with other youth and leaders and find a

sense of belonging. Furthermore, they

can learn new skills while developing a

strong sense of self and resiliency.

From the initial days of Scouting

until now, the Scouting movement has

remained an important institution for

young people. It is particularly important

today, as times have changed regarding

to family structure, social media, and

global pandemics. The Scouting organisation

may therefore provide a safe place

for youth to find comfort in their belonging

while establishing lifelong friendships.

For more information: admin@nt.scouts.

com.au or 8948 0994.

Denna Menz

Leader and Parent Helper

continued from page 37 | VP Day

1 April 1942 Allied troops in Borneo surrender.

21 April 1942 Japan pushes British troops west over the

Irrawaddy, to retreat to India.

27 April 1942 Strauss Airfield, near Noonamah, completed

by 808 Engineer Aviation Battalion.

7–8 May 1942 Battle of Coral Sea – a strategic victory for US

and Australian forces.

4–7 June 1942 Battle of Midway (decisive air–sea battle

defending Midway Islands, a coral atoll at the northern end of

the Hawaiian archipelago, 2,100km north-west of Honolulu),

the ‘tide of war’ starts to turn as Japanese Imperial Navy no

longer capable of mounting a serious offensive, allowing the

Allies to fight back.

21 July 1942 Japan invades Australian Territory of Papua, and

looks at advancing south along Kokoda Trail.

23 July 1942 First engagement on Kokoda Trail against Papuan

Infantry Battalion and the 39th Australian Infantry Battalion at

Awala.

24–25 August 1942 Battle of Eastern Solomons – the third

battle fought by aircraft based on aircraft carriers; although there

was no clear victory, Japanese losses were greater and the Allies

gained a tactical advantage.

1 December 1942 Ordinary Seaman Teddy Sheean VC killed

on HMAS Armidale sunk in the Arafura Sea.

18 February 1943 Death of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

(Commander in Chief of the Combined Fleet, a key figure in

the war in the Pacific, tactician behind the Japanese advance

through south-east Asia, attacks on Pearl Harbor and Darwin,

and Battle of Midway) – shot down over Bougainville (The Top

Ender June/July p.48) – a serious blow to Japan.

20 June 1943 Spitfires from NT intercept a formation of 42


continued from facing page | VP Day

Japanese aeroplanes, shooting down 14 – the most successful

engagement over Australian soil (The Top Ender February/

March 2018).

15 October 1943 Joining of the two ends of the Thai–Burma

Railway.

20 October 1944 General MacArthur returns to the Philippines.

4–11 February 1945 Yalta Conference – Churchill, Stalin,

Roosevelt meet at Yalta in the Crimea.

9 March 1945 Japan overthrows French colonial rule in French

Indochina.

7 May 1945 German High Command authorises unconditional

surrender on all its fronts.

8 May 1945 Victory in Europe.

5 June 1945 Berlin Declaration in which the United States, the

Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and France assume supreme

authority on behalf of the Allies over German territory.

6 August 1945 USA with consent of UK (Quebec Agreement)

drops first ever atomic bomb ‘Little Boy’ (a uranium device)

on Hiroshima.

9 August 1945 USA with consent of UK drops atomic bomb

‘Fat Man’ (a plutonium device) on Nagasaki.

15 August 1945 Victory over Japan.

2 September 1945 Japan surrenders to the Allies on board

the USS Missouri anchored in Tokyo Bay. The surrender was

officially accepted by General MacArthur, with representatives

of nine other allied nations. The signing was followed by a display

of fifteen hundred aeroplanes as a final display of might.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7incPwTOxI.

Post Scriptum

11 March 1974 Japanese ‘holdout’ officer Hiroo Onoda

surrenders to President Ferdinand Marcos, after 29 years of continued

guerrilla warfare against local villages on the Philippine

island of Lubang.

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/japan-invades-hong-kong

http://factsanddetails.com/asian/ca67/sub427/entry-5330.html

https://www.verzetsmuseum.org/museum/en/tweede-wereldoorlog/

kingdomofthenetherlands/thedutcheastindies/thedutcheastindies-the_

japanese_conquest

http://kokodahistorical.com.au/history/fall-of-singapore

https://www.britannica.com/place/Midway-Islands

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E84663

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-16/75-years-since-thai-burmarailway-completed/10376712

https://www.osti.gov/opennet/manhattan-project-history/

Events/1890s-1939/exploring.htm\

Due to alterations in telephone numbers and recent postings,

the updated contact list for Chaplains is given below.

