A group of employers from Hobart recently enjoyed a round of golf at the prestigious Royal Hobart Golf Club while discussing Defence Reserves.

Member of the local Defence Reserves Support Council (DRSC) committee teamed up with employers for a 'soggy' game after a weekend of heavy rain.

At the clubhouse, DRSC Tasmania Committee Chair Michael Barrett welcomed everyone and thanked them for their support of Reservists.

Managing Director of DJ Motors Michael Johns was guest speaker at the event.

A supportive employer of Reservists, Mr Johns recently saw Reservists at work during Exercise Talisman Saber, held near Rockhampton.

Over lunch, he entertained the players with a very comprehensive and interesting presentation abou this experience and spoke of his amaxement at the complex and authentic training camp established at Shoalwater Bay.

He said he was also very impressed with the facilities at the field hospital. This training facility is used by military from around the world.

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Heads of Churches from across New South Wales have been formally thanked for supporting Defence at a function in Sydney.

His Eminence, Cardinal George Pell, Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Rabbi Pinchus Feldman OAM, Honorary Life President of Rabbinical Council of NSW, Mr Andrew Ball, Executive Ministry Director of Churches of Christ in NSW, Reverend Nial Reid, Moderator of the Synod of NSW and ACT and Reverend Robert Bartolomaeus, Acting President of the Lutheran Church of Australia (NSW District) were amongst the esteemed guests at the function.

Many of Ausralian Defence Force chaplains are Reservists and the event, sponsored by Defence Reserves Support - New South Wales, aimed to explain the role that permanent and Reserve chaplains play in the Services.

"The function also gave us an opportunity to outline the requirements a clergy person needs to meet to serve as a chaplain, and also explained the benefits the church receives through clergy being involved in Defence Chaplaincy ministry," said State Manager DRS-NSW Squadron Leader Del Gaudry.

"It was a great evening and it was terrific to have so many outstanding leaders at the event."

2009 ended with two prestigious Employer Support Award functions held in early December.

The first was held in the Northern Territory, with the Australian Federal Police - Aviation, being named Employer of the Year.

This event was closely followed by an awards ceremony at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to thank Victorian employers for their outstanding support over the past year.

Deputy Chair of the Defence Reserves Support Council's Northern Territory/Kimberley Committee, and Chief Executive of the Chamber of Commerce NT, Chris Young said that a strong relationship between Reservists and their employers was vital to the ADF.

"The commitment shown by all of this year's finalists to their Reserve personnel has been outstanding and bodes well for future recruitment opportunities," Mr Young said.

"Many employers are recognising the benefits that accrue to their business from employing staff with the skill set that comes from being Reserve personnel.

"The partnership between industry and Defence to support Reserve personnel could not be better illustrated then with those who have been nominated for this year's awards."

Chair of the Defence Reserves Support Council's Victorian Committee Leigh Purnell said a diverse group of nominations representing a wide cross section of the business community had been received in his State.

"It is also pleasing to see the nominations coming from each of the three Services - Navy, Army and Air Force," he said.

"The strength of our Reserve base in Victoria is exemplified by the diversity and commitment of the employers.

"Employers of Reservists gain an employee who is not only twice the citizen, but one who is capable of being assigned a variety of tasks; an employee who demonstrates high values and commitment to the business and for whit it stands. Reservists generally bring to the business community additional skill sets that are highly sought after."

NT Award Winners:
* Employer of the Year 2009 - Australian Federal Police - Aviation
* Small Business - Barker Hume Homes Ltd, Alice Springs
* Medium Business - CDE Capital Pty Ltd, Darwin
* Large Business/Government - Australian Federal Police

VIC Award Winners:
* Deakin University
* Goulburn Valley Regional Hospital
* Alfred Hospital
* Scorpion Engineering - East Keilor
* BAE Systems Australia - Maritime
* Australian Red Cross
* St. Vincent's Hospital Mental Health
* Northern Hospital
* Hampton Park Baptist Church
* VICPOL
* Dept of Justice
* Torus Games - Bayswater

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Defence Reserves Support - Victoria (DRS-VIC) had the opportunity to promote the benefits of Reserve service to Australian Industry and Defence Network members during a successful golf day in Melbourne.

DRS-VIC sponsored a hole, and with the extra support of Royal Australian Air Force Reservists from 21 Squadron, engaged with more than 50 employers during the day.

