DRS to Celebrate Queensland’s 150th Birthday More than 1000 supportive employers and their families will join dignitaries and Defence Reserves Support - Queensland to celebrate Queensland's 150th birthday (Q150) on 25 October. The Supportive Employers Pageant, hosted by DRS South Queensland Liaison Officer Major Barry Flaherty and his team, will take place at historic Victoria Barracks, a complex that has housed State militia and colonial troops since it was built in 1864. “Victoria Barracks Brisbane reaches its 145th anniversary on 27 October 2009 and includes some of Queensland’s oldest buildings and gardens. We wanted to celebrate Q150 by making the most of our links with this historical site,” MAJ Flaherty said. “A troop of Reservists will be dressed in period costumes worn by the militia from the colonial era and we’ll have historical uniforms on display to show people what our forces looked like and to provide a contrast between the old and the new. “Reservists will be putting on quite a show displaying the kit and uniforms worn throughout our 150-year history in Queensland and we’re also expecting the Queensland Police Pipes and Drums and a detachment from the mounted police to join the celebrations. Victoria Barracks was built in 1864, five years after Queensland’s independence, and this event will make the most of Defence’s historical connections with these heritage buildings. “Supportive employers are those who’ve publicly pledged their support for current and future Defence Reserves at their workplaces and who develop supportive leave policies for their Reservists,” MAJ Flaherty said.

The Police Stables and Carriage House Victoria Barracks Brisbane 1875 The Barracks Victoria Barracks Brisbane 1864 The Military Hospital Victoria Barracks Brisbane 1867

Families will also be able to enjoy tours of historic buildings and learn about Queensland’s military history from displays and demonstrations by partner organisations.

Partner organisations have been invited from business and industry associations, the air, sea and land transport sectors, professional bodies representing health, engineering, law and infrastructure, State Government agencies and enterprises and Ex-Service and Defence-related non-profit organisations.

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Defence Reserves Support Council State and Territory Committee Chairs and delegates from across the country converged on the Adelaide Convention Centre recently for the Defence and Industry Conference and Trade Exhibition.

Between listening to speakers on a broad range of topics from Defence procurement to the new Defence White Paper, industry representatives picked up information about the benefits of employing Reservists at the Defence Reserves Support (DRS) trade stand.

DRS National Office and South Australian staff were on hand to answer questions and hand out Employer Handbooks and DRS merchandise.

Conference delegates from a wide variety of industries listened attentively to addresses by the Premier of South Australia Mike Rann, and Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science Greg Combet, who discussed the challenges facing the Australian Defence Force in the 21st century.

With so many employers concentrated in one space, there were plenty of opportunities to spread the word about the benefits of employing Reservists.

“This is the third conference we’ve been to in recent weeks,” said Sheila Shaw, who coordinated DRS involvement in the event.

“We’ve just been to the Australian Human Resources Institute Conference in Sydney and the Local Government Conference in Canberra, meeting employers, answering their questions about Reservists and doing what we always do – promoting the benefits of employing Reservists to large and small industries.

“The Defence and Industry Conference is a great opportunity for DRS. Hundreds of people whose industries are involved in working with Defence browse the trade stands between sessions on breaks. The Minister for Defence Senator John Faulkner even stopped past!”

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Employers of Reservists have been formally thanked at a function in Melbourne for supporting Operation VIC FIRES ASSIST.

The Governor of Victoria, Premier of Victoria, The Leader of the Opposition, and senior Defence and community officials joined with employers and Reservists at Melbourne’s Federation Square for the event.

Director of Reserve Support, Mr Ian Flawith said the event was well received by the employers, who were presented special certificates of appreciation.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, the Hon. Dr Mike Kelly AM MP said it would not have been possible for the Reservists to carry out their mission without the outstanding support given to them by their employers.

“Members of our Navy, Army and Air Force Reserve worked together with their full-time counterparts as part of Joint Task Force 662, and these members showed great skill and flexibility during the Operation,” he said.

More than 1300 Reservists were involved in the two-month Operation, which saw the Australian Defence Force assist Victorian police and emergency services during the bushfire emergency.

Dr Kelly said employer and community support is vital to Australia’s defence capability.

“Employer support gave Reservists the ability to assist their fellow Australians during this tragic natural disaster.

“The new Defence White Paper highlights the important role our Reservists play now and the increased role we want them to play in the future.

“We need employers of Reservists to continue offering their support.”

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The Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser, A.C. presents a Certificate of Appreciation to John Brown Photography Services Chief Executive Officer Mrs Berlyn Grant and self-employed Reservist Sergeant David Grant.

The Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser, A.C. presenting Darren Bloomfield (Dept of Treasury & Finance) with a Certificate of Appreciation for releasing LCDR Helen Ward for Op VIC FIRES ASSIST.

Victorian Premier John Brumby presents Eric Wilson (Acumen Asset Management Pty Ltd) with a Certificate of Appreciation for releasing his employee Major David Stogdale during Op VIC FIRES ASSIST.

Twenty-two employers of Victorian-based Army Reservists have travelled to the Solomon Islands on Exercise Boss Lift, to witness first-hand the roles performed by their staff while on operations with the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

Exercise Boss Lift, an initiative of Cadet, Reserve and Employer Support Division, gives employers of Reservists the opportunity to see their staff ‘in the field’ and helps employers understand how the skills Reservists learn and develop during Reserve service can be extremely beneficial to civilian workplaces.

The Boss Lift participants visited personnel on Operation ANODE. Accompanying the group was Head Cadet, Reserve and Employer Support Division, Major General Greg Melick, National Chair of the Defence Reserves Support Council, Mr Jack Smorgon as well as Senators Nick Minchin and Mathias Cormann. Both Senators were there to experience Defence life as part of a Parliamentary exchange program.

Operation ANODE is the name of the ADF contribution to the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI). RAMSI's mission is to assist the Solomon Islands Government in restoring law and order, economic governance, and improving the machinery of government.

This latest deployment of 140 Army Reservists from Victoria’s 4th Brigade comprises men and women from Melbourne and regional areas such as Ballarat, Bendigo, Warrnambool, Mildura and Geelong. They arrived in the Solomon Islands in late March 2009, shortly after a period of intensive pre-deployment training and briefly assisting in the initial phase of Operation VIC FIRES ASSIST.

The three-day intensive program was packed with activities beginning with a welcome for Boss Lift participants in Brisbane followed by briefings and dinner. Early the next morning it was off to the airport for the three and a half hour flight to Honiara, where the Commanding Officer (CO) of Combined Task Force (CTF) 635, Lieutenant Colonel Neil Grimes and staff met the group prior to the move to hotel accommodation and a trip to CTF headquarters. After a welcome by the CO and introductory briefs, employers were able to meet their respective employees and have a good chat over a hearty meal in relaxed surroundings. The next three days passed quickly covering a variety of activities including historical tours around Honiara and environs, a semi-formal dinner for bosses, their Reservists and Operation ANODE key staff, a live fire experience on the range, a local cultural event and a taste of living in the field, including a one man ration pack lunch. A highlight for the bosses was the experience of firing both infantry personal weapons, the Steyr automatic rifle and the Minimi light machine gun, coached by their Reservist.

Gary Davis, an Assistant Director with the Australian Tax Office was there to visit Lance Corporal Chris Warren.

“This has been an enlightening experience. I thought Solomon Islands was just a nice island in the Pacific but that is not the case. The poverty was an eye opener and it was great to catch up with Chris and see what he does on operations,” said Mr Davis.

“I am really impressed and it is good to see our soldiers are making a difference here. Now that I know the need over here I will use my IT contacts in the Tax Office to coordinate sending surplus computers over here.”

Chris Warren, who is married with a five-year-old daughter, was pleased to see Mr Davis.

“It has been good to see Gary over here to catch up on what is happening back in Oz,” said Lance Corporal Warren.

“I think Boss Lift is a great idea. This is my first deployment and it has been excellent experience so far. A highlight for me has definitely been my time at a forward operating base as an infantry section second in command.”

All too quickly the trip was over, except for a Sunday church service at the RAMSI base conducted by Padre Neal of the New Zealand contingent and a final lunch where employers and their Reservists could spend a little quiet time discussing their mutual experience.

Commonwealth Bank (CBA) Area Manager Paul Mathews has been Sergeant Marko Siljama’s immediate boss for the past 12 months.

Sergeant Siljama is a CBA Branch Manager and a member of 5/6 Battalion, the Royal Victoria Regiment.

“When I put the question to my new boss he was quite surprised as he did not know Reservists had the opportunity of an operational deployment,” he said.

Mr Mathews said he did not know the Commonwealth Bank’s policy regarding Reserve leave so he submitted Sergeant Siljam’s request and it was approved.

“Marko’s absence needed a little re-organisation but it gave another staff member the chance to step up and gain managerial experience, while Marko has been away,” said Mr Mathews.

“We have been accessing the Employer Support Payment scheme, which has helped although it does not cover his whole salary.

“I have been happy to let Marko go for this experience as he has been responsible for the day-to-day management of 29 people instead of five at the bank. This will no doubt help with his future leadership in the CBA. I totally agree that Reservists have skills of direct benefit to civilian employers. This opportunity has allowed me to know Marco more personally than before.”

