Publication:Sea Talk Summer 2008/Staff Acquaint course 26/07
By CMDR Stephen Rowley
RAN Staff Acquaint Course (RANSAC) 26/07 finished on October 17, after its second two-week residential period at the Australian Command and Staff College (ACSC) in Weston Creek.
The course began in October 2007 with a two-week residential period. This was followed by 11 months of distance learning before the course panel reassembled on October 4 for the final residential.
Six RAN and RANR officers completed the course along with one officer of the USNR who attended the final residential period only.
They were presented their certificates at a ceremony in the Synnot Theatre at the ACSC by the Deputy Chief of Navy, RADM Davyd Thomas.
Completing course members, to formally graduate in December at ACSC, are: CHAP Murray Lund, LCDR Robert Banyari, LCDR Dominic Katter, LCDR Linda Walker; LCDR Simon Winder, and LEUT Tony Gilmour.
Attending the course from the USA was Cdr Patrick Hazelwood, USNR who may be remembered by some from his time as an instructor at HMAS Watson in the 1990s.
RADM Thomas also presented Reservist LCDR Robert Banyari, the Lonsdale Medallion as the outstanding course member of Course 26/07, in both academic results and personal attributes demonstrated throughout the course.
LCDR Banyari graduated as a midshipman from ADFA 1992 then completed seaman officer’s training and gained sea experience in HMA Ships Jervis Bay, Derwent, Darwin, Cessnock and Bendigo. Promoted to LCDR Banyari was awarded his under water mine warfare qualification in 2001 before returning to Cairns as the Deputy Port Services Manager. He transferred to the RANR in 2002. Until 2005, he filled the maritime plans role at the Deployable Joint Force Headquarters in Brisbane, and he is now the Land Warfare Centre formation’s strategic and facilities planning officer at HQ LWC in Canungra.
LCDR Banyari’s interests include Australian Rules football, rugby league/union, skiing/snow boarding, tennis, golf and playing the piano. His main passion is travelling, having extensively explored 52 countries, 76 ski resorts and 129 cities to date.
