The Top Ender Magazine February March 2021 Edition

Welcome to the North
A very warm welcome to all Air Force
personnel and their families posted to
RAAF Base Darwin. The recent posting
cycle has been like no other and for
those who undertook a removal over
the Christmas period, I thank you for
your patience. The Northern Territory
is very proud of its impeccable record
for COVID-19 management; we have
enjoyed freedoms beyond those of
other states thanks to robust border
controls and strong community
compliance. You are now part of this
community, and I’ve every confidence
you will see why so many people love
the Northern Territory.
Some of you may not have been to the
Northern Territory before or
considered Darwin as a preferred
posting location. Rest assured, you’re
not alone. Many Air Force members
come to Darwin with apprehension
about the climate, distance from major
cities on the east coast and flying time
to see family. In almost every case,
these members depart Darwin at the
end of their posting having thoroughly
enjoyed their time here, many wishing
they could have stayed longer to
complete their ‘Northern Territory
bucket list’.
During your posting you will have
opportunities to explore a very
distinctive part of Australia, and learn
about rich indigenous cultures in the
region. For those who enjoy activities
close to the city, the Mindil Beach
Sunset Markets and Parap Markets offer
an excellent opportunity to experience
the diverse multicultural aspects of
Darwin. You will also find shopping,
schooling and employment
opportunities are comparable with
many larger cities.
I encourage you to visit many of the
unique destinations within driving
distance from Darwin, including Kakadu
National Park, Litchfield National Park
and Katherine Gorge. You will see
firsthand the rich indigenous history at
each site and there are many more
opportunities for you to learn about
various local indigenous cultures during
your stay. Whether you have a small
car or fully-equipped four-wheel drive,
you will find plenty to see and do.
Some planning is required to make the
most of your posting, as many of the
Northern Territory’s best destinations
are seasonal and the peak recreation
season usually coincides with our peak
exercise periods.
There is a diverse range of units
permanently stationed on RAAF Base
Darwin, including 13 Squadron, 114
Mobile Control and Reporting Unit,
Headquarters 452 Squadron, 452
Squadron Detachment Darwin, 2
Security Force, 2 Expeditionary Health
Squadron, Estate and Infrastructure
Group and Chief Information Officer
Group. RAAF Base Darwin also hosts a
six-month deployment of United States
Marine Corps personnel and their
aircraft under the United States Force
Posture Initiative.
RAAF Darwin is a relatively small base
by east coast standards, though finds
itself at the forefront of activities
pertinent to Australia’s national
interests. Each unit on RAAF Darwin
plays a crucial role to the capability of
the base and every one of you makes
an essential contribution. Through
2020, RAAF Darwin assisted the
movement of troops in support of
bushfire relief efforts, conducted
international engagement activities and
received many Australians repatriating
from abroad due to the COVID-19
pandemic.
2021 will be an equally busy year, with
the earlier arrival of the Marine
Rotation Force Darwin due to
quarantine requirements and Exercise
Talisman Sabre being held in northern
Australia this year. Importantly, 2021
marks the 100th birthday of the RAAF
and many activities are scheduled to
commemorate this important
milestone. I encourage you to
participate in Air Force 2021 events
and involve family and friends where
possible.
Darwin has strong links with Defence
pre-dating World War Two, and you
will notice high levels of public support
towards Defence personnel. Many
Australians are well versed in events
surrounding the attack on Pearl
Harbour, however, have little
knowledge of the Bombing of Darwin
executed by the same strike force.
Some buildings on RAAF Darwin still
bear scars from World War Two, along
with other sites in the Darwin area.
Your posting presents a great
opportunity to better understand our
military history, and to be proud the
contribution the RAAF has, and
continues, to provide in support of
Australia’s national interests.
You will find a strong sense of
community within all Defence
establishments in the Northern
Territory, and RAAF Darwin is no
exception. If you are having any
difficulties following your recent move,
please do not hesitate to contact your
unit, the Defence Community
Organisation, or any of the other ADF
Community Groups or forums in the
area. Remember you are not alone, and
we are here to ensure your posting in
Darwin is enjoyable.
Welcome to RAAF Darwin!
Australian Air Force
Wing Commander Andrew Anthony
Senior ADF Officer RAAF Base Darwin and
Commanding Officer Number 13 Squadron
I would like to take this opportunity to
welcome our uniformed and civilian
Defence members and their families
posted to RAAF Base Tindal in 2021. I
also welcome back the Team Tindal
members and families returning from
2020 and trust you had a happy and
restful Christmas/new year break. I would
also like to recognise the large body of
contracted workforces we have at Tindal
and the key role they play in developing
and maintaining the bases estate and
infrastructure. The numbers of
contractors will increase as project works
commence, and I welcome you as part of
our community.