Navy, Army and Air Force Reservists led four of the golf teams and one of them, the Directorate of Employer and Industry Engagement's Steve Smith, won longest drive of the day.

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At 59 years of age, Kevin Tottle, father of four and grandfather of nine, has only ever failed one Defence Force fitness test.

The year was 1968 and the Tet Offensive had taken the Allies by suprise as more than 80,000 Viet Cong troops surged into towns and cities in the war's largest campaign.

For two months, the Communist forces were beaten back and contained, It was a decisive military victory for the Allies that was broadcast into living rooms throughout the world.

Kevin was 18. He wanted to serve Australia. A country boy who was training to be a carpenter in Werribee, Victoria, he volunteered to fight in what would turn out to be our longest running military engagement in history.

"I wanted to go to Vietnam but they knocked me back, said I wasn't fit enough," Kevin said.

A few short years later, the was was over and Kevin and his new wife from Finely, New South Wales had started their family and a successful house building business in Werribee. The carpentry trade was booming but Kevin held onto his dream to serve in the Defence Force and in mid 1970 he was accepted into the Royal Australian Air Force as a full-time fire fighter.

"In those days, fire fighters had a much more rigorous fitness test regime that was a lot harder than the one we have to do today," Kevin said.

"Training as a fire fighter was a natural choice for me. You find with most of the 'fireys' that they have a trade behind them before they join up. We like to be outdoors and to keep fit and to do things with our hands. With this job we're out in the open, driving trucks, training, keeping buildings and air strips safe from fire hazards.

"I love it. It's a 24/7 kind of job and if you are on a shift with four or five people and in a job that has a lot of pressure, it forges a really close bond with the mates that you work with. I still keep in touch with people who left the Air Force 20 years ago and because I've had a lot of experience, many people come to me and ask me for advice and mentoring.

"These days, the young blokes are always asking me when I'm going to bring a walking frame into work but I haven't failed a fitness test since I joined the ADF and I'm going to keep going with the job until I can't do it anymore."

Both of Kevin's daughters also joined the military.

"They signed up as cooks in the Army and while one daughter got out 10 years ago as a Lance Corporal to start a family of her own, my other daughter's a Sergeant now and we'll both be deployed in Afghanistan in April next year," he said.

2010 won't be the first time Kevin has served in fire fighting crews overseas. For two years, he and his family lived in Malaysia at Butterworth air base and he's just returned from a stint with Operation SLIPPER, Australia's military contribution to international campaigns against terrorism, countering piracy in the Gulf of Aden, and maritime security.

"It's a different atmosphere over there and I've learned a lot about the culture and from working with Defence personnel from other countries," Kevin said.

"I'm really looking forward to getting over to Afghanistan again. I get to put into practice all the things I've been training to do for years and working alongside local fire fighters as well as Canadians and Dutch forces showed me that even if we all have different ways of going about our jobs, we're all working to comply with international fire safety standards.

"Afghan culture teaches the local people to respect their elders so I don't have any trouble mixing with the local population. They tell me that they won't talk to younger soldiers because they have no respect for them but they look up to my experience and talk easily to me if they're able to speak English.

"When I first went overseas with Defence I was on a fire fighting crew at the base looking after air fields and buildings. As a Reservist, I'm in exactly the same role.

"I'd recommend the Reserves as a rewarding job for anyone who likes a challenge. Young people these days might work in a job for three to five years until they get bored and move onto something else. Nothing's permanent. Working with Defence teaches them about loyalty, integrity and accountability.

"I've been a Reservist for 20 years now and I work 150 to 180 days a year and spend the rest of time with my children and helping to raise my grandchildren. My oldest grandchild is 21 and has been living with me since he was very young and my 33-year-old son has just moved back home again," he said.

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It was a diverse group of employers who met in Sydney in December as part of the Exercise Boss Lift 05/09 to Malaysia.

The group was made up of a senior police officer, farmer, local government official, financial manager, security manager, senior members from Correctional Services, supermarket owner and Defence IT supervisor just to name a few.

Also accompanying the group was the Commander of the Second Division, Major General Craig Williams and Chief of Staff for Cadet, Reserve and Employer Support Division, Colonel Tim Grützner.

There were briefings and issuing of documentation before heading to Sydney International Airport to catch flight QF 5 to Singapore.

