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October,
November,
December
2014
Edition
Welcome to the October, November & December edition of Gone Troppo. The theme of this edition is preparing for posting and cyclone season. With Remembrance Day approaching on 11th November, we also take a look at how to get started with researching your family’s military history. Remember that if you are posting to a new location you can make contact with the Family Liaison Officer (FLO) in the gaining location prior to your move. FLOs will be able to provide you with local area information and advise you of any support or social groups in the community. You can also ask to be added to the local DCO mailing list so that you are kept informed of upcoming workshops and events. To make contact with a FLO please call the Defence Family Helpline on 1800 624 608. We wish you all a very safe and happy Festive Season. You’ve received this newsletter because you have subscribed to the DCO NQ mailing list. If you know of someone else who isn’t currently receiving our emails and would like to, they can request to join our database by emailing us at: Cairns Office: [email protected] Townsville Office [email protected] DCO North Queensland is staffed by a multi‐
disciplinary team of professionals who have local area and Defence knowledge. Staff in NQ include an Area Manager, Military Support Officers (MSO), Defence Social Workers (DSW), Family Liaison Officers (FLO), a Regional Education Liaison Officer (REDLO), a Business Support Officer (BSO) and Office Administrator (OA) HOW TO CONTACT US Defence Family Helpline: Ph 1800 624 608 or [email protected] Cairns office: [email protected] Townsville office: [email protected] Every year between November and April, the coastal
regions of Queensland are at risk of cyclones.
Being prepared is your responsibility. Check your
local council guides for advice on disaster
awareness and preparation:
Get Ready Townsville Guide
Photos on front cover of Gone Troppo: Top photo: Cairns, QLD 01‐10‐1943 Troops of the 14th Australian Employment Company, 17th Australian Lines of Communication Sub‐Area at fire drill on the fire float in Cairns Harbour. Preparing for cyclones - Cairns Guide
Bottom photo: Townsville, QLD 27‐07‐1945 Pilots of No.84 Squadron RAAF receiving instructions on the strip before take‐off from Ross River airfield. Behind them is a North American P‐51K‐10‐NT. Jane Logan is a Defence Social Worker (DSW) who has worked in the DCO North Queensland Office for three years. Jane has always been interested in Gallipoli because, like many Australians, she has a family history that links her to the ANZAC legend of 1915. Jane’s great grandfather, Major Thomas James Logan, who was a veteran of the Boer War, was killed in action on 7 August 1915 at Quinn’s Post. He had two brothers serving at Gallipoli with him at the time and another two brothers serving in France and India respectively. His brothers returned home after the First World War. One served again in the Second World War. The other three each lost their eldest son during the Second World War when they were killed in action. Jane’s great grandfather wrote weekly letters home to her great grandmother and she is fortunate to have copies of these letters. Jane says that she is lucky that much of the family history has been kept and passed on to her generation. A part of Jane’s role with DCO includes liaising and connecting with both Defence and non‐Defence groups and organisations from the wider North Queensland community. While attending a meeting in this capacity last year, Jane was introduced to the Conservation Volunteers Gallipoli Program 2014. After submitting an application, Jane was elated to be accepted to participate in the program as a volunteer. This involved travelling to Gallipoli with a group of thirty volunteers, including four team leaders. The group spent ten days touring the battlefields and commemorating individual soldiers in the many cemeteries at Gallipoli. They trekked from Chunuk Bair to Embarkation Pier along the Rhododendron Ridge track, visited the ancient city of Troy and sailed the length of Anzac Cove on the Aegean Sea. Throughout 24 and 25 April they assisted with the crowd movement in and out and around the Anzac Cove Heritage site. The group’s main purpose was to support those who required assistance with mobility. In preparation for her trip Jane thought a lot about visiting the site where she understood her great grandfather had been buried. She knew this was going to be the highlight of her trip. Jane experienced a range of emotions in anticipation of the visit but says nothing prepared her for the range of emotions she experienced during and after the trip. Jane talks of her visit to Gallipoli below: headstone ‘believed to be buried in this cemetery’. I
found myself looking down the valley wondering where he
might actually lie, if not in the cemetery, and realised that
I would never truly know his final resting place. One of
the dignitaries, in his address at Lone Pine on Anzac Day,
commented that wherever you walk in the area you are
walking on a soldier’s grave.
