BendigoWeekly www.bendigoweekly.com.au
ISSUE 1021 FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 2017
Collector of note sells up GORDON JACKSON has collected sheet music for 40 years. It has been such an enduring interest of Mr Jackson’s that he has a floor to ceiling collection in his Strathdale home. But having just sold the house, he and his wife Glad are looking for a buyer for the collection – Story Page 9
BLAST OFF Photo: ANDREW PERRYMAN
By PETER KENNEDY
AUSTRALIA’S most senior army officer has heaped praise on the Hawkei armoured vehicle and its potential to save lives and win valuable export contracts for the local defence industry. Addressing the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Senate estimates committee on Wednesday, Chief of Army Lieutenant General Angus Campbell DSC, AM said the Hawkei, to be produced by Thales
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Hawkei passes explosives tests
Australia at its North Bendigo facility, was possibly the first vehicle in the world built to be digitally wired in the same conceptual fashion as a modern aircraft glass cockpit. “I am delighted with what has been produced, what we are seeing coming into service, and I think it has very significant potential for international export,” he said.
Thales Australia’s $1.3 billion contract to build 1100 Hawkei armoured vehicles for the Australian Army at the North Bendigo facility is also one step closer after the vehicle’s recent successful completion of vital crew survivability blast testing. Industry insiders say testing of the Hawkei’s capacity to withstand the threat posed by powerful improvised
Runway figures up in the air – Page 3
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explosive devices means production of the vehicles as part of the federal government’s Project Land 121 Phase 4 is now only reliant upon the completion of further reliability trials. The Hawkei incorporates the best attributes of the Bendigo-built and much larger Bushmaster armoured vehicle which has earned the praise and respect of military leaders around
the world, and is considered unique for its ability to be transported by the army’s Chinook helicopters. Lt Gen Campbell this week said design capabilities integrated into the Hawkei which will see the loom of wiring and the computer systems that enable combat systems and radios to be applied was the first part of design of the vehicle, and not the last add-on that would then require a lot of time spent trying to integrate and reconfigure. Continued Page 7
EDITORIAL Page 19
56-page Property Guide inside