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Privacy Policy | Editorial Policy | Profit Policy | Join the Association | List of Members | Contact us | Index | Links |
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Back Go to page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Back to Start
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News and Reunions!
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Contents:
2 Sqn marching on ANZAC Day 2020. Brisbane. Australian Special Operations Medal DFRDB - Ombudsman's report into "Commuting" Slim Dusty - Clean up our own back-yard.
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14 Appy reunion 24-26 March 2020
Arrangements for the BIG 60th in Caloundra on the 24/25/26th Mar 2020 are being finalised. It is now time for payment. The cost is $75.00 per person. An Attendance/Payment form is attached. Could you please return this ASAP and make payment ASAP as well. The organisers had to make a reasonable deposit by the 16 December.
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The Reunion Dinner (25 Mar) will be held at Caloundra RSL Club, 19 West Terrace. It will be Buffet style with Canapes on arrival. Drinks at your own expense.
The Format for the Mar 2020 Mid-week reunion is as follows:
Tue 24th Night Register, Meet and Greet at RSL Club. Casual Dress
Cost: Pay Your Own Way. This will start at 1600 hrs (4.00pm) in the sub-branch bar area. Drinks in this area are at sub-branch prices which are cheaper than outside in the main bar area. This bar is open until 18.30 (6.30pm) Light meals are available from the bistro bar at reasonable prices alternatively you can eat in the Restaurant.
Wed 25th Day Your leisure time.
Wed 25th Night Reunion Dinner at RSL Club. Semi Formal / Smart Casual Dress. Cost: $75 per head (includes hire of venue). This includes Pre dinner Antipasto’s / Canapes’, Buffet Dinner, Dessert and Tea/Coffee. Drinks at your expense.
Thurs 26th Day Morning Tea/Brunch at the Power Boat Club (Pay your own way).
All timings will be confirmed and advised later.
If you want any further info, contact:
Dags (Geoff) Dorward (07) 5439 7421 / 0418 409 633, email tulip60@bigpond.com, Or Nick (John) Winter (02) 6254 7225, email tulip@bigpond.com
Click HERE to download the form. When completed, email it to tulip60@bigpond.com
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Officer: "Soldier, do you have change for $10?" Soldier: "Sure, mate." Officer: "That's no way to address an officer! Now let's try it again! Do you have change for $10?" Soldier: "No, SIR!"
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The Commonwealth Ombudsman, Mr Michael Manthorpe, recently released a report on the historic administration of the Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits (DFRDB) scheme, the compulsory Australian Defence Force retirement scheme that began operating in 1973 and closed to new members in 1991. The Ombudsman’s investigation followed an approach from the Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel, the Hon Darren Chester MP, earlier this year, which in turn arose from complaints that scheme members had been misled about its operation.
At law, eligible ADF members were required to make a choice between a defined pension for life, or a lump sum upon retirement together with a lower pension for life. The second option is often referred to as ‘commuting’ part of the pension in exchange for the lump sum. Most members did, and still do, choose to commute.
‘Many members complained they were told that if they commuted, their pension would subsequently increase to the higher rate when they reached a defined life expectancy age,’ Mr Manthorpe said. ‘This was false and created an expectation of a more generous long term outcome than the law provided.’
The Ombudsman found that many members were in fact given misleading and incorrect advice about this issue by Defence. He recommended that the Chief of the Defence Force and the Secretary of the Department of Defence apologise to members for this historic maladministration, and they have done so. Their apology is published in the report.
The Ombudsman considered whether the incorrect advice created a situation of ‘financial detriment’. Informed by the work of independent actuaries, he found that this appears unlikely to have occurred. This is because, even though the incorrect advice may have led some members to opt for the commuting option rather than the full pension, the actuarial analysis suggests that for most, if not all, members the commutation option was more beneficial in the long run than the other available option.
‘I also considered whether, in the light of the incorrect advice some form of compensation or reparation payment should be offered to those who commuted’, Mr Manthorpe said. ‘However, I have stopped short of making such a recommendation because it would be contrary to Parliament’s original design of the scheme; and because it would place those who commuted at a further advantage over those who did not commute, which would be inequitable for the second group. I note that many members who did fully understand the scheme still chose to commute.’