I thought of my great grandmother and I reflected on
how she never had the opportunity to visit her husband’s
grave site or the land on which he remained after he
was killed. Nor did she have access to today’s
panoramic photos or video footage which clearly
depicts the undulating valleys and ridges giving a true
sense of what the terrain at Gallipoli looks like. She
continued to raise her family of six young children (the
eldest being my paternal grandfather) on the farm on
her own. Her youngest child never saw her father as she
was born after his departure from Australia.
I realise how privileged I am to have been able to travel
to Gallipoli and share such a meaningful experience
with likeminded people. My family history is one of
thousands of similar Australian family histories. Those
in the team who had been there previously commented
when we arrived at Anzac Cove that there is before
Gallipoli and there is after Gallipoli. I will mark this
experience as one of the most emotional and significant
events in my life. I feel strongly about the importance of
continuing to pass on the memories of all our brave
soldiers who have died and I now understand the
obsession of Australian authors who write prolifically
about Gallipoli. It is thanks to these and future writers
that our soldiers will never be forgotten and their
memories will live on.
I planned on showing my respects to my great
grandfather by placing an Australian flag and poppy on
his grave. I had not prepared myself for the reaction I
experienced when I read the words inscribed on his
Defence Social Workers can help with personal, relationship or service
related issues. They provide an assessment, short-term counselling services or
referral to support and resources in local community.
From the REDLO
It is posting time. For many families this involves a long journey, either by road or air. Either way, keeping children occupied during the trip is often an important consideration for parents. Today’s children have grown up with computers and i‐pads and most of them love to have some ‘screen‐time’. There is a wealth of educational material available that not only help while away the long periods of time on the road or in the air but can also contribute to keeping children’s literacy and numeracy skills up to date throughout the long Christmas holiday period. Teachers have identified many educational advantages to children using literacy and numeracy apps to not only reinforce learning but often to develop skills. Educational apps are designed with games that not only require students to recall key facts and basic concepts but require the users to use higher order cognitive skills such as applying their knowledge, decision making, analysing information and creative design. Selecting an app at an appropriate cognitive level for your child will enable them to work independently. Many programs offer increasing levels of difficulty to challenge the learner as they develop their skills. Your child’s teacher will be a good source of recommendation for specific skill areas of literacy and numeracy where your child would benefit from additional reinforcement or development. They may also be able to recommend some specific apps for your child’s particular needs. There is a large selection of free or low cost apps available on the internet. Inserting literacy apps or numeracy apps into your search engine will spoil you for choice. Some free apps to start with can be found on Queensland Education’s website at http://
deta.qld.gov.au/about/app/index.html Some other free educational apps for the younger age groups can be found at: 
Birthday Buzz Australian Edition 
Dragon’s Jumble Dream 
Miss Spider’s Tea Party 
Bee‐Bot 
Divide it up: puppies 
Fish Market: explore trading 
Fraction Fiddle: Reach the target 
Wishball FOR MORE IDEAS AND TIPS ON HOW TO MAKE MOVING WITH KIDS EASIER VISIT THE DCO WEBSITE’S ‘LATEST NEWS’ SECTION: DCO NEWS ZONE The Regional Education Liaison Officer is an experienced teacher who can
provide education support and information to Defence Families when the move to
North Queensland.