ADF Chaplains in the NT

Navy On-call: 0409 662 823

Shaun Foster HMAS Coonawarra Australian

Christian Churches 8935 5388 | 0400 514 375

Kelvin Harris Fleet North/ HMAS Coonawarra

Anglican

8935 5183 | 0457 712 743

Army On-call: 0427 713 963

James Hall 8/12 Anglican

8925 2457 | 0429 345 167

Piotr Kowalczyk Regional Support, Roman

Catholic 8925 2662 | 0409 778 462

Chris Lindsay 1 CER Presbyterian

8925 6414 | 0418 428 337

Garth Mayger 1 CSSB Roman Catholic

8925 9005 | 0419 869 187

Phil Riley HQ1 BDE Anglican

8925 2018 | 0407 283 050

Ricky Su 5 RAR Baptist

8925 2754 | 0408 684 783

Airforce On-call Darwin:

0477 308 064

Airforce On-call Tindal:

0427 890 054

Mitch Herps RAAF Tindal Anglican

8973 6032 | 0438 493 232

Andrew Knox RAAF Tindal Anglican

8973 6033 | 0457 803 372

Nathan Runham RAAF Darwin Presbyterian

8923 5015 | 0419 694 178

Angela Stanfield RAAF Darwin Anglican

8923 5016 | 0417 953 396

All three services provide a 24/7 on-call number for emergencies.

Each unit / Ship / Base has its own chaplain who can assist. If

your chaplain is not available, please contact the on-call number

for your Service. Denominational or faith-specific ministry can be

arranged as required.


Regular

Handy Directory

The Top Ender

Office...................................................................................................0419 274 735

Advertising.............................................. admin@thetopendermagazine.org.au

Website.......................................................... www.thetopendermagazine.org.au

Editor..................................................................................................0447 324 984

Emergencies and Useful Contacts

Emergency Services........................................................................................... 000

Police Assistance Line................................................................................ 131 444

1800 IMSICK..............................................................................................................

1800 467 425

All Hours Support Line..................................................................... 1800 626 036

COVID-19 Helpline, NT..................................................................1800 0008 002

Website....................................................................... www.coronavirus.nt.gov.au

Crime Stoppers NT........................................................................... 1800 333 000

Defence Family Helpline.................................................................. 1800 624 608

Defence Housing Australia (DHA)............................................................ 139 342

Defence Switchboard....................................................................... 1300 333 362

Family Violence and Counselling................................................... 1800 737 732

Health Direct .................................................................................... 1800 022 222

Hospital, Darwin Private Hospital.........................................................8920 6011

Hospital, Palmerston Regional Hospital..............................................7979 9200

Hospital, Royal Darwin Hospital.......................................................... 8922 8888

Lifeline........................................................................................................... 131 114

Night Patrol.........................................................................................1800 101 645

Poisons Information Line............................................................................131 126

Power and Water............................................................................... 800 245 090

Secure NT....................................................................... www.securent.nt.gov.au

SES Emergency Helpline........................................................................... 132 500

Snake Catcher................................................................................... 1800 453 210

Tropical Cyclone Information NT.....................................................1300 659 211

Defence Bases and Establishments

Defence Establishment Berrimah

Front Gate.......................................................................................... 8935 4269

Mess Manager........................................................8935 4422 / 0437 795 258

Larrakeyah Barracks

Front Gate.......................................................................................... 8935 5598

Officers’ Mess.....................................................................................8935 5570

ORs’ Mess............................................................................................8935 5591

Sergeants’ Mess................................................................................. 8935 5580

RAAF Base Darwin

Airmen’s Mess.................................................................................... 8923 5517

Front Gate.......................................................................................... 8923 5549

Officers Mess..................................................................................... 8923 5482

Sergeants’ Mess................................................................................. 8923 5505

RAAF Base Tindal

Airmen‘s Mess....................................................................................8973 6240

Front Gate...........................................................................................8973 6228

Sergeants’ Mess..................................................................................8973 6385

Robertson Barracks

Front Gate...........................................................................................8925 3700

Officers’ Mess.................................................................................... 8925 3548

ORs’ Mess............................................................................................ 8925 2514

Sergeants’ Mess..................................................................................8925 6702

Defence Community Houses

Larrakeyah Neighbourhood House............................................... 0447 586 591

Email.............................................................. larrakeyahhouse@hotmail.com

Network Tindal................................................................................... 0412 619 277

Email.......................................................................networktindal@gmail.com

Website......................................................................... www.networktindal.net

Robertson Barracks Family Group..................................................0490 151 944

Email..........................................robertsonbarracksfamilygroup@gmail.com

On-base Services

Canteens

AAFCANS

Robertson Barracks, Cafe Central.......................................... 8925 2542

