True Blue April 2021 by Countrywide Austral

April 2021

True Blue OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE UNITED NATIONS & OVERSEAS POLICING ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA

Edition 40 ISSN: 2203-8507

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The United Nations & Overseas Policing Association of Australia, (UNOPAA) is an Australian incorporated, non profit organisation whose members are both serving or retired Police Officers from Police Forces throughout Australia who have served or are serving with United Nations or AFP International Deployment Group (IDG) Peacekeeping Forces throughout the world! TRUE BLUE is posted to its members throughout Australia and worldwide to where AFP IDG are serving. Our magazine contains welfare, legislative and social information relevant to the well being and camaraderie of UNOPAA members who have, or are serving in Australia’s National Interest. Aims of the UNOPAA: 1. To maintain and foster the memory of UNOPAA members killed whilst serving with United Nations Forces or IDG. 2. To provide welfare, legal and financial support where and when appropriate to members. 3. To promote social occasions such as Reunions, etc., including United Nations and Anzac Day Marches. 4. To pursue and lobby industrial, legal and political avenues, when necessary in order to improve the welfare and industrial benefits to our members. We acknowledge the assistance of Countrywide Austral Pty Ltd, who, in conjunction with the UNOPAA, have made the publication and distribution of ‘TRUE BLUE’ magazine possible! Your financial contribution to the publication of our magazine is greatly appreciated.

Views and opinions expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the United Nations & Overseas Policing Association of Australia, the editor, the publisher or printer. “True Blue” is published by Countrywide Austral Pty Ltd, Melbourne from funds supplied by advertisers in this magazine. Please support our advertisers and their products.

Rod Walker True Blue Editor Email: enidandrod@tpg.com.au Mobile: 0411 953 966

UNOPAA Contacts National President Mr Mick Travers APM Mobile: 0418 297 086 Email: Michael.Travers@afp.gov.au National Vice President Mr Rod Walker Tel: 0411 953 966 Email: enidandrod@tpg.com.au National Vice President Mr Dale Cooper RFD PO Box 7099 Karabar NSW 2620 Mobile: 0418 266 033 Email: unopaa@gmail.com National Secretary/Treasurer Mr Peter McDonald APM 28A Dinah Parade, Keilor East Vic 3033 Mobile: 0418 131 352 Email: vp14970@gmail.com Australian Capital Territory State President: Dale Cooper RFD PO Box 7099 Karabar NSW 2620 Mobile: 0418 266 033 Email: unopaa@gmail.com New South Wales State President: Mark Elm Email: markrobinelm1969@icloud.com

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Victoria/Tasmania State President: Shaun Young Knox Police Complex, 414 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South VIC 3152 Tel. (03) 9881 7061 Mobile: 0438 508 229 Email: shaun.young@police.vic.gov.au Queensland State President: John Walker APM Unit 230, 96 Village Way, Little Mountain QLD 4551 Mobile 0474 157 982 Email: whiskeywalker41@gmail.com South Australia State President: Garry Casey 40 Yarrabee Road, Greenhill SA 5140 Tel: 08 8390 3568 Mobile: 0427 188 449 Email: garryecasey@yahoo.com.au Western Australia State President: Darcy Boylan 21 Templemore Drive Heathridge WA 6027 Tel: 08 9402 0030 Mobile: 0408 120 299 Email: gdboylan@bigpond.com Northern Territory President: Allan Mitchell 5 Eureka Court Anula NT 0812 Tel: 08 8927 2676 Mobile: 0417 804 546 Email: almitch@bigpond.com.au

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True Blue April 2021

Contents 4

From the Editor’s desk

5 Australian Police Medal Australia Day 2021 8

UNOPAA Reunion 2021

RAAF Celebrates 100 Years

The Blue Beret

Robert Oliver

26 A glimpse into the work of a female peacekeeper 28 Letter: Unlawful Wearing of Australian Honours

30 Letter: A Better Way to Support Veterans 32 Letter: Australian Police Peacekeepers’ Health Audit 34

Mayhem on the High Seas

If My Body Was a Car

42 Vale 43

Membership Renewal or Application

44 Merchandise

True Blue April 2021

Do we have your Email Address? UNOPAA maintains a membership database and communicates with its members from time to time by email. If you haven’t been receiving these communications, it may be that we don’t have your email address, or it is out of date. If uncertain, or it appears we don’t have it, please send your email address to the Secretary, Peter McDonald, at vp14970@gmail.com

True Blue April 2021

From the Editor’s desk Well, here we are, a third of the way through the year already. We’ve now experienced 14 months of the COVID-19 virus and the vaccine is currently being rolled out. No doubt many of you have already had your first injection and some may have already had the second instalment of the ‘jab’. For those of us that haven’t embarked on the injection trail as yet – do you know which phase of the roil out applies to you and when you are able to get it? If you are in doubt, the following Australian Government website will be of assistance. https://covid-vaccine. healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility. This website allows you to enter information about yourself and will advise which phase of the ‘roll out’ of the vaccine you fall under. It will then allow you to put in your Post Code and it will indicate nearby locations where you can book to receive the vaccine. As the vaccine ‘roll out’ continues, more and more clinics, hospitals and GP practices are joining the list of locations that you can receive the vaccine. Check with your GP – he/she may already be one of those locations.

which you would have received in an email from our National Secretary in late February/early March. The article has been reproduced in this issue of True Blue – just in case you missed it.

HAVE YOU BOOKED FOR THE UNOPAA REUNION/CONFERENCE IN OCTOBER YET?

Many thanks to Hewan O’Neill who provides me with numerous humorous emails. Some of which are scattered throughout this issue.

As you are aware, this year’s Reunion/Conference is being held on Norfolk Island. In February, the organising committee travelled to Norfolk Island for a week to formalise arrangements for the event. I can only tell you that you are in for a real treat. I have racked my brain trying to think of a way to describe the island, the people and the lifestyle for you. My best way of describing it is – think of an Australian country town about 40 or 50 years ago. Everybody knows each other, everyone waves to you, nothing is rushed and (if you have ever been to an island in the Pacific) everything is based on ‘island time’. This is sure to be a week of fun times and relaxation. I have written a ‘Travelogue’ of our ‘recce’ to the island

THIS ISSUE ALSO INCLUDES: An article about one of our stalwart members – Bob Oliver. Bob’s wife, Barbara, wrote the article and I thank her for contributing to the magazine and providing us with an insight into Bob’s sporting prowess. Marzio Da Re has once again written an article for True Blue – this time, about an operation off the West Australian coast where a fishing boat was discovered devoid of any crew. An intriguing read. Many thanks Marzio for your efforts and contributions. Our Secretary/Treasurer as been busy on the political scene following up on letters the UNOPAA has sent to Federal politicians. These letters (and responses from the pollies) are included in this issue. Not the responses we were after but at least a response.

HAVE YOU GOT A STORY YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH US? I’m always looking for Articles/content for True Blue issues. Do you have any stories /experiences you want to share with us? Don’t be shy, send me an email and bounce things off me, I’m always willing to help. Regards

Rod Walker Editor True Blue

True Blue April 2021

Australian Police Medal (APM) Australia Day 2021 A number of police were awarded Australian Police Medals for distinguished police service in the 2021 Australia Day Honours List. The following were of particular interest to UNOPAA and we would like to offer our congratulations to each of them: SUPERINTENDENT GLENN DESMOND FEENEY WESTERN AUSTRALIA POLICE Glenn served with the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) in 2002.

SERGEANT CRAIG CAMERON MCPHERSON AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE Craig deployed to the Solomon islands as part of the International Peace Monitoring Team in 2001. He returned in 2004 as part of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), and again in 2006. In 2005 he also deployed to Cyprus as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force (UNFICYP).

SERGEANT JONATHAN PATRICK PAYNE VICTORIA POLICE As a senior drill instructor, Jonathan has acted as parade marshal for the Victoria Police contingent to the Anzac Day March in Melbourne for many years.