Many Australian families have a rich military history and what better way to remember and honour those who served than by researching and learning about your own family’s involvement in the Australian, or indeed international, Defence forces. We have put together a general outline of how to find out about an individual’s life while serving with the Australian defence forces. The Australian War Memorial http://www.awm.gov.au/ The Australian War Memorial's (AWM) collections and online resources contain a wealth of material which can help you research the service and wartime experiences of relatives who served in Australia's military forces during conflict. Your first step is to gather information about the individual who served such as full name, service number and unit in which he or she served. To gather this information you can: 1. Ask for information from family members or other local sources 2. Check the Biographical Databases available on the AWM’s website: www.awm.gov.au/research/people/ 3. Ask the AWM Research Centre staff for assistance (ph: 02 6243 4315) This should provide you with sufficient information to obtain a copy of the personal service record which provides the vital information for further research. Personal service records are files created for individuals during their military careers. Typically they contain information about the individual on enlistment, assignment to units, details of embarkations, promotions, medical treatment, official correspondence and medal entitlements. For most servicemen and women, this will be the only official documentation for them as individuals. Copies of service records in Australian forces can be obtained from the National Archives of Australia: http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/explore/
defence/service‐records/index.aspx Contact details for overseas archives and other institutions in relation to Australians who served in forces of other countries can be found at: www.awm.gov.au/research/infosheets/overseaspsr Personal service records only provide basic events and dates. Unit histories and records provide the context of the individual’s service. The AWM have an information sheet on researching the history of a unit: www.awm.gov.au/research/infosheets/
unit_history.asp The Roll of Honour records the names of servicemen and women who died during or as a result of service with Australian military forces: http://www.awm.gov.au/people/roll‐search/
roll_of_honour/?op=Search The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds a database listing British and Commonwealth soldiers who died in the First and Second World Wars. It also provides details on the individuals’ burial or commemoration sites: http://
www.cwgc.org/ Where to look for photographs 
Collections Search gives access to images held by the AWM: www.awm.gov.au/search/collections/ 
Trove can search for photographs and images held by a range of major Australian libraries, archives and other cultural institutions: trove.nla.gov.au/picture?= 
PhotoSearch allows you to search and browse the titles of photographs from collections of the National Archives of Australia: http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/search/
index.aspx State libraries and archival repositories may also have photographs in their collections. Useful websites for locating Military/Service records These are some useful sites for locating military records and other information about Australians who served in military conflicts and records of British soldiers in Australia in the early days of settlement.  AIF Project ‐ provide details on the 330,000 men and women who served overseas in the (First) Australian Imperial Force, 1914‐1918.  World War II Nominal Roll ‐ provide brief details of WW2 service personnel.  Nominal Roll of Australian Veterans of the Korean War ‐ provides information from the service records of individuals who served during the Korean War  Australian War Memorial ‐ provides biographical databases such as nominal commemorative and honour rolls, honours and awards, Australian Army war diaries, wounded missing and prisoner of war files and general information about Australian involvement in overseas conflict and peacekeeping.  Mapping our Anzacs ‐ investigate Australian WW1 service personnel by locality of birth or enlistment  Debt of honour register (Commonwealth War Graves Commission) ‐ lists details of men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died during the two world wars and Commonwealth civilians who died as a result of enemy action in the Second World War  Australian War Graves in South Africa 1899 ‐ 1902 ‐ a searchable database of information from Australian Boer War memorials  Oz‐Boer database  Soldiers and marines index 1787‐1830 


Australia's redcoat settlers Military Historical Society of Australia Digger History ‐ an unofficial history of the Aus‐