If this is your first venture into the
Katherine region and/or Northern
Territory, I encourage you to take the
time to look around and discover all that
is at our doorstep – it is truly an amazing
part of the world. The regional tourist
opportunities include Nitimuk National
Park with thirteen stunning gorges,
Mataranka and Katherine Hot Springs, and
the internationally renowned Litchfield
and Kakadu National Parks. However, this
is just a taste of the many natural
attractions that could take years to
discover.
The Katherine region has a strong
community feel with many opportunities
to engage in the towns’ sporting and
social clubs and organisations, and the
Tindal Community strongly supports and
benefits from these important local
entities. Participation in the local sporting
and club activities will also assist in your
transition into the Territory way of life. I
would like to thank the Katherine Region
for your strong ongoing support to RAAF
Tindal and its personnel over more than
30 years of the bases existence as an
operational base.
The base here at Tindal remains the last
of the traditional Air Force bases due to
its large composition of nearly 550
uniformed personnel. The airbase itself
celebrates over 30 years of ongoing
support primarily to the F/A-18 Classic
Hornet, but far greater is the bases ability
to generate large-scale operations and
exercises. As with all Airbases across
Australia, RAAF Tindal could not survive
without the provision of multiple
capabilities. These capabilities are
provided by either larger Squadrons such
as 17SQN and 75SQN; or smaller
detachments like 452SQN (Air Traffic), 2
Expeditionary Health Squadron, 2
Security Forces Squadron, 2 Squadron,
Estate and infrastructure Group and Chief
Information Officer Group – just to name
a few of over 10 detachments living at
the base and working together to support
the generation of Air Power. In addition
to this is the solid contractor support
network including Ventia and Wilson
Security. Together we form Team Tindal,
a diverse and effective team that
consistently provides strong contribution
to Defence operations, disaster relief and
major exercises supporting both domestic
and international partners across the Top
End.
We are at the start line of a very exciting
time for RAAF Tindal. Over the next 7
years, this base will see a transformation
from a fast jet operational base to a truly
multi-role airbase, capable of projecting
large-scale, multifaceted defence effects in
support of Australia’s interests. You will
witness major facilities and project work
take place during your tenure as the base
transitions into a significant defence asset
and capability for the projection of Air
Power. It is an exciting time to be part of
Team Tindal.
2021 will be yet another busy year with
Exercise Talisman Sabre 21 being the
premier large-scale activity, and multiple
medium scale Australian and international
engagement exercise periods throughout
the year. While these will be surge
periods, please take the time to enjoy the
activities our Tindal Community has to
offer. The base boasts impressive
sporting facilities, such as sporting ovals,
gym and a newly refurbished and reopened
swimming complex. These
facilities house several sporting teams like
the Tindal Magpies Sporting Association,
which is home to football, netball, softball
and rugby teams. During the dry season,
the outdoor Moonlit Cinema is a great
opportunity to grab a picnic (or sausage
in bread) and take in a movie under the
stars with friends and family.
Tindal’s community support program is
largely driven by the Network Tindal
organisation and its newsletter – “The
Tindal Community Times”. The
community operates from the recently
opened Community Centre, which has
many and varied activities, arts and crafts
for the whole Tindal community, with
activities for all ages.
Most importantly though, if there is one
thing I really want you to remember, it’s
this; you are not alone during your Tindal
posting. The Base has multiple support
agencies to help you. Along with the
Network Tindal, the base also offers
support via the Base Chaplains and
Defence Community Organisation – all
residing in location to support and assist
you and your families. Please make the
time to introduce yourselves, as these
organisations are central to the
experience you will have whilst on your
Tindal posting.
Air Force 100th Anniversary
31 March 2021, marks 100 years of
service that the Royal Australian Air
Force has given to the nation. It is a time
for us to reflect on the things achieved
and be proud of who we are. It is also a
time to look forward and play our part in
developing the Air Force of the future.
Please join me in marking this milestone
in our history through several base and
Katherine events held this year.
Lastly, I say – A big welcome to Katherine
and I sincerely hope that you enjoy your
time here in the Northern Territory.
Australian Air Force
Wing Commander Shane Smith
Senior ADF Officer RAAF Base Tindal
6 The Top Ender | Tri-Services Magazine Incorporated FEBRUARY/MARCH 2021 7