RAAF Darwin , Darwin Canteen..............................................8981 2508

Robertson Barracks, Shout VC Canteen.................................8925 6720

Tindal Cafe, Convenience & Fuel Station...............................8973 6201

Navy Canteens

National Operations Manager...................... 8935 5144 / 0477 477 147

Larrakeyah, Outpipes...............................................................8935 5144

Hairdressers

Larrakeyah Barracks......................................................................... 8935 5596

RAAF Darwin – Julie-Anne.....................................8923 5153 / 0402 235 731

Robertson Barracks – Hair Dooz..................................................... 8925 3300

Robertson Barracks – South End Barber Shop..............................8925 6723

Military Banks

Australian Military Bank

Larrakeyah Barracks.................................................................8981 2245

Robertson Barracks.................................................................. 8995 7800

Defence Bank

Larrakeyah Barracks................................................................ 8935 5499

RAAF Darwin..............................................................................7923 2500

Robertson Barracks.................................................................. 8936 6400

Tindal..........................................................................................8965 1600

Uniform and Equipment

Robertson Barracks, Regional Clothing Store

Retail (Purchases)..................................................................... 8925 8828

CIP (Exchanges)........................................................................ 8925 8823

Tailor...........................................................................................8925 8831

Email................................................jlun.clothingstore@defence.gov.au

Tim’s Medal Mounting.................................................................0448 129 531

Email............................................................. timsmedals@bigpond.com

Bulletproof NT....................................................................................8947 0935

Email............................................................info@bulletproof-nt.com.au


Defence Support Services

National ADF Family Health Program............................................ 02 6266 3547

Email...........................................................adf.familyhealth@defence.gov.au

Website.................................................................... www.adffamilyhealth.com

Defence Community Organisation (DCO)

Website......................................................................www.defence.gov.au/dco

Darwin Office..................................................................................... 8935 7900

Email.........................................................DCO.darwin@defence.gov.au

Tindal/Katherine Office..................................................................... 8973 6186

Email........................................................... DCO.tindal@defence.gov.au

Defence Families of Australia (DFA)

National Convenor........................................................................1800 100 509

Email...................................................................... convenor@dfa.org.au

National Delegate NT and Kimberly – Denisa Cochran Spadova

Mobile....................................................................................0418 807 548

Email................................................................................... nt@dfa.org.au

Chaplains

Army On-call......................................................................................0427 713 963

Navy On-call......................................................................................0409 662 823

RAAF Darwin On-call....................................................................... 0477 308 064

RAAF Tindal On-call.........................................................................0427 890 054

Defence Community and Veterans

Support Services

Defence Community Organisation (DCO)

Website.................................................................www.defence.gov.au/dco

Darwin Office..................................................................................... 8935 7900

Email..............................................................DCO.darwin@defence.gov.au

Tindal/Katherine Office..................................................................... 8973 6186

Email................................................................ DCO.tindal@defence.gov.au

DCO Family Helpline................................................................... 1800 624 608

Defence Families of Australia (DFA)

National Convenor........................................................................1800 100 509

Email........................................................................... convenor@dfa.org.au

National Delegate Northern Territory and Kimberly – Jessica Hanison

Mobile........................................................................................0418 807 548

Email........................................................................................ nt@dfa.org.au

Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA).......................................... 1800 555 254

Website................................................................................ www.dva.gov.au

Defence Service Home Loans......................................................... 1800 722 000

Provider Enquiries........................................................................ 1800 550 457

Kookaburra Kids............................................................................... 1300 566 525

Website............................................................www.kookaburrakids.org.au

Email............................................................... info@kookaburrakids.org.au

Legacy Northern Territory.................................................................... 8948 0830

Email.............................................................................legacy@legacynt.org

Website..................................................................... www.legacy.com.au/nt

National ADF Family Health Program............................................ 02 6266 3547

Email..................................................adf.familyhealth@defence.gov.au

Website........................................................... www.adffamilyhealth.com

Open Arms (24hrs)...........................................................................1800 011 046

Website.....................................................................www.openarms.gov.au

Red Shield Defence Services – Salvation Army

Gerald Mitchell............................................................................. 0400 642 881

Email...............................................gerald.mitchell@salvationarmy.org.au

Mairi Mitchell................................................................................ 0400 642 881

Email............................................mairi.mitchell@salvationarmy.org.au

Returned Services League (RSL)

Darwin.............................................................................. darwin@rslsa.org.au

Darwin North .....................................................................................8945 0701

Katherine (via Secretary)............................................................ 0407 130 095

Nhulunbuy......................................................................................... 8987 0600

Palmerston.................................................................................... 0488 001 862

Tennant Creek .............................................................................. 0499 564 031

Veterans Australia (NT).......................................................................................