tralian & New Zealand Armed Services  The Australian Army ‐ http://www.army.gov.au/
Our‐history/How‐to‐Research‐Family‐History Photo: SS Kanowna leaving Cairns for Thursday Island in August
1914 with men
of the Dirty 500 Expeditionary Force in WWI. (Cairns Historical
Society Image No: 04802)
DCO staff would love to hear your stories of researching military history. Did you find a hero in your family? Has your research given you a new understanding of the role Australians have played in war and peace? Have your children become involved with your research? Has this led to new projects for you – art, writing, travel? You can email us at [email protected] or [email protected]
Many locals and visitors alike are unaware that North Queensland, as a region, is steeped in military history. In 1914, the “Dirty 500” expeditionary force sailed from Townsville via Cairns to Port Moresby to train for World War 1. Whilst they returned to Australia without seeing any combat, theirs is a representative story of the commitment of North Queensland to the nations’ military efforts. You can read more about their story here: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014‐08‐11/dirty‐500‐
queenslanders‐honoured‐in‐wwi‐tribute/5663436
In WWII, the RAAF had a convalescent Unit stationed in Paluma. When you think about it, what better place to rest and recuperate than in the tranquillity of the rainforest? There are many significant locations throughout the Atherton Tablelands, a Jungle Training area at Longland’s Gap, and several elements were stationed in Atherton (including the 3rd Australian Field Bakery Unit!). Hundreds of thousands of troops passed through the military camps in Ravenshoe and Wondecla in what we would term now as ‘pre‐
deployment training’
Unluckily for many, their Tablelands experience may have also included time at the Rocky Creek Hospital (although some patients could look forward to a train trip down to Cairns if they were allowed day leave). Whilst the majority of these facilities have been lost over time, there are several markers and signs detailing the areas of historic interest. The memorial site at Tolga is vast and informative, and guaranteed to have you searching through the memorial plaque stone ‘forest’ for hours. Heading further North, there are even more establishments which speak to the strategic view of the times, with numerous radar/signal stations, and airfields heading up along the Cape York Peninsula. As a first line of Defence, there was the 'Q' Australian Heavy Battery and Army Signal Station, where two 155mm guns were located on Hammond Island from May 1943 to January 1945, covering the eastern approaches to the Prince of Wales Channel in the Torres Strait. A little further afield, but certainly a unique option for accommodation on any Southerly road‐trip, is Possum Park, about 10km north of Miles in central‐west Queensland. The fully self‐contained Units here comprise the old ammunition bunkers and troop train carriages! 3CR RAAF Kowguran was utilised as the ‘top secret’ ammunition depot as a last line of Defence against feared Japanese attacks/invasion on the east coast in WWII. If you are interested in finding out more, an invaluable resource for sussing out these and other locations throughout QLD (specifically relating to the WWII era) is the QLD Government website: http://www.ww2places.qld.gov.au/ There is an interactive map, which when you zoom in, clicks through to provide great detail on each of the sites. With school holidays just around the corner, why not consider hopping in the car and exploring with friends and family. There is certainly enough to cater for anything from a day trip, to a full school holiday itinerary. I can attest to a feeling of wonderment in visiting the memorial at Millstream Falls and imagining the size and scope of a teeming population of troops – almost beyond comprehension with the size of our Defence Force today. There is certainly a lot to learn and appreciate, and when you have had your fill of military history – there are a great range of other tourist attractions in the north to fill your week/
end. (I don’t know about you, but the cheese and chocolate factories in the Tablelands are pretty high on my ‘to visit’ list!) New kiosks to make communicating on the move easier As Defence families gear up for another posting cycle, Defence Housing Australia (DHA) has launched an innovative new communication tool to assist members to connect while on the move. The kiosks, which are located in DHA regional offices around Australia, provide Defence members or spouses with another option to engage with DHA through Online Services and will complement the existing face‐to‐face services DHA provides. ‘These kiosks allow Defence members or spouses to come to a regional office and login to Online Services with fast internet access,’ DHA Managing Director Peter Howman said. ‘So if you are in transit, if you don’t have a smart phone or if you simply want to log in and check something while you are out and about, you can now do so by logging‐in through a DHA kiosk.’ One of the key features of the kiosk is that it gives the ability to scan documents, and then upload the documents to Online Services free‐of‐charge. ‘The ability to scan documents and upload them to Online Services through these kiosks is definitely a valuable resource,’ Mr Howman said. ‘This is particularly helpful if you don’t have smart phone capabilities or don’t have access to the internet while you are in transit.’ But Mr Howman was adamant that while the kiosk gave members access to a ‘self‐