Mapping Evil

with Mike King

The podcast that investigates the geography of crime. Subscribe free at:

mappingevil.com.au

Mapping Evil Crime mapping technology and geospatial analytics are shining a spotlight on the dark side of humanity – and helping law enforcement leaders solve some of the world’s most perplexing crimes. As a renowned criminal investigator, Mike King has seen many extraordinary breakthroughs throughout his career. For more than 40 years, the former police chief has worked with law enforcement agencies around the world and trained hundreds of investigators in the art of criminal profiling. He’s been on the frontline in the hunt for serial predators and broken open some of the world’s most perplexing cases, including the take down of one of the United States most notorious cults. But ask this veteran investigator about the real turning point in his career, and he’ll share it came while experimenting with geospatial technology in the investigation of a prolific serial killer whose final victim was murdered in his home state of Utah.

Geographic Information System (GIS) technology as a foundational platform for contemporary investigations.

“I was researching the case of a notorious US predator known as the ‘Truck Stop Killer’, Robert Ben Rhoades,” said King. “In the early 90’s, Rhoades had been charged with three murders but only convicted of one – the murder of Regina Kay Walters – for which he is still in prison today.

He cites groups including Singapore Police Force, New York City Police Department and UK National Fraud Intelligence Bureau as leaders in their application of geospatial technology – but indicated there is significant appetite from his Australian counterparts for expanding the use of GIS across the full spectrum of public safety operations.

“I suspected Rhoades was responsible for many more murders than he had initially been charged with, so I used geospatial technology to map and analyse his commercial trucking data – including every weigh station visit, fuel stop and recorded break logged – alongside information about missing persons and unsolved murder cases in the same areas at those same times.

“Understanding the element of ‘location’ is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle when it comes to law enforcement,” said King. “Not only can it uncover answers to unsolved crimes, but it can also reveal insights that enable officials to put preventative measures in place to reduce the risk of similar crimes occurring again.”

“For the first time, we had a clear picture of the full extent of Rhoades’ reign of terror and it supported the theory some FBI agents had that Rhoades may have killed as many as 300 victims.”

It’s a concept King explores comprehensively in the breakout new Australian podcast, Mapping Evil – which he hosts alongside awardwinning journalist Tory Shepherd. The series explores a number of unsolved Australian crimes, using King’s trademark geographic analysis to shed new light on the cold cases.

Since making the chilling discovery, King has championed the use of crime mapping and geospatial analytics with law enforcement agencies around the world, working to establish

“Being able to demonstrate in a very tangible way just how much

insight this technology can provide to an investigation is very important, particularly as there’s a growing need for geospatial capabilities, not just in law enforcement, but across the entire public safety domain. “The challenges faced over the past few years have really brought home the importance of using maps and geospatial analytics to understand and get ahead of any public safety situation – whether it’s monitoring the risk of COVID-19, tracking moving fire fronts or detecting criminal activity. “The technology has also emerged as a valuable tool to support cross jurisdictional public safety efforts – as criminals and crises don’t stop at geographic borders. “Creating a common operating picture of all public safety threats – regardless of jurisdiction – is critical to ensuring quick and accurate decisions can be made to keep communities safe.”

Season One of Mapping Evil with Mike King is available now at mappingevil.com.au Register your interest to join a live, virtual Q & A with Mike King at mappingevil.com.au/MikeKing

True Blue April 2021

UNOPAA Reunion 2021 To all those who enjoy their overseas travel and have been unable to partake in their offshore pursuits due to COVID-19, you can breathe a sigh of relief because the UNOPAA Reunion and Conference in October this year is DEFINITELY ON in Norfolk Island. Between February the 22nd and 27th the UNOPAA Reunion organising committee travelled to Norfolk Island to commence and firm up “on island” negotiations and arrangements with local businesses for the upcoming Reunion. In addition to meetings with local providers, we also undertook a familiarisation of the island (geographically, historically and culturally). Are we experts on the island – no – but we can now certainly point you in the right direction when you arrive. I need to clarify this slightly – our UNOPAA President was a member of the Norfolk Island Police for three years and knows the island (and a fair number of its current inhabitants) intimately. This article has been written to provide you with answers to the questions (I believe, you want/need to know). So, here goes.

GETTING THERE Norfolk Island is an Australian Territory. Although you depart through the International Terminals at either Sydney or Brisbane, the travel is deemed “Domestic”. As an aside – although it is deemed “domestic travel” you can still buy “Duty Free” (unlimited) in Australia (at the International Terminals) and take it with you to Norfolk Island. Another beauty with this is that there are no limits (alcohol etc). Air New Zealand is the airline with the current contract to fly into and out of Norfolk Island. This contract is up for renewal in June however,

regardless of who wins the new contract Air New Zealand will still be the contracted carrier in October (the new contracted carrier – if there is one or remains with Air New Zealand – will not commence until 2022). At present, as soon as there is a new case of COVID-19 in New Zealand, Australia (or Australian states) close their borders and Air New Zealand cannot fly into Sydney or Brisbane therefore they cannot fly onto Norfolk Island – bit of a messy situation really. Then in steps Qantas who takes over the scheduled flight. So – it’s sort of “the norm” to have an Air New Zealand ticket and fly Qantas. It’s not a problem, just got to get used to things changing on a daily basis. It is hoped that by October, everyone will have been “jabbed” both in Australia and New Zealand and this issue will be resolved. Also “at Present” masks are required to be worn once you enter the terminal, whilst on the aircraft and until you exit the airport on Norfolk Island. That is unless you are eating or drinking. I might also add, that this is the same when flying “domestically” from anywhere in Australia to Sydney or Brisbane for you connecting flight to Norfolk Island. Nothing to worry about – just the times we are in. Although the flight is deemed “domestic” you will need a form of photographic identification. A passport is the preferred document of identification however, we saw people on our flights use their Australian Driver’s Licences as proof of identity. Flight time is 2.5 hours.

True Blue April 2021

THE LOCALS What can I say – they are the friendliest people. Get your waving hands ready – one of the quaintest customs is waving to every car coming the opposite way and to people on the side of the road. It’s infectious. Most locals have a ‘nick name’. If you can’t remember their full name, go to the local telephone directory, turn to the last few pages of the ‘White Pages’ and there you will find listed everyone’s ‘nick name’ and their telephone number. By the way – most of the locals are related (in some way) and the majority are descendants from the Pitcairn Islanders/Bounty. I was talking to one bloke who had been living on the island for 42 years and he classed himself as a ‘blow in’. They also have their own ‘officially recognised’ language – called Norfo’lk. It is a mixture of English and Tahitian. It’s interesting to hear them talk to each other, you won’t understand what they are actually saying but you will pick up the ‘gist’ of the conversation by recognising the odd English word.

WHAT FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE?

NORFOLK ISLAND I, personally, have travelled (for work purposes) to most of the island nations in the Pacific. Norfolk Island is now one of my favourites (each has its own cultural and geological attributes but this one has something different). I won’t delve into the history of the island a great deal in this article as that would spoil (to a degree) your experience when you arrive “on island”. Let’s just say (if you are wanting to research the island prior to October) look up – Mutiny on the Bounty, early Australian convict settlements on Norfolk Island and Pitcairn Island. If you look these up, you will understand why certain areas of Norfolk Island are ‘World Heritage’ listed. You might also want to look up ‘Colleen McCullough’ and ‘Helen Reddy’.

MEDICAL The island has hospital and dental facilities. The hospital is akin to a small country town hospital – so don’t expect any specialists. There are two doctors (GP’s) and a dentist operating out of the hospital. There are several therapeutic massage businesses and two pharmacies in town. As Norfolk Island is an Australian Territory, Medicare applies. If you become seriously ill and require medical attention that cannot be provided “on island” you will be medevacked to the Australian mainland at the expense of the Australian Government (so I have been advised – I did not delve deeper into this). It is, however, highly recommended that you take out travel insurance.

TIME

SUPERMARKETS AND SHOPPING First and foremost – you need to be aware that the only produce the island produces locally is fresh vegetables, beef and fish. All other necessities (including foodstuffs, building materials, vehicles, fuel etc) are shipped in from either Australia or New Zealand (for info – New Zealand is closer to Norfolk Island than Australia). Therefore, when a local says that they are waiting for the ship to arrive – they literally are.