All Boss Lift participants were impressed by the job their Reservist was doing on Operation ANODE and the overall role of the ADF and RAMSI in assisting the people of the Solomon Islands.

The Employer Support Payment (ESP) expenditure for the month of June and the progressive expenditure for FY 08/09 are detailed in the table below.

Information on ESP is available on this website however should you require additional information or clarification on any aspect of the Employer Support Payment scheme that is not already covered by our website, you may email an enquiry to esp@defence.gov.au.

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If you’re in Port Lincoln, South Australia and looking for a building design or alteration, then Army Reservist Mark Penna is probably a good person to call.

Mark’s company Penna Planning and Design has won a prestigious Design Excellence Award for his renovation of a beach house on the Eyre Peninsula.

“We were thrilled to take out the Building Designers Association of South Australia - Design Excellence Awards for the Best Residential Addition/Alteration over $200,000,” Mark said.

“The client came to me with a concept of what she wanted done and I turned her dream into reality.
“That’s what I enjoy most about planning and design, taking an idea in someone’s head and turning it into bricks and mortar.”

A prominent member of the Eyre Peninsula community, Mark is also a keen Reservist. He is a Corporal with 20 Transport Troop in Port Lincoln.

“In a former life I was a motor mechanic by trade and 20 Transport Troop allows me to indulge in that passion,” said Corporal Penna.

“I’m a Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineer (RAEME) support staffer. We maintain and service all Army vehicles, from Mack Trucks to Landrovers.

“We help to keep them on the road as well as helping with provisioning and resupply operations. It’s a vital, but often overlooked role.”

Mark was always a keen artist and about a decade ago turned his interest in drawing free-hand landscapes into a career.

He left the grease of the mechanical workshop for a classroom, spending 18 months in Adelaide completing a Certificate 4 in Building Design.

In 2006, Penna Planning and Design was born and the future has been bright ever since.
“Winning the Award has given us extra profile and publicity, both on the Peninsula and in Adelaide,” said Mark.

“We’ve been flat out and I’ve had to put another staff member on, simply to give myself a day off – I was working six and sometimes seven days a week.”

One downside to this business success has been the amount of time Mark has been able to devote to his Reserve duty.

“Unfortunately, the Army doesn’t get as much time now as I’d like,” he said.
“When I joined up in 1988 I was a single bloke and did plenty of days. My Reserve job helped to pay for my first home.

“I still do parade on Tuesday nights and I usually manage a weekend of service each month, but it’s hard to get away on major exercises.”

Another thing that Corporal Penna is particularly proud of is a Soldier’s Medallion presented to him in 2001.

The citation that came with the award said Corporal Mark Penna has provided exemplary service to Bravo Troop, Transport Company, 9CSSB in the field of technical support at the Port Lincoln depot. He continually exhibits strong leadership qualities as he provides a flexible team oriented approach to technical problems encountered in the daily operations of Bravo Troop.

Corporal Penna is highly regarded for his technical skills and has worked continually unsupervised when practicing his trade. He is extremely adaptable in all situations and this, along with his personable nature, has won the respect of his superiors, peers, and subordinates. Corporal Penna is credit to Bravo Troop and the 9th Combat Service Support Battalion.

“This is like the Design award,” he said proudly.

“It’s not the primary reason I do the job, but the recognition is a fringe benefit.”

Last month, Jessica Klotz — the winner of our door prize at the ‘Business at Sunset’ function, held in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce — claimed her prize.

Jessica, who won the opportunity to tour RAAF Base Tindal, and her husband, Thomas, were taken to areas not usually open to the public, including the Air Traffic Control Tower, where they got to speak with Tower staff and see five F/A-18 Hornets take off, and the control room with its equipment and radars.

The most exciting part of the trip, however, was the chance to fly the F/A-18 Hornet Simulator. Flight Lieutenant Craig Gee demonstrated the first flight with Jessica and Thomas taking note. Then Jessica took the controls — none of them resembling anything that she had driven before! FTLT Gee helped her get the F/A-18 off the ground and advised her how to turn and roll.

Jessica flew over Katherine and its surrounds, lining up the firing mechanism until eventually she ran out of ammunition and had to come in to reload. FTLT Gee helped her around so that she was heading in the right direction to land at RAAF Tindal but then it all went downhill! Jessica got the angle of descent wrong and crashed and burned in spectacular fashion!

Jessica’s final word? “At least I got the runway not the highway”.

Thanks to all who helped make Jessica’s experience so memorable.