2010 Christmas Message from Chief of Navy VADM Russ Crane
17 December 2010
This has been a year of change and reform unmatched, in my view, in the recent history of the RAN. I congratulate everyone in Navy who has done so much to contribute to our mission; our success reflects your dedication to our task.
The enormous scope of your activities this year demonstrates your professionalism and commitment. HMA Ships Parramatta, Toowoomba, Melbourne and Stuart have all served in a flexible security role this year in Middle East operations, and over the Christmas period CDRE Greg Sammut is leading the RAN command group in CTF 150.
At home, the pace of Operation Resolute has tested our ACPB and HS crews to their limits, but they have performed this difficult and challenging task with exceptional skill and commitment.
Navy people have also augmented land operations in Afghanistan, in the Middle East, in Sudan and in East Timor, while our LCHs assisted in Solomon Islands. In a first for us, CDRE Stuart Mayer took command of TF631 in East Timor, completing his tour earlier this year with outstanding success.
Our humanitarian effort has included support following the devastating floods in Pakistan and the latest Pacific Partnership activities in Papua New Guinea and East Timor, and our exercise program has been equally high tempo, joining with our regional partners in the FPDA series, Kakadu ’10, RIMPAC ’10 and many others.
HMAS Warramunga represented her namesake at the 60th anniversary of the Inchon landings in Korea and conducted a very successful visit to China, and HMAS Collins is conducting a round-Australia tour to showcase our reinvigorated submarine force. I have been consistently amazed by the variety of tasks our Navy people are ready and willing to undertake.
Equally, the support provided by shore and training establishments, often over long hours, has been outstanding this year. Thank you to you all. We are one Navy and every one of us has a role to play in achieving our operational outcomes.
Just as importantly, I thank you for the overwhelming enthusiasm across Navy for New Generation Navy (NGN), now in its second year. I am impressed by the spread of new ideas and revised, cost-conscious, personnel-oriented processes which are shaping our future. We are slowly building our new culture on the bedrock of our Signature Behaviours and I anticipate exceptional results as we move further along our five-year timeline.
An important part of this is our current series of divisional engagements, Navigating the Change, which challenge us all to discuss how to eliminate unacceptable behaviour through a values-based approach to our workplace. Although it can be daunting to stand up against unacceptable behaviour, especially where issues of rank or friendship are involved, we all need to have the moral courage to do it. That is the NGN leadership culture.
This year’s Reduced Activity Period is a much-needed break at the end of an extraordinary year. Everyone in Navy has well and truly earned time to enjoy their family and friends at home.
I wish you a safe and relaxing holiday and ask you all to take a moment to remember those still on duty or deployed who won’t share the holidays with their loved ones – include their families and those newly posted to your area in your local celebrations.
Merry Christmas to you all and keep safe into the New Year.
R.H. CRANE, AM, CSM
Vice Admiral, RAN
Chief of Navy
December 2010
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