Norfolk Island is one hour ahead of the Australian East Coast. It operates on ‘Daylight Saving Time’ in line with NSW, Vic & Tas. Therefore, during daylight saving the island is 2 hours ahead of the Eastern seaboard of Queensland.

Although an Australian Territory, Norfolk Island (at present) is duty free and does not charge GST however, as most commodities are shipped in, you will find foodstuffs to be significantly more expensive than on mainland Australia.

The island’s principle GDP is Tourism and it relies on this heavily to survive. COVID-19 has hit it hard.

True Blue April 2021

The main shopping area of the island is called ‘Burnt Pines’ (don’t ask – I don’t know). There are numerous shops in the ‘Burnt Pines’ shopping precinct, including small department stores, chocolate shop, numerous cafes, bakers, souvenir shops, shoe shops. Think of an Australian small country town and you have ‘Burnt Pines’. Many of these businesses sell their goods at duty free prices. There is a shopping mall (small) which has the largest supermarket on the island, a pharmacy, newsagent, fresh fruit & veggies shop and a bakery. Further down the road (towards the airport) is the 2nd supermarket. This one is much smaller and has a bakery incorporated. Attached to this supermarket is the Post Office (Australia Post). Opposite is a small cinema, a quaint building owned by a movie buff – don’t expect the latest blockbusters, ‘Pride and Prejudice’ was the movie showing while we were there. The cinema operates one night per week.

Alcohol to be taken away (or home) is available from the ‘BOND STORE’. This is located in ‘Burnt Pines’ and is ‘Duty Free’. It is open to the public. We found that prices were comparable to Sydney Airport Duty Free and in some cases even cheaper. CLUBS There are three (3) main clubs on the island – all with 60’s decor: • The RSL. A very friendly club and their members are very welcoming. One of our ‘included’ functions is held at the RSL. We had dinner there one night and the food was generous and delicious. • The Bowling Club. Again – very friendly and welcoming. Lawn Bowls is a well patronised sport on the island, so if you are into lawn bowls – drop in and say hello. They probably won’t let you go until you play and ‘End’ or two. • The Leagues Club. Mainly for the locals. I’ll leave it at that.

True Blue April 2021

POST OFFICE Attached to the smaller of the two supermarkets. Postage prices are the same as Australia just don’t expect 3-day delivery to Aus. Mostly goes by boat, could take weeks or longer. BANKING There is a branch of the Commonwealth Bank located in ‘Burnt Pines’. This is the only bank on the island. CURRENCY The Australian dollar is the local currency.

DRIVING You will be in an Australian Territory, so you drive on the left-hand side of the road (when you are on a two-way road). Otherwise, if you are on a single lane road – be polite and pull off to the side and let the other vehicle pass you. Oh – don’t forget to wave. The speed limit is 50kms per hour across the island except in the school zone where it is 30kms per hour. On most of the roads out of town, if you did 50kms per hour, your bra straps would break, or your false teeth would fall out – you have been warned!!! Why am I discussing ‘Driving’? You will notice in the package from ‘Norfolk Travel’ that car hire is included. Why? Because there is no public transport on the island – you get to drive yourselves. There is one Uber/Taxi but I don’t think too many people use this service. If you can’t/don’t drive, then let us know – two of the organisers will be driving Toyota Tarago type vehicles to assist if necessary. Most of the hire vehicles will be cars that you have never seen or heard of before. That is because these vehicles come straight out of Japan as used vehicles with around 20,000kms on them. In the main, they are little ‘buzz boxes’ and all automatic. They are reasonably current models with all the safety features – great fun to get around in.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS The word is “Frustrating”. Norfolk Telecom have just rolled out 4G on the island. As a result, there is very little available for visitors to access. Although an Australian Territory, Norfolk Island’s telecommunications environment is ‘standalone’ and international roaming is what most visitors have utilised to contact Australia in the past. At present (March & due to the 4G roll out) they don’t have International Roaming. They are hopeful that International Roaming will be back later this year but they’re not holding their breath (and it probably won’t be). If it is available by October, we will advise you however, you need to remember that International Roaming is quite expensive. In the meantime, you can either purchase a local SIM card and package data into it or just buy a data package. This way you can call Australia using Wi-Fi calling (I used Facebook’s Message system to call home – Apple users can use the Apple system). Prices vary for the data packages – the cheapest option is to purchase the ‘Hotspot’ Wi-Fi package. Most shops in Burnt Pines participate in the “Hotspot” system so you can call home while having a coffee or a beer downtown. Be aware that Wi-Fi calling tends to chew up the data fairly quickly so short phone calls are suggested.

Another important piece of information – CATTLE – once out of ‘Burnt Pines’ it is common to come across “free roaming cattle” either on the road or on the verge. These cattle are all owned (and are ear tagged) – as a motorist you must give way to the cattle. Don’t honk your horn or you might end up with a few dents in your car. They (somehow) know that they have to get off the road and will meander off to the verge in their own good time.

Cattle on the road.

True Blue April 2021

ACCOMMODATION The Paradise Hotel and Resort is our ‘Home’ for the duration of the Reunion. Prices quoted in the ‘flyer’ we have been circulating are for this facility. We stayed here during our ‘recce’ and found the rooms to be clean, comfortable and very presentable. Do not expect 5-star accommodation on the island – the best you will get is (about) 4-star. Our combined thoughts are that the Paradise would be a 3-star facility. The ‘Paradise’ has good facilities including a swimming pool, shared laundry and plenty of parking. Several of the “optional” activities occur at the ‘Paradise’. Please note: There is NO air conditioning on the island to avoid overburdening their electricity supply. All rooms in most places have fans and, as the temperature never exceeds 28 degrees (according to the locals), we didn’t find it a problem.

PARADISE RESORT Has mainly spacious ‘Hotel style’ rooms. Rooms vary from ‘Garden’ rooms to ‘Standard’ rooms – all are well laid out and include a fridge, toaster and microwave. All rooms have modern bathrooms with large showers. NOTE: If you are attending as a family group and need more room or bedrooms or you would like to be ‘self-sufficient’, there are other options available close by however, these are all at an additional cost. Remember – breakfast is included at the ‘Paradise’. If you decide to stay at other accommodation you will need to fend for yourselves. Talk to Christan at NI Travel about this when you call to book.

Resort Entrance.

Reception.

Dining Room.

Function Area.

Pool Area.

Superior Room.

Superior Bathroom.

Standard Single Room.

Garden Room.

Garden Room Balcony.

Superior Hotel Room (part 1).

Superior Hotel Room (part 2).

True Blue April 2021

We inspected a few of the other hotels/resorts and believe these to be the best on offer:

ALOHA APARTMENTS Located in the shopping precinct of ‘Burnt Pines’. These are modern 2-bedroom apartments, available in standard and executive styles. The main difference between the two are the room sizes (standard being slightly smaller). Furniture etc is similar in both. This facility has a pool.

CUMBERLAND RESORT AND SPA This complex doesn’t look too much from the outside, but we were quite surprised when we entered the apartments. There are various configurations available. Some of the single bedroom apartments are co-joined to two-bedroom apartments thereby making a three-bedroom apartment. In one area 2 x 2 bedroom and 1 x 1 bedroom can be made into a 5-bedroom apartment.

OCEAN BREEZE APARTMENTS Again, within walking distance to the ‘Paradise’. These are ‘Yurt’ style apartments and are only available in single bedroom style. Beds are ‘Split King’ and can be arranged as either 2 x king singles or 1 x king. Each apartment has its own laundry.

NORFOLK HOLIDAY APARTMENTS Within walking distance to the ‘Paradise’. These are available in one- or two-bedroom apartments. All have amazing views across a valley from the rear decks.

Please note: When attending any of the “optional” activities that indicate ‘transfers included’, this means from the ‘Paradise’ – so if you are staying elsewhere you will need to get yourselves to the ‘Paradise’ for the transfer.