While the actuarial analysis shows the commutation option was more beneficial for most members, the Ombudsman’s report also noted the availability of the Compensation for Detriment caused by Defective Administration (CDDA) scheme should an individual member be able to demonstrate specific financial detriment.
The Ombudsman also looked at information provided by the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation, both currently and historically. While he found the information published by CSC was at all times correct, he recommended updates to certain CSC documents to further clarify these issues, which the CSC has accepted.
‘This investigation relates to matters that happened many years ago,’ said Mr Manthorpe. ‘But the lessons from that time are equally relevant today—getting communication right, so people can make informed choices, is a critical part of every aspect of government service delivery.’
The report is available on the Ombudsman’s website at ombudsman.gov.au/dfrdb, along with the reports from the independent actuaries.
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Q: How do you know if there is a fighter pilot at your party? A: He'll tell you.
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The Australian Operational Service Medal Special Operations.
On the 1st November, 2019, the Governor General authorised a new award to recognise special operations as declared by the Chief of the Defence Force.
The Medal joins the growing suite of Operational Service Medals which were introduced in 2012 to recognise the service of ADF Members on contemporary operations. Previously, service on Special Operations has been recognised by the Australian Service Medal.
The award is recognised by a new ribbon which is black with a centre thin red stripe. The black represents the non-conventional conduct of special operations, while the single red stripe represents danger, strength and the great sacrifices made by recipients in defence of Australia.
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A Sergeant and an Air Commodore were sitting in the barber’s. They were both just getting to the end of their shaves, when the barbers reached for some after-shave to slap on their faces. The Air Commodore shouted, "Hey, don't put that smelly stuff on me! My wife will think I've been in a brothel!" The Sergeant turned to his barber and said, "Go ahead and put it on me. My wife doesn't know what the inside of a brothel smells like."
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Vietnam Veterans - We’re seeking your help! Can you help the Operation Wandering Souls project?
The Operation Wandering Souls project aims to:
Why?
There are many reasons including that the Vietnamese people helped us find our six MIAs. Now it’s time to help them find theirs. They have an estimated 200,000 still MIA. Secondly, the Geneva Conventions (Convention 1, articles 16 and 17) say we should.
What we’ve done so far:
How you can help the project
If you ‘liberated’ an artefact from the battlefield, rummage through your old steel trunk or wherever the items are, find them and send them to the research team at the address below. Alternatively, you can scan them and send the scanned image by email to the research team. You can contact the Operation Wandering Souls research team on the email address below.
We’re all going to drop off the twig sooner or later. When we do, our kids are going to throw out all our stuff from Vietnam and it will end up in landfill – unless we take action now to help a Vietnamese family.
What the Operation Wandering Souls team will do:
If we are able to locate Vietnamese family members, you might like to visit Vietnam with us (at your expense) and personally return the items to the family.
The Operation Wandering Souls research team:
To contact the team:
Contact Bob Hall or Derrill de Heer Email: b.hall@adfa.edu.au or s3123994@adfa.edu.au Phone: +61 2 62688848 Mobile: 0439 887 580 or ......
Snail mail: Bob Hall or Derrill de Heer Operation Wandering Souls project HASS UNSW Canberra PO Box 7916 Canberra BC ACT 2610 Australia |
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2 Sqn
- ANZAC
Day 2020 – Brisbane.
It may seem premature to be raising the above subject at this early time,
however this is an early notification to all members that planning is
underway by a group of ex USAF members who were based at Phan Rang to join
us on ANZAC Day 2020. To date over 70 starters (including wives) have given an indication that
they would like to travel to join us here in Australia and permission has
been given by the ANZAC Day Planning Committee in Brisbane for this group to
join with the 2 Squadron Association contingent for the march. They will
then join us for the usual post march fellowship. Whilst we recognize that these days there may be barriers such as health,
we encourage those who can to make plans and join us for what no doubt will
be a one-off occasion to show our American colleagues good old Aussie
hospitality. As the plans materialize, we will keep our members informed.
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"Well," snarled the tough old Sqn Ldr to the bewildered airman, "I suppose after you get discharged from the Air force, you'll just be waiting for me to die so you can come and pee on my grave." "Not me, Sir!" the airman replied. "Once I get out of the Air Force, I'm never going to stand in a queue again!"
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I don’t normally listen to country music, but I think THIS tune is worth listening to.
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