Email..................................................... sec@veteransaustraliant.org.au

Advocacy Assistance.................................smatdp@veteransaustraliant.org.au

Useful Defence Contacts

Comsuper

ADF Cover......................................................................................1300 001 977

ADF Super..................................................................................... 1300 203 439

DFRDB............................................................................................1300 001 677

Military Super (MSBS)................................................................. 1300 006 727

Defence Housing Australia (DHA)............................................................ 133 342

Email......................................................................... drhm.nt@defence.gov.au

Defence Tax Management Office (CTMO).................................... 1800 806 053

Email.................................................taxation.management@defence.gov.au

Toll Transitions.................................................................................... 1800 819 167

Defence Tax Management Office (CTMO).................................... 1800 806 053

Email.................................................taxation.management@defence.gov.au

Health

Australian Breastfeeding Association ........................................... 1800 686 268

Autism NT............................................................................................... 8948 4424

Email.................................................................autismnt@autsismnt.org.au

Website........................................................................www.autismnt.org.au

Bereaved Parent Support NT|SIDS and Kids NT ...............................8948 5311

24-hour Emergency Support Line.........................................0448 849 234

Email.................................................................................info@bpsnt.org.au

Cancer Council NT

Alice Springs...................................................................................... 8953 5920

Darwin.................................................................................................8944 1800

Katherine.............................................................................................8971 2022

Website.......................................................................www.nt.cancer.org.au

Carers Australia NT............................................................................... 8944 4888

Website........................................................................ www.carersnt.asn.au

Childbirth Education Association Darwin........................................... 8948 3043

Email........................................................................ info@ceadarwin.asn.au

Website ................................................................... www.ceadarwin.asn.au

Community Care Centres

Alice Springs Community Health Centre.........................................8951 6711

Casuarina Community Care Centre................................................8922 7301

Katherine Community Health Centre..............................................8973 8570

Karama Child and Family Health Clinic..........................................8922 7301

Nhulunbuy Community Health Centre.......................................... 8987 0435

Nylander Child Health Clinic............................................................8922 7301

Palmerston Community Care Centre............................................. 8999 3344

Tennant Creek Community Health Care.........................................8962 4218

Cradle Support Group......................................................................0438 272 353

Website............................................................................ www.cradle.org.au

Darwin Homebirth Group.................................................................... 8922 5522

Email............................................................................dhbginfo@gmail.com

Website..........................................darwinhomebirthgroup.wordress.com

Defence Special Needs Support Group (DSNSG)

Website.............................................................................www.dsnsg.org.au

National Coordinator....................................................................1800 037 674

Email................................................... national.coordinator@dsnsg.org.au


Darwin Coordinator......................................................darwin@dsnsg.org.au

Katherine/Tindal Coordinator.................................katherine@dsnsg.org.au

Down Syndrome Association NT......................................................... 8985 6222

Email..................................................... admin@downsyndroment.com.au

Website .....................................................www.downsyndroment.com.au

Epilepsy Centre – Epilepsy Association of SA & NT......................1300 850 081

Email........................................................enquiries@epilepsycentre.org.au

Website............................................................. www.epilepsycentre.org.au

Family Planning NT................................................................................8948 0144

Website........................................................................... www.fpwnt.com.au

Hearing Australia........................................................................................ 134 432

Helplines

Birthline Pregnancy Support ......................................................1300 655 156

Breastfeeding Helpline................................................................ 1800 686 268

Kids Helpline (24hr).....................................................................1800 551 800

Lifeline (24hr).......................................................................................... 131 114

Parent Helpline – Karitane (24hr)............................................. 1300 227 464

Parentline.......................................................................................1300 301 300

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline......................................... 1800 882 436

Northern Territory Department of Health (DOH)............................. 8999 2400

Website....................................................................... www.health.nt.gov.au

Top End Mental Health Service............................................................ 8999 4988

Wellness Centre ......................................................................................8946 7176

Email..................................................... cdu.psychology.clinic@cdu.edu.au

Website...................................................www.cdu.edu.au/wellness-centre

Sports and Activities

Australian Air Force Cadets 8 Wing

AAFC 801 Squadron – Winnellie...................................................... 8923 5713

AAFC 802 Squadron – Driver......................................................0473 816 694

AAFC 803 Squadron – Tindal.....................................................0427 397 495

AAFC 804 Squadron – Alice Springs.............................................. 8953 4484

Australian Army Cadets .................................................. 8935 5174 / 8935 5488

Email............................................................. aachq-nt@armycadets.gov.au

Australian Navy Cadets ...........................................................................................