True Blue April 2021

The Reunion Programme To ensure that you will enjoy your experience at the reunion, we sampled several of the activities scheduled in the upcoming program and enjoyed them all!. HALF DAY TOUR

FISH FRY

included in package

This tour was excellent. During the tour you are driven around the island by very knowledgeable drivers who provide you (not only with fantastic sights) but “in depth” commentary on the history of the island. When you have completed this tour, you will want to get into your car and revisit many of the locations you saw. The Devonshire tea is something to look forward to also.

This is our welcome Dinner event. Meet the locals and sample some fantastic food. The fish – “Trumpeter” is what the locals call it, you might know it better as “Red Emperor” is cooked on site. Salads galore and you need to try the “Coconut Bread” and “Banana Bake” – both are traditional island dishes. I noticed that the recipes for these dishes (and others) are available from the Tourist Information Office in ‘Burnt Pines’ for a couple of dollars. During fine weather, the Fish Fry is held outdoors on top of a cliff (spectacular scenery). During inclement weather it is held in a newly constructed pavilion (this is where we attended our Fish Fry). There is live entertainment and some lovely young ladies performing traditional (Tahitian style) dances. Don’t forget to take your cameras with you. You will capture photos of the most magnificent sunset from the cliff top. The photo below and that at the beginning of this article are two that I took.

Fish Fry Local.

Spectacular sunset.

Dance Troop.

True Blue April 2021

TASTING AT NORFOLK ISLAND LIQUORS

RSL NIGHT

included in package – you need to drive yourself there

included in package

A small boutique liqueur distillery. Sample the various liqueurs – my favourite – “Convict’s Curse” a liquored whiskey. But don’t take my word for it – try the lot and make your own mind up. They all taste best when they are cold.

NORFOLK ISLAND BREWERY Tasting – included in package – you need to drive yourself. We didn’t get to try this one on our ‘recce’ however we have been told it is well received. The afternoon could be ‘fluid’!!!

The Norfolk Island locals are extremely proud of the local military personnel who have served in the Armed Services over the years and the Norfolk Island RSL proudly honors the service these locals gave. The walls of the RSL are adorned with photos and names of those locals who have served, and war memorabilia is displayed throughout the building. A buffet dinner is the order of the night. During our ‘recce’ we ordered off the al la carte menu and dined on generous portions of good down to earth food. I am certainly looking forward to the buffet they will prepare for us. During your “down time” why not visit the RSL Museum located under the Club. Entry fee $10.00

About The Optional Activities In preparing the programme for this year’s reunion, we deliberately factored in a reasonable amount of “Free Time” to allow you explore the island and experience the island way of life or (as in the past – have mini contingent reunions). For those that would like to further explore what the island has to offer, the staff at Norfolk Island Travel Centre have provided suggestions that you may want to consider. On the programme they are noted as ‘Optional Activities’. The Travel Centre have provided the following brief overviews for each of these activities. CYCLORAMA

GLASS BOTTOM BOAT

Adults $15pp

Tues/ Wed/Thurs/Fri 2pm (Sat only with minimum 10) $60pp

The Cyclorama provides a total experience. Visitors walk inside one continuous 360° panoramic painting & feel as though they are standing on a pier or ship deck & are a part of the scenes. Walk inside this unique work of art that will take you on an incredible journey. Discover how the world’s most famous mutiny created the Pitcairn & Norfolk communities.

CONVICT KINGSTON (BAUNTI TOURS) Wednesday 20th 1pm $49pp Learn about World Heritage Listed Kingston. Hear about our first settlers, the Polynesians who came 900 years ago, learn about our First and second settlements and the facts and legends associated with each. Learn how Norfolk became home to the descendants of the infamous Bounty mutiny. Walk through the historic cemetery. Refreshments provided.

Our two Norfolk Islander’s, Donald and George, will share their knowledge of Norfolk’s unique marine life. Once you’ve ‘walked the plank’ with these ‘mutineer descendants’ it takes 60 seconds (yes one minute!) to be at the reef. View beautiful coral gardens and tropical fish inside the calm crystal waters of Norfolk’s lagoon. Donald & George provide full interesting commentary on this environmental tour. With these two, be prepared for a touch of Norfolk humour! Add $11 if transfer required.

ISLAND ADVENTURES 4WD Thursday 21st 9am -11am $70pp Climb aboard our 18 seater 4wd bus for a Pioneering Adventure off the beaten tracks. A state of the art Norfolk Island experience. Enjoy air conditioned comfort and safety as we share authentic insights of Norfolk’s unexplored valleys, ridges, coastlines and private properties.

True Blue April 2021

OVER THE CATTLESTOP (PINETREE TOURS) Thursday 21st 8:30am-12.30pm $55pp Travel to Anson Bay to visit a small hobby farm, which has been instrumental in improving our local livestock industry. Close by, see a demonstration at Norfolk’s major Pottery and browse at the Cottage Pottery shop. After a delicious morning tea at a scenic location, visit to Sweeties to learn how we make chocolate on Norfolk.

CONVICT SETTLEMENT TOUR (PINETREE TOURS) Friday 22nd 1.00pm-4.30pm $51pp (incl. afternoon tea)

FARM & INDUSTRY TOUR

Join an ‘In Depth’ tour of the historic Georgian settlement of Kingston. Walk through the cemetery & hear the history of interesting convict & colonial headstones, hear stories of the houses along Quality Row. Walk through the ruins of the New Gaol, see the Pier Store, Boat Shed and the Crank Mill.

Thursday 21st 1pm-4.15pm $57pp

BREAKFAST BUSH WALK (PINETREE TOURS)

Whilst tourism is Norfolk’s largest industry, it is by no means its only one. On this tour, we take you on a selection of the many other enterprises that sustain our community. These might include: raising meat producing sheep, market gardening, pig farming, manufacturing soft drinks and liqueurs, gardening or exporting Kentia seedlings

Saturday 23rd 7.00am or 8.15am-10.15pm $55pp

COLLEEN MCCULLOUGH HOME TOUR (BAUNTI ESCAPES)

Saturday 23rd 1.30pm-3.45pm $45pp

Friday 22nd 9:30am-11.30am $57pp The world renowned author Colleen McCullough, made Norfolk Island home in 1979 and stayed until her passing in 2015. Colleen created a majestic home on Norfolk Island with her husband Ric Robinson. Ric and Colleen’s home was never open to the public until her passing. This exclusive guided tour to the author’s magnificent property takes you through Ric and Colleen’s home, view some of their priceless collections from around the world.

GREENFINGER TOUR (PINETREE TOURS) Friday 23rd 8:30am-12.30pm $55pp A tour featuring some of the islands most lovely gardens. Through the morning we visit a nursery owned & operated by a young Norfolk Islander, and view the hydroponics. We also visit a gorgeous private garden with spectacular view. Morning Tea at a scenic spot included. Min 6.

Take your choice of a 1.5km walk through Palm Glen Reserve or for the more energetic, a leisurely 3km walk along the Bridle Track to Captain Cook Monument. At the end of the walk meet on the clifftop for a delicious breakfast barbecue.

PITCAIRN SETTLERS VILLAGE Learn about the colourful history of Norfolk’s most recent settlement – the Pitcairn descendants. Experience the history & culture of the Pitcairn Settlers. View the magnificent homestead gardens, including many traditional crops. Ride in Norfolk’s first tour couch, a model A Ford. View a film, visit a blacksmith’s forge, the original homestead, a WWII Army hut & Museum of Memorabilia (incl. light refreshments).

True Blue April 2021

What is Norfolk Island famous for? There is no doubt that Norfolk Island is a unique destination and aside from its incredible beauty, there are a number of interesting reasons Norfolk Island stands out from the rest. 1. Descendants of the Bounty Mutineers More descendants of Fletcher Christian than anywhere else in the world

6. Emily Bay The very same one named in Trip Advisor Travellers Choice Top 10 Beaches

Norfolk is now home to the famed descendants of the Polynesian women and Bounty Mutineers, originally living on Pitcairn Island. After outgrowing Pitcairn, the community, made up of 8 family groupings, relocated to Norfolk in 1856. Owner of NITC, Rebecca Christan, is a seventhgeneration descendant of Fletcher Christan.