service’ option, it would not take the place of talking to a DHA staff member. ‘We don’t want to change the way that Defence members like to do business with us — whether it be in person, online, email, or by calling 139 342 — we just want to provide them more options, especially in line with technological advances.’ Kiosks are now available in DHA regional offices across the country. Defence members or their spouses can login and access all the services that are available through Online Services. Login to see what is available through Online Services now. More information: DHA – 0421 040 098 Event Name Location Date Further info Reef Feast Palm Cove 01 ‐ 12 Oct http://www.reeffeast.com.au/ Story Time with DCO & Library Cairns City Library 08 Oct 10am Email: [email protected] Opera in the Outback Ride to Work Day Mt Surprise (Undara Volcanic National Park) 09 ‐ 11 Oct http://undara.com.au/ Lawn area west of lagoon, The Esplanade 15 Oct 6am ‐ 9am Ride To Work Taste of the Tablelands Hou Wang Chinese 19 Oct Temple ‐ Herberton Rd, 9am ‐ 4pm Atherton Herberton ‐ Yungaburra 23 ‐ 26 Oct http://www.tastesofthetablelands.com/ Woree Sports & Aquatic ‐ 1 Pool Close Woree The Esplanade, next to Muddy’s playground 26 Oct Email: [email protected] 02 Nov http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/ 09 Nov http://www.greatbarrierreefmarathon.com.au/ Tablelands Folk Festival DCO Family Fun Day ‐ Pool Party Baby Welcome & Family Expo Great Barrier Reef Port Douglas Marathon Festival http://www.tablelandsfolkfestival.org/ Soldier on Triathlon Tinaburra Foreshore, Yungaburra 22 ‐ 23 Nov http://www.soldierontriathlon.com.au/ Info Night ‐ Tropical North QLD TAFE Edmonton Carols by Candlelight Tafe, Cairns Campus, Manunda 26 Nov http://tafenorth.edu.au/about‐us/events/ Edmonton ‐ TBC TBC http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/ Carols on the Knob Cairns Council Carols by Candelight New Years Eve on the Esplanade Yorkeys Knob ‐ TBC TBC http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/ Fogarty Park, The Esplanade 14 Dec 6pm ‐ 8pm http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/ The Esplanade Cairns 31 Dec 6pm ‐ 12am http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/ 2014 marks 70 years since the RAN Fuel Storage Facilities went into commission, and also marks the 20th year since Cairns Regional Council turned this facility into an arts centre to service the growing arts & cultural needs of the city. To celebrate this occasion, the Royal Australian Navy and Tanks have joined forces to create a free event that marks the centre’s unique history and place in the cultural landscape of Cairns. TIMES AND EVENTS:
6:00pm Ceremonial Guard & RAN Band march onto Tanks Promenade 6:15pm Official Ceremonial Sunset and Beat To Quarters on Tanks Promenade 6:25pm Ceremonial Sunset concludes, march off the Guard and RAN Band. 6:30pm General Public move into Tank 4 6:40pm Welcome to Country + Official speeches 6:55pm Official cutting of the Birthday Cake 7:00pm Sounds of AustraNesia perform in Tank 4 7:45pm Live Music concert in Tank 5 FOOD: OCHRE RESTAURANT STALL ‐ SNACKS & MEALS FOR SALE COST: Ceremony, exhibition & music concert – all free 2nd, 18th & 30th OCT 13th & 27th NOV 11th DEC BOOKINGS 07 4032 6650 A nature‐based, fun program aimed at kids under five. Set in the Cairns Botanical Garden. Activities include garden walks, exploring nature, art, craft, storytelling and singing Event Name Location Date Further info Glencore Greek Fest Riverway 11—12 Oct Take a break for Carers Luncheon Townsville Yacht club Australian Mixed Ultimate Flying Disc Championships 2014 Queens Park 14 Oct 11:30 to 2 pm (Free) 18—20 Oct 10am to 6pm Sat & Sun 9am to 3pm Mon Townsville Greek & Cultural festivals Inc. www.greekfest.com.au RSVP 3 Oct [email protected] Presented by Carers Queensland www.mixednationals.ultimatefrisbee.org.au/e/