Training Ship Darwin..................................... TSDarwin@navycadets.gov.au

Training Ship Melville Bay, Nhulunbuy.TSMelvilleBay@navycadets.gov.au

Girl Guides NT.........................................................................................8981 3628

Email......................................................................... girlguidesnt@iinet.net.au

Website...........................................................................www.girlguides.org.au

Playgroups Association NT (PANT)......................................................8945 7775

Website.....................................................................www.playgroupnt.com.au

Email...................................................................admin@playgroupnt.com.au

RAAF Darwin Fishing Club – Terry Maher........................................8924 2374

RAAF Darwin Golf Club...................................................................0459 746 306

Email............................................................................. raafgolf16@Gmail.com

Swimming

Masters Swimming............................................................................. 8981 5919

Alice AUSSI...........................................thecullenanes@ozemail.com.au

Darwin Stingers..................................................... stingers@iinet.net.au

Palmerston Sharks..............................info@palmerstonsharks.com.au

Goldfishbowl Swim School...............................................................8931 1000

Email.......................................................................gfish2@bigpond.com

NT Swim School.................................................................................8948 1000

Email............................................................info@ntswimschool.com.au

Website.........................................................www.ntswimschool.com.au

Palmerston & Rural Swimming Club

Head Coach Daniel Gerlach.......................................................0400 299 622

Email.....................................................info@palmerstonsharks.com.au

Swim Dynamics Swim School.....................................................0421 631 624

Email............................................................... info@swimdynamics.com

Website.............................................................www.swimdynamics.com

Scouts NT................................................................................................ 8948 0994

Email.................................................................... admin@nthq.scouts.com.au

Website...........................................................................www.nt.scouts.com.au

Surf Life Saving NT................................................................................ 8985 6588

Email.........................................................................surf@lifesavingnt.com.au

Website...................................................................... www.lifesavingnt.com.au

Local Government and Regional Councils

Alice Springs Town Council.................................................................. 8950 0500

Barkly Regional Council........................................................................ 8962 0000

Belyuen Community Government Council.........................................8978 5061

Central Desert Regional Council .................................................... 1300 360 605

City of Darwin........................................................................................ 8930 0300

City of Palmerston................................................................................. 8935 9922

Coomalie Community Government Council .....................................8976 0058

East Arnhem Regional Council ........................................................... 8986 8986

Katherine Town Council.........................................................................8972 5500

Litchfield Council .................................................................................. 8983 0600

MacDonnell Regional Council ............................................................. 8958 9600

Nhulunbuy Corporation....................................................................... 8939 2200

Roper Gulf Regional Councils ..............................................................8972 9000

Tiwi Regional Council ............................................................................8970 9500

Victoria Daly Regional Council .............................................................8972 0777

Wagait Shire Council ............................................................................. 8978 5185

West Arnhem Regional Council ...........................................................8979 9444

West Daly Regional Council .................................................................8901 3920

Government

Bureau of Meteorology.....................................................................1800 659 214

Website ..............................................................................www.bom.gov.au

Department of Human Services .............................................................. 132 468

Centrelink

Carers................................................................................................... 132 717

Families............................................................................................... 136 150

Complaints and Feedback...........................................................1800 132 468

Medicare

General Enquiries...............................................................................132 011

myGov Helpdesk.................................................................................... 132 307

Motor Vehicle Registry NT............................................................... 1300 654 628

Website................................................................................ www.mvr.nt.gov.au

Road Report .......................................................................................1800 246 199

Website....................................................................www.roadreport.nt.gov.au

Animal Services and Animal Care

Injured Wildlife

Darwin Wildlife Sanctuary.......................................................... 0473 992 581

Katherine Wildlife Rescue Services.............................................0412 955 336

Wildcare Alice Springs.................................................................. 0419 221 128

Wildcare Darwin......................................................8988 6121 / 0408 885 341

Pounds and Animal Shelters

Alice Springs Animal Shelter......................................8950 0500 / 8953 4430

Darwin.................................................................................................8947 2099

Katherine.............................................................................................8972 5500

Palmerston..........................................................................................8935 9977

RSPCA (Darwin).................................................................................8984 3795

While the information contained in the Handy Directory is considered by the

employees and committee of the Top Ender Tri-Services Magazine Inc to be true

and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of

publication may render the information inaccurate. The information may change

without notice, and the Top Ender Tri-Services Magazine and those working on

its behalf, cannot be held in any way liable for the accuracy of any information

printed and stored, or in any way interpreted and used, by the reader.


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The Top Ender Magazine October November 2020 Edition

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