Summer + Norfolk Island = Emily Bay. This stunning beach has it all. Emily Bay is a unique gem. This is the perfect place for families to safely and easily enjoy a Norfolk Island summer holiday.

2. Convict Colony The resting place of Australia’s most important shipwreck, flagship of the First Fleet HMS Sirius

Check out the The Faasfain (fast find) section of the Norfolk Island phone book. Islanders are so much more familiar with each other’s nicknames rather than their long forgotten birth names. Updated every three years.

Norfolk was home to two penal settlements. During the first, the Island became home to many ‘First Fleeters’. Then, after 1825, the poor souls who were to live, enduring ‘punishment just short of death’, simply tried to survive life here.

3. Norfolk Island Pine Home to endemic Araucaria heterophylla, or as you may know it, the Norfolk Pine The Norfolk Island Pine was discovered by Capt. James Cook in 1774, Cook noted the pines would be perfect for masts and yards for sailing ships but it was later found that they were not resilient enough. Today, the Norfolk Pine can be found around the world, particularly coastal areas, due to its ability to grow in sand and high tolerance for salt and wind – making it the perfect seaside tree.

4. Norfolk Cows Moooove over because the free-range cows on Norfolk Island have right of way These friendly four-legged grass-mowers have been an integral part of Norfolk’s culture, in fact, they were the star of the Museum’s Longest Paddock Exhibition in 2020!

5. Colleen McCullough Colleen McCullough and her convict ancestor “Morgan’s Run” both lived here

7. Unique Phone Book Where you can search by nick-name in the local phone book

8. Thanksgiving The only place in the South Pacific that celebrates Thanksgiving Day Norfolk Island is one of the few places outside of America to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, an influence left from the American whaling ships who would frequently visit during the late 1800’s. The Norfolk Island Food Festival is always timed to coincide with Thanksgiving Day.

9. Fishing Or as the locals call it ‘catching’ With a 50sq Norfolk Marine Park seclusion zone around the Island, no commercial fishing allowed and deep water right at our doorstep, Norfolk Island is an undiscovered game fishing paradise.

10. Norfolk Island Golf Course As seen in Golf Australia’s 60 best 9-hole courses in Australia Play golf on Norfolk Island and you’ll find one of the most friendly and social clubs with a course bordered by the South Pacific Ocean and set within historic Kingston, a World Heritage listed site. Often described as one of the most beautiful locations for a course, it’s not hard to understand why it’s such an attraction.

The world-renowned author Colleen McCullough, made Norfolk home in 1979 and stayed until her passing in 2015. Here you can book an exclusive guided tour to the author’s magnificent property.

True Blue April 2021

Don’t miss out – book NOW! To manage each member’s bookings the Norfolk Island Travel Centre has appointed Christan Davies as the dedicated travel consultant for the Conference. Contact Christan at christan@travelcentre.nf or on free call 1800 1400 66. When you make your first contact with Christan she will send you an Information Pack with everything you need to know to make your booking. There are some options for you to eg: upgrade your airfare to include a meal on the flight, take out insurance and also book in to do some tours during the week. A description of optional tours is described previously in this article. When you contact Norfolk Island Travel they will send you an Information Pack which requires a deposit and final full payment by 5 July 2021. MON 18

TUES 19

WED 20

THURS 21

SYDNEY passengers:

# Cooked Breakfast

Depart Sydney International at 9.50am

BRISBANE passengers

8.30am-12.30pm Half Day Tour (INCLUDED) for Brisbane arrivals

10.00am-12pm (approx..) UNOPAA AGM Paradise Hotel Deck

8.30am Bus Pick up from and back to Paradise Hotel

Optional: 8.30am Over the Cattle Stop $55pp

Sydney passengers Optional: 10.00am1.30am

Depart Brisbane International at 11.00am

MORNING

8.30am-12.30pm Half Day Tour (INCLUDED) for Sydney arrivals 8.30am Bus Pick up from and back to Paradise Hotel

9am Island Adventures 4WD $70pp

Cyclorama $15pp

AFTERNOON

Followed by Devonshire Tea $12pp

SYDNEY

BRISBANE

Arrive Norfolk Island at 1:25pm Transfer Airport to Accommodation RECEPTION to SIGN IN

EVENING

FREE TIME Suggested: Dinner at Hotel (own expense) or by booking restaurants in town

SYDNEY FLT

Arrive Norfolk Island at 1:15pm

2.00 -4.00pm Tasting at Norfolk Island Liquors Self-Drive

2.00-4.00pm Norfolk Island Brewing Tasting Self-Drive

Transfer Airport to Accommodation RECEPTION to SIGN IN

Optional: 1.00pm4.30pm Convict Kingston (Baunti Tours) $49pp

Optional: 1.00pm-4.15pm Farm and Industry Tour $57pp

2.00pm-3.30pm Glass Bottom Boat $60pp

2.00pm-3.30pm Glass bottom Boat $60pp

FREE TIME

6.00pm RSL Night

Suggested: Contingent Dinner in town (own expense) Or by booking restaurants in town

5.45pm Bus Pick up from and drop back to Paradise Hotel

6.00pm Welcome Dinner Fish Fry at Orn Daa Cliff 5.30pm Bus Pick up from and back to Paradise Hotel

BRISBANE FLT

Items in BLACK are included in Conference Package Breakfast available between 7.30am to 9.30am Paradise Hotel ONLY Items in BLUE are optional additions available at extra cost to you and need to be booked

True Blue April 2021

FRI 22

SAT 23

SUN 24

MON 25

TUES 26

# Cooked Breakfast

Optional: 9.30am11.30am Colleen McCullough Home Tour $57pp

Optional: 7.00am -10.15pm Breakfast Bushwalk $55pp

UN Day

non-walkers 8.15am10.15am Cliff Top Breakfast $55pp

11.00am All Saints Church Service

SYDNEY FLT departures prepare for airport transfers at 10.00am

BRISBANE FLT Morning free to do last minute shopping or just relax prior to your departure

8.30am-12.30 Greenfinger Tour $55pp Brisbane Passengers

10.30am Parade to Cenotaph

10.00am SYDNEY passengers:

11.30 Sausage Sizzle/ Transfer to Airport BBQ In grounds of Government House

11.00am BRISBANE passengers: Transfer to Airport

10am Bus Pick up from and drop back to Paradise hotel

Optional: 9-5pm Cyclorama $15pp Followed by Devonshire Tea $12pp Optional: 1.00pm4.30pm Convict Settlement Tour $51pp

Optional: 1.30pm3.30pm Pitcairn Settlers Village $45pp

2.00pm-3.30pm Glass bottom Boat $60pp

2.00pm-3.30pm Glass Bottom Boat $60pp

END OF CONFERENCE Optional: 1pm Convict Settlement Tour $51pp or

Depart Norfolk Island at 1:30pm (TBC)

Depart Norfolk Island at 2:30pm (TBC)

Arrive Sydney International at 4:25pm

Arrive Brisbane International at 4:10pm

Cyclorama $15pp Open till 4pm

NB only for min. 10 bookings 5.00-7.00pm Government House 4.45pm Bus Pick up from and drop back to Paradise Hotel Suggested: Dinner at Hotel (own expense) Or by booking restaurants in town

6.30pm for 7pm Formal Black Tie Dinner @ Paradise Hotel

FREE TIME

6.30 Bus starts Pick up from and drop back to hotels other than Paradise SYDNEY FLT

BRISBANE FLT

True Blue April 2021

RAAF Celebrates 100 Years On Wednesday, 31st March 2021, Enid and I headed off to the shores of Lake Burley Griffin to watch the 100th Centenary of the Royal Australian Airforce Fly Over. We were lucky enough to get ourselves a good vantage point on the Black Mountain Peninsular (along with thousands of others) and settled in for aerial show. It was a beautiful day, sun shining, not a cloud in the sky, a perfect day for what was to be a spectacular show. The Fly Over was preceded by a ceremony in the grounds of Government House where the Governor General, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC, presented the RAAF with a new Queen’s Colour to mark it’s 100th Birthday.