The group were escorted from Changi Airport by the Commanding Officer of the 2nd/30th Training Group, Lieutenant Colonel Campbell Paine, the Officer Commanding Rifle Company Butterworth (RCB) Rotation 88, Major Steve Brumby, and the Boss Lift Liaison Officer, Captain Alex Richards.

The hotel was soon reached in the southern Malaysian city of Johor Bahru.

An early start the following day allowed for more necessary briefs on culture, security and history. Lieutenant Colonel Paine outlined the history of RCB and the enduring relationship between Australia and Malaysia.

Following the briefs, it was on the bus to the Malaysian Army base at PULADA where the Boss Lift participants met with their Reservist employees. From the outset, it was evident the Reservists were very pleased to see their bosses alight from the bus.

PULADA is an acronym for Pusat Lathan Tempur Tentera Darat – the real name of the military base but no one attempted this tongue twister even after the four days.

It wasn’t long before the employers found themselves in a platoon defensive position in the jungle and looking at the contents of an Australian Army ration pack for their lunch-time meal.

An element of realism was added when the heavens opened with a tropical downpour soaking everyone in seconds. The soldiers were impressed that not one employer headed for the dry interior of the vehicles which were parked nearby — instead choosing to sit it out and continue to enjoy the delights of the ration packs while trying to keep the streams of rainwater out of the food.

A series of stands in the platoon position gave the employers an insight into how an infantry platoon operates — including a weapon display and section attack demonstration.

This understanding was further enhanced that evening when, after dinner at Camp Burma, the employees were driven to the range for a spectacular night live-fire demonstration of infantry weapons.

Day two commenced with a demonstration at the Malaysian Army War Dog section. Dogs trained in search and rescue, guarding and attack and explosive detection showed off their skills in an impressive display accompanied by a commentary from Lieutenant Colonel Toh – Commanding Officer of the War Dog Section.

Morning tea was held at the office of Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Lim Eng Seng, who is the Chief Instructor (CI) of this Army Combat Training Centre at PULADA. Like most CIs of any training establishment, he oversees all training matters for the various courses run in PULADA, including the RCB rotations.

This position as the CI always has been the liaison point for the ADF when on RCB with the liaison going all the way back to the 1970s.

Lieutenant Colonel Paine gave more of a perspective on the enduring relationship between the two nations.

“RCB uses the facilities at PULADA including the live firing facilities, jungle training areas, obstacle course, sports fields and Camp Burma where the RCB live when not in the field,” he said.

“There are also two other Australian exchange instructors at PULADA and they usually facilitate sporting events against the Malaysians.  We also send soldiers onto the 6-week Survival Course and the 6-week Tracking Course - that are both world class.   Every RCB also does a 3-day survival package.”

Following the morning tea, Quick Decision Exercises provided the challenges for teams of employers. Guy Sim from NSW Department of Corrections impressed everyone with his prowess during a leap and forward roll through the spider web obstacle course.

After lunch, the employers were treated to a different level of culinary delights at the PULADA Survival Village. There were plants to eat and vines to provide water. Sergeant Edwards of the Malaysian Army demonstrated a range of jungle traps before the bosses experienced jungle cooking.

On the menu was cat-fish, chicken, python and monkey which were all cooked in the traditional style. The expressions during the taste tests were interesting but no-one baulked at tasting meat which usually is viewed alive and swinging in trees in a zoo.

However, Dean Hanson, area manager for KFC, ruled out bringing in primate and reptile as new meals in their restaurants.

The final day saw the employees take to the range under the tutelage of their Reservist employees, firing the F88 Steyr and the F89 Minimi – light support weapon.

Following lunch at Camp Burma, each employee and their Reservist gave an address to the rest of the Boss Lift participants on their civilian workplace and relationship. The pride each employer had in their Reservist was evident and many spoke about the skills they had identified in their respective employees that will benefit the civilian workplace.

The final evening saw the Boss Lift participants and employees treated to a cultural show of traditional Malaysian dancing and farewell dinner at the hotel. Afterwards some of the Boss Lift participants joined the hotel band on stage, singing “Leaving on a Jet Plane” – a somewhat dismal attempt all round.

The next morning it was a return across the Johor-Singapore causeway to Singapore and the Customs run. There was time for personal reflection and commemoration at the Changi Prison Museum and Chapel where many Allied prisoners were interned after the fall of Singapore in WWII before the flight home.

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The Employer Support Payment (ESP) expenditure for the month of December and the progressive expenditure for FY 09/10 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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