amuc2014 Family Fun Day Perc Tucker Regional Gallery Thurginowa Library Third Sunday of the month 9 am—11 am Call 4727 9011 or email [email protected] 21 Oct 2pm to 4pm Book by calling 47 738811 Thuringowa Library Saturday 25 Oct 2pm to 3pm (Free) Community Skilling Series: Sponsorship & Fundraising 6/56 Charles St Aitkenvale Saturday 1 Nov 9 am to 12pm (Free) Cyclone Sunday Strand Park, The Strand Sunday 2 Nov 9am ‐ 12pm Book by calling 47 738811 Bring in your inefficient old sprinkler and we will give you a new efficient sprinkler . Presented by CityLibraries in connection with Integrated Sustainability Services RSVP your interest by phoning Volunteers North Queensland 4725 990; [email protected] Get your family cyclone ready. Local emergency management organisations will display how to prepare for the cyclone season Kitchen Gardening with Herbs Thuringowa Library Wednesday 12 Nov 1 pm to 3 pm (Free) Book by calling 4773 8811 CityLibraries in conjunction with Herb Society of Nth QLD Christmas Beading Thuringowa Library Saturday 22 Nov 10 am to 12 pm (Free) Open Universities Australia Welcome & Information Thuringowa Library Wednesday 26 Nov 1pm to 2:30pm (Free) Christmas Family Photo Wreath Thuringowa Library Townsville Artist Market Riverway Friday 28 Nov 10am to 11 am (Free) Saturday 13 Dec 12 pm to 3 pm Book by calling 4773 8811 Design and make a Christmas decoration or a necklace. Book by calling 4773 8811 Get to know other OUA students. Discover what the library has to offer you. Your OUA Connect Librarians are experienced in online learning. Book by calling 47738811 Create a Christmas wreath using Family photos A wide range of stalls by dedicated artists and crafts from people from the region. Movie Maker Learn to Transform videos into a movie using Windows movie Maker Train your lawn to be stronger Carols by Candlelight
Reid Park Complex
Saturday 6 December
5:30 pm to 9 pm
Reid Park Under the big top.
Main Show commences at 7 pm
Santa Claus will pop in for a special visit
and some of the finest musical talent in
the region will be performing.
With free entertainment, safe-flame
candles, amusement rides for the kids
and a variety of food and beverage
stalls, the night is sure to be one to
remember!
Strand Park is transformed into the historic town of
Bethlehem.
There will be lots of activities for the children to do:
face painting, craft, games, hammering & sawing in the
carpenter’s workshop, weaving wool and making
pottery. Eating fresh bread from the Bakery.
New Years Eve
Strand Park
From 7 pm to 12:30 pm
Bring the family, a picnic down to Strand Park.
There will be two movies on the big screen and Fireworks
will be at 9 pm
Solid Rock Ministries is a Christian-based group which exists to provide
support, friendship and encouragement to wives and female partners of ADF
members.
We meet at Lavarack Barracks every Tuesday morning, from 9.30-11am at
the Lavarack Chapel meeting room. There is a meeting room at the back of
the chapel - you can find it
easily from the car park, and there is usually a
sign put out to help you find the room.
ALL ARE WELCOME. CHILDREN ARE WELCOME
If you would like to make contact first, or have any questions, please email:
Gemma Rley [email protected] or Julianne McMaster at
[email protected].
MONDAY MORNING COFFEE
Mondays at 9:30am
SPOUSE GYM SESSIONS
Tuesday & Thursday Mornings 9.30am - 10.30am
Lavarack Barracks Gym
MUMS ‘N’ BUBS
Wednesdays from 9:30am
CAMKIDS PLAYGROUP
Fridays from 9:30am
For more information
Phone: 07 4411 7031
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/167935113192
The Defence Special Needs Support Group is seeking volunteers to fill a number of local Coordinator positions across Australia. You don’t have to have special needs in your family to be a DSNSG volunteer Coordinator, just a willingness to help your fellow Defence families by putting on a coffee morning now and then, linking into local services and supports and occasionally organising a family day. Coordinator training is provided. For more information please contact Kim Collins, National Coordinator Defence Special Needs Support Group 1800 037 674 or email [email protected] www.dsnsg.org.au The position of National Delegate for North Queensland on the National Executive for Defence Families of Australia (DFA) will shortly become available the current delegate for North Queensland is relocating. Delegates liaise with local DFA members, Base Commanders, Managers and staff of DHA, DCO, Toll Transitions and Defence. National Delegates develop and maintain excellent working relationships with Regional Managers of DHA, DCO, Defence support services, Toll Transitions, Commanding Officers/Units in each region. They attend consortium or stakeholder meetings at least once a quarter. They also hold regional meetings before and after the DFA Annual Conference, prepare submissions on current issues as required; and provide feedback to the Convenor on local and national issues. If you would be interested in applying for this partially volunteer position or if you would like to know more about what DFA do please visit our website: www.dfa.org.au