The program was detailed and provided ‘in detail’ information.

We were provided with programs (strategically placed RAAF personnel were located right around Lake Burley Griffin to hand them out). The programs allowed us to identify the aircraft as they flew over, provided a brief overview of each one, the order in which they were flying and the route the aircraft would travel (in the main from Government House – down the length of the lake and over Russell Hill, the Defence Headquarters) At 9.30am the aerial show was preceded by a Seahawk helicopter flying over the lake flying the RAAF flag. Thousands of people lined the shores of Lake Burley Griffin. This is a shot from our vantage point.

The real show commenced at 10.30am. There were four aircraft ceremonial formations in the first wave of aircraft. A lull of 15 minutes before the next wave of aircraft appeared including ‘C27J Spartans’, ‘F-35A Lightning 11’s’, ‘F/A-18F Super Hornets’, ‘EA-18G Growler’s’, and ‘C-130J Hercules’. Then, every five minutes until 11.30 a separate formation of four aircraft or helicopters flew over. This was only the leadup to real show. Between 11.30am and 11.45am all the aircraft we had seen over the past hour combined to provide a continuous fly over – some 60 aircraft, ranging from World War 11 aircraft through to Australia’s newest fighter jets. A truly spectacular sight.

Ceremonial colours hold a revered position of honour as the embodiment of Service traditions and history. On the morning of 31st March 2021 the Governor General, on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, presented the RAAF with a new Queen’s Colour to mark 100 years of service to Australia.

Immediately following the large fly over, we were treated to a fantastic display by the RAAF Roulettes Acrobatic Team. The following are a few photos I took of the Air Show – I hope you enjoy them.

True Blue April 2021

What airshow would be complete without the Roulettes?

This reminds me of the Australian Police Medal Parades in Cyprus where the Australian Flag was flown under a helicopter.

C-130J Hercules (Many of us who served in East Timor and Solomon Islands flew into and out of mission on a C130J Hercules).

True Blue April 2021

The Blue Beret How proud our United Nations Peacekeepers are of their beret of blue! It is such a powerful and visible symbol of peacekeeping that it is known the world over. But not all peacekeepers wear blue, some also wear green, white, or orange. THE COLOUR BLUE

UN VETERANS MAY WEAR THE BLUE BERET

The United Nations Organization (UN) adopted light sky blue as its “trademark” colour for headgear. The beret is the most common headwear issued, although the blue helmet and the blue ball cap are just as often seen as is the blue “Tilley” bush hat.

Non-serving United Nations Veterans are not subject to any dress restrictions. Veterans may wear the Blue Beret at any appropriate commemoration ceremony or official occasion where the United Nations Flag is displayed. A UN veteran’s association may adopt the Blue Beret as its official headdress. There is no law or regulation in Australia prohibiting the wear of a light blue or any other colour of military style headdress. The United Nations Organization has no policy on the wear of the Blue Beret by Veterans and has never officially restricted the use of the UN insignia to its active peacekeeping forces. Members of peacekeeping veteran’s organisations in countries such as Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Brazil, Ireland, France, Ukraine, Australia, and New Zealand, wear the Blue Beret and the UN insignia for official ceremonies; have adopted the world-famous headdress an obvious symbol of identity.

THE ORIGIN The blue headdress may be traced to the 1956 Suez Crisis where classical peacekeeping was born. Although the UN employed military observers from 1947, they had no common dress or insignia. The need for distinctive dress and insignia arose in 1956 when the large Canadian contingent wore uniforms which were practically the same as one of the belligerents, the British Army. To identify themselves as non-combatants, the UN troops painted their helmet liners light sky blue and their vehicles white, the same colours as the United Nations Flag. Later, a common headdress was provided to peacekeepers, thus was born the Blue Beret. It has never been determined that the Blue Helmet (Casque bleu) idea came from the Canadian Contingent of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) but it was likely a decision made by the mixed UNEF General Staff. What are distinctly Canadian are the term and the concept of “Peace-Keeping” coined by Lester B. Pearson, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957.

LIMITATIONS ON WEAR The Blue Beret is synonymous with UN peacekeeping. Indeed, the term “Blue Helmets” or the official UN name, “Casques Bleus”, is often used to describe UN Peacekeepers. Veterans must therefore use common sense when wearing this international symbol. The Blue Beret should be worn on appropriate occasions where the United Nations or its Peacekeepers are honoured. It may be worn with discretion as part of a legitimate veteran’s association’s official dress.

All UN Peacekeepers became Nobel Laureates in 1988 and to this day, Peacekeeping and the Blue Beret have been equated with Canada.

A Veteran should never wear a Blue Beret in an active or former UN Mission area or wear any other official military insignia with it.

THE BLUE BERET WORN ON UN SERVICE

Veterans who have not served as United Nations Peacekeepers or Observers should not wear any UN insignia.

All United Nations Peacekeepers wear the Blue Beret, the Blue Helmet, the Blue Cap or the Blue Hat with the UN insignia in accordance with the UN Mission Commander’s dress instructions. It is a given, that a UN Peacekeeper wears blue headdress for purpose of identity and for obvious safety reasons in the mission area as elsewhere on UN service anywhere in the world.

THE BLUE BERET ON ACTIVE SERVICE For active serving soldiers and police officers, the Blue Beret may only be worn during a UN Peacekeeping Mission or at UN Headquarters in New York if posted there. Many police services do permit the wearing of the Blue Beret by peace officers on Remembrance Day.

Family members of UN Veterans – Recently, as with the slouch hat of the Australian Digger which is worn by family members of those who have passed on ANZAC and Remembrance Day on 11th Nov, the Blue Beret is now seen being worn on UN Specific Commemorative Services and UN Day by the UN Veteran’s family members, usually accompanied by their medals being worn on the right breast. This also serves to remember the service and support provided to the departed UN member, by family showing their pride and memory for their late UN Veteran family member.

Without coffee, I’m always walking into rooms and forgetting why I went in there. With coffee, I still don’t remember, but at least I have something to sip while I try to figure it out.

A woman noticed her husband standing on the bathroom scale, sucking in his stomach. “Ha! That’s not going to help,” she said. “Sure, it does,” he said. “It’s the only way I can see the numbers!”

WARNING!

I’ve finally told my suitcases there will be no holiday this year. Now I’m dealing with the emotional baggage.

Bars need your help. We can only open at 1/3 of our capacity! Those who cannot drink for 3 are kindly asked to leave their place to the professionals!

True Blue April 2021

Did you know we have a Champion amongst our members? UN Lawn Bowler

Robert Oliver (Bob) th 10 Cyprus Contingent An article by Barbara Oliver Bob was a dedicated, but now gratefully retired, NSW police officer, and was stationed in general duties in Sydney, Maitland, and then at Newcastle Water Police undertaking dangerous sea rescue. He served in Cyprus as part of the 10th Contingent, the Superintendent’s Office and Community Relations/ Media in Newcastle. Bob has always had varied interests and has been a very active person. He loves sport, was an excellent fisher man, and a great vegetable gardener, particularly tomatoes. We have also been fortunate to do a lot of overseas travel and cruises. Rod Walker has asked me to tell a little of Bob’s sporting history. As a boy, Bob was a good soccer player, and was part of the team that played in the lead-up game in Newcastle to the visiting English side. As a young man he was quite a good golfer. He moved to bowls, but like all police officers he could not participate in team competitions due to shift work until he joined the Superintendent’s staff. He transferred to Kahibah Bowling Club when we married in 1982. Bob much preferred team games to singles. His name is all over the club honours board. He was part of teams that won the Kahibah club pairs, triples and fours many times. Bob really enjoyed the intensity of competition and always played first grade. He was a member of the Kahibah first grade side which won the Newcastle Zone Pennant competition eight times. From there the club went on to win the NSW State Pennant in 1991, 1993 and 1995. In 1996 Bob’s club, Kahibah, won the only Australian Club Pennant ever held. He really enjoyed those games. Supporting his club was very important to Bob. He served on the Board of Directors, and was sole selector for many of the club’s successful years. Many social events and celebratory club dinners were organised by him. Lots of tournaments were won with the champion player, Darby Ross. In those days, financial rewards were very low, but the wins were first class. Bob was always happy to help new bowlers, and spent many hours teaching skills.

Bob Oliver.

Bob also participated in the Australian Police Bowls Carnivals and won on many occasions. He was able to bring home the silverware. Newcastle District Bowling Association championships also attracted Bob. With his mates Howard Smith, Greg Sattler and John Smith, he was part of the winning or runner up teams for Champion of Club Pairs Champions, Triples Championship and Fours Championship. He practised regularly and walked kilometres to keep fit. From club and district successes, Bob was selected to play in the zone team. He represented Newcastle Zone 2 over three hundred and thirty times and travelled all over the state for games for many years until he decided to retire. In 1995, Bob was selected as a lead for the NSW state team of sixteen, four teams of four. He is very proud of this achievement. Bob played fifty two tests for NSW and was part of many wins as the team travelled to other states to play. His club, Kahibah, has had three Australian representatives, and another three

True Blue April 2021

state representatives, a unique achievement. In the year 2000, Bob was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his sporting achievements. This medal is proudly displayed with his police and UN medals. Bob continued to play bowls at a high level. He retired from first grade during the 2019 season. The skill was still there, but he could not then handle the pressure of competition. In later years, social bowls gave him a lot of pleasure and the men were very supportive and kind. For those who are not aware, Bob is in care due to Alzheimer’s, and I am pleased with his care. He receives much enjoyment from reading back copies of bowls journals, Police News and True Blue. Many UN friends have kindly sent me spare copies of the latter for him. Jim and Leonie Illfield have also visited which gave him pleasure. Lawn bowls gave Bob the opportunity to play sport at state level, to enjoy fierce competition, to play for a wonderful club, to travel, to make many friends and to achieve success.

Bob’s ‘Australian Sports Medal’ and citation.

True Blue April 2021

Ragini Kumari conducts a foot patrol of a protection of civilians site while accompanied by a community elder.

The power of a blue beret:

A glimpse into the work of a female peacekeeper Ragini Kumari has many appellations. She is a devoted wife and mother of two, an avid practitioner of yoga and an aficionado of music. She is also a police officer. Following her tenure with India’s ministry of home affairs, she joined United Nations Police (UNPOL) to serve with the peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, where she has been stationed for close to a year now. Many stand firmly by the saying that their jobs should not define their lives, but that may be because they have not yet met Ragini. “It’s so rewarding to work as a peacekeeper. It’s a dream come true for me,” she said.

At first glance, her job description may not seem like a dream come true. Her day normally starts around 5:30am, when she rises to virtually see her kids off to school via video chat, and features many of the same typical worker bee tasks: answer emails, sit through briefings, file paperwork, sip coffee, repeat. Ragini is part of UNPOL’s assessment team, which means she collects information on human rights violations and other crimes committed within the peacekeeping mission’s two protection of civilian sites in the capital city Juba, where close to 30,000 individuals internally displaced by inter-ethnic conflict in 2013 and 2016 reside.

True Blue April 2021

“In a post-conflict setting where there is a high culture of violence like in South Sudan, sexual and gender-based violence (GBV), usually against women and children, are our main concerns.”

“Whenever we hear about a violation, we go to the sites to investigate. The community elders within them are integral to what we do, but we also support them in resolving their issues based on their own capacities. Sometimes we have to refer the cases to corrections, depending on their seriousness,” she explained. With this new layer of detail, Ragini’s vocation becomes much more intriguing. But it is not until one sets foot inside a protection site to see her in action that one thing becomes clear: her work is anything but humdrum. “In a post-conflict setting where there is a high culture of violence like in South Sudan, sexual and gender-based violence (GBV), usually against women and children, are our main concerns,” she continued. On December 10, the sixth edition of the UN’s international 16 Days of Activism Against Genderbased Violence campaign to end violence against women concluded, but statistics shows that GBV is far from being a thing of the past. According to the most recent numbers crunched by the UN, 35 per cent of women worldwide have experienced either physical or sexual abuse by an intimate partner or non-partner in their lives. In South Sudan, that percentage jumps to nearly 65 by an intimate partner and 51 by a non-partner. One hot and dusty afternoon earlier this month, Ragini was called into the smaller of the two protection sites to bear witness to this reality after community elders referred a case involving a 24-year-old woman who had been physically assaulted by a male resident late November. She had been so severely beaten that she had fallen unconscious and could not walk or talk for three days after being discharged from the on-site clinic. More horrifyingly, she was around six months pregnant at the time.

Upon arriving at the woman’s residence, Ragini found her in a solemn state, sitting on the floor bent into a crescent shape, draped in black. Her left eye was swollen, and a hematoma could be seen protruding from the back of her shaved head. Although understandably reluctant at first, she eventually opened up to Ragini, all the while clutching her feet timidly as she described her ordeal in the local Dinka language to a translator. “It is important to have female UNPOL officers because female victims will feel more comfortable talking with someone of the same sex. We give them a sense of security and assurance,” she underscored. More often than not, victims of GBV choose not to speak out or take legal recourse against their assailants for fear of stigma or rebuke. This is especially evident in places where society members are bound to each other by deeply-entrenched tribal ties like South Sudan. As a result, a vicious cycle of impunity is perpetuated and GBV becomes further normalized. But with a little bit of coaxing from a dedicated and softspoken peacekeeper, the woman would muster the courage to break this cycle and file a case against her attacker. This brief event illustrates to us yet another one of Ragini’s appellations: a beacon of hope. She is not only so for female victims of abuse, but also for boisterous children who run circles around her as she walks through the protection site, or for the spunky teenage boys donning stylish sunglasses who stop to say hello and shake her hand. In a world where justice seldom touches upon the most vulnerable, Ragini attempts to shatter the status quo. “It gives me immense satisfaction when I see the smile on the faces of these people. They need our support and presence. At the same time, we can be a role model for them and motivate them. Maybe one day they, too, can proudly wear the blue beret of a peacekeeper,” she concluded with a smile. Increasing the number of women working to secure international peace and security is a key goal of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative, and an inspiration for police officers like Ragini who are protecting civilians and building durable peace in South Sudan.

Source: 13 Dec 2019 https://unmiss.unmissions.org/power-blue-beretglimpse-work-female-peacekeeper

True Blue April 2021

18 November 2020 The Hon Scott MORRISON MP Prime Minister Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600 ABN 56 838 671 889

Dear Prime Minister

Unlawful Wearing of Australian Honours I am writing to you as a follow-up to the letter I sent to you on 10 June 2019 in your capacity as the Minister responsible for the Australian Honours system. In that letter, UNOPAA sought advice on two issues following the Morrison Government Response to us prior to the election on 17 April 2019. One, a commitment to further discuss our proposals to improve the health and entitlement of our members, has been subject to a written reply from the Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel (in September 2019). However we have yet to receive a reply in relation to our other issue – that is, legislative change to outlaw the wearing of Australian Honours when not entitled to do so. We are concerned that, while the Defence Act prohibits the wearing of military honours without authority, no such provision exists for civilian honours – which in our case includes the Police Overseas Service Medal. This was most graphically illustrated in Western Australia, where a sitting State MP, Mr Barry Urban, was found to have wrongly done so. Awards under the Australian Honours system and also the Australian Bravery awards are made to recognize service, sacrifice and bravery. No one should be permitted to wear these honours when not entitled to do so. In his reply, the Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel advised that he had referred this particular issue to the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General. We have not heard from the office either, but believe it to be a matter for legislative change, hence our request to you. A copy of our previous letter is attached. Yours sincerely Peter McDonald APM National Secretary United Nations & Overseas Policing Association of Australia Inc. (UNOPAA)

Don’t let them take the temperature on your forehead as you enter the supermarket, it’s a government plot to erase your memory. I went for a bottle of milk and a loaf of bread and came home with a case of beer and 12 bottles of wine!

True Blue April 2021

15 November 2020 The Hon Darren CHESTER MP Minister for Veterans’ Affairs P.O. Box 6022 House of Representatives Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600

ABN 56 838 671 889

Dear Minister

Interim Government Response to the Report of the Productivity Commission A Better Way to Support Veterans I am writing on behalf of the United Nations & Overseas Policing Association of Australia (UNOPAA) concerning the Interim Government Response to the Report of the Productivity Commission A Better Way to Support Veterans, which you tabled in October 2020. As you will be aware, Australian Police who served on certain overseas peacekeeping missions are entitled to benefits and treatment under the Veterans’ Entitlement Act 1986 (VEA). Information from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, received in August 2020, indicate that 138 police veterans now have Gold or White Cards under the DEA. The most commonly accepted disabilities among police with eligible VEA service are similar to those of the military who have also served overseas. Recommendations 16.4 and 16.5 of the Productivity Commission report proposed that limitations be placed on future eligibility for Gold Cards and it not be extended to any new categories of veterans, dependants or other civilians who are not currently eligible for such a card. It is pleasing that the Government will not be implementing these recommendations. Later in the Productivity Commission report, Recommendation 19.1 proposes that the Government create two schemes for veterans’ support, one being the Veterans Entitlement Act with some modifications (scheme 1) and a modified Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act (MRCA) incorporating the Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act (DRCA) (scheme 2). In making this recommendation, at page 831 of their full report, the Commission stated that: “Veterans without a current or accepted claim at the implementation date should be covered under scheme 2 going forward. This would speed up the transition towards scheme 2. There would be one exception to this. As noted by the United Nations and Overseas Policing Association of Australia, police peacekeepers have access under the VEA, but not under the MRCA or DRCA. That means police peacekeepers who have not yet made a claim would retain their eligibility to make a claim under the VEA if they were previously eligible to do so.” While we appreciate the Government’s rejection of Recommendations 16.4 and 16.5, there is no indication in the Interim Government Response whether Recommendation 19.1 is to be actioned, and, if so, in what form. Our members with entitlements under the VEA are naturally anxious they are not overlooked, and any advice you could provide would be appreciated. Yours sincerely Peter McDonald APM National Secretary United Nations & Overseas Policing Association of Australia Inc. (UNOPAA)

True Blue April 2021

19 November 2020 Ms Liz COSSON, AM, CSC Secretary Department of Veterans’ Affairs 21 Genge Street CANBERRA ACT 2601

ABN 56 838 671 889

Dear Ms Cosson

Australian Police Peacekeepers’ Health Audit I am writing on behalf of the United Nations & Overseas Policing Association of Australia (UNOPAA) to seek your advice on how to engage with DVA on your research priorities under the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Strategic Research Framework. UNOPAA is an Australia-wide organisation whose members include serving, retired and former police officers from police forces across Australia who have served overseas with the United Nations and on other Australian peacekeeping/capacity building missions since 1964. Its membership includes the widows and relatives of those who have passed on. For some time, we have been concerned for the welfare of our members, and their susceptibility to many of the same physical and mental health issues as military personnel who have also served overseas. In East Timor/Timor-Leste for example, Australian police peacekeepers were there before, during and after our ADF personnel, and many of their symptoms are similar. However we do not have the resources or skills to undertake a study to identify what, if any, help or support they need. Police who serve overseas have traditionally returned to their home forces and suffered in silence, so to speak. In early 2019, we prepared a position paper including a proposal for an Australian Police Peacekeepers’ Health Audit, and submitted it to the political parties ahead of the last Federal Election. A response sent back to us on behalf of the Morrison Government on 17 April 2019 stated that: “The Morrison Government recognises the complexity of veterans’ legislation, particularly as it relates to police peacekeeping missions overseas and the challenges faced by your members. If we are reelected, a Morrison Government will work closely with the UNOPAA on legislative improvements and other activities (such as a Health Audit) that may be necessary to more appropriately recognise and support police who have returned from overseas operations and their families.” Most Australian police who have served overseas in peacekeeping/capacity building roles are eligible for benefits and treatment under the Veterans’ Entitlement Act 1986. While we understand that a number of research priorities have already been set under the Strategic Research Framework, we note it is a rolling program, reviewed every three years. Hence our request for advice on how we can engage to ensure our need is considered. Yours sincerely Peter McDonald APM National Secretary United Nations & Overseas Policing Association of Australia Inc. (UNOPAA)

True Blue April 2021

Mayhem on the High Seas Unravelling the mystery of Ghost Ship ‘High Aim 6’ An article by Marzio Da Re

Adrift and abandoned, the long line Taiwanese Fishing Vessel ‘High Aim 6’ was discovered on 9 January 2003, 120 nautical miles west of Broome on Australia’s North West Coast. Unravelling the mystery of this ‘Ghost Ship’ has shone a spotlight on endemic issues within international fishing and unknown to most outside of the industry, it is symptomatic of the mayhem that exists on the high seas.

True Blue April 2021

Taiwanese long line fishing vessel High Aim 6 was boarded by crew from the HMAS Stuart and was in surprisingly good condition, main fuel tanks dry but the auxiliary tanks full, control switches on, full throttle, the hold containing 10 tonnes of valuable Tuna. Everything was seemingly in its rightful place, personal belongings, navigation equipment, food and water, but there was no sign of the crew, vanished. Speculation was rife, everyone and every agency had a theory; perhaps simply abandoned due to no longer being serviceable or economical, narcotics, illegal fishing, mutiny, pirates, or people smugglers. There was even a suggestion that it may have been involved in supporting terrorism, as the vessel was discovered adrift just two months after the Bali Bombing in October 2002, where 202 people, 88 Australians were killed. And so, the ghost ship took on the mantle of Australia’s Marie Celeste, a vessel found drifting in the Atlantic in 1872. What is now widely and reliably known is that Chinese and Taiwanese Fishing conglomerates control the vast majority of the thousands of socalled Distant Fishing Fleets around the globe. Distant Fishing vessels have a capability of being away for many months on end. Often, they fish in clusters, fully self-supported with processing ships, or sometimes with state escorts, transhipping products to disguise origin or being sustainably caught. Another tool in their armoury is flying flags of convenience, operating with complete disregard to the various International Conventions Protocols and Treaties that endeavour to regulate and maintain sustainable fishing practices. There is little doubt that corrupt arrangements with developing country officials help to facilitate the complexities of what is commonly known as Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing (IUU). The unscrupulous reign supreme, enforcement it seems is at best tokenism, challenging or Inspecting foreign registered fishing vessels on the high seas is undertaken, for example the US, Australia, France and New Zealand undertake inspections on the high seas. Official reports from the Australian Fishing Management Authority (AFMA) show however that ‘high sea’ boarding usually only meet with infractions, something akin to a smack on the belly with a wet fish, enforcement have no doubt in recent times been fraught with economic and political backlash. This absolute mayhem on the high seas is seeing fishing stocks plundered into oblivion, with nations playing lip service to serious transnational and environmental crimes. Bonded and slavery type conditions for crew, mostly from developing countries, with mutiny and murder commonplace.

The exploitative issues raised in this article are, with a high degree of certainty and reliability, inextricably linked to how Australia’s ghost ship ‘High Aim 6’ was found adrift off Broome in January 2003. Almost 20 years have now elapsed, time to scuttle the theories and give some clarity to the mystery. Commencing from information available in the public arena, together with first time access to the official reports on the investigation, we went looking for answers.

TIMELINE OF GHOST SHIP HIGH AIM 6: High Aim 6 left the Taiwanese port of Liuchiu on 31 October 2002. The vessel was under the Command of Tai Cheng Chen aged 28, with another Taiwanese national Chung Li Lin aged 55 as the engineer. The vessel was sailed to the Indonesian fishing port of Bitung in North Sulawesi where 10 Indonesian crew were recruited through a local agent. The recruitment of fishermen as cheap labour from developing countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines was back then and now remains quite common. Of the 10 Indonesian crew it would appear that 8 were residents from Bitung or nearby Sulawesi, whilst the remaining 2 appeared to be residents or former residents of Central Java. Interestingly the oldest of the Indonesians was Safrudin Akil then aged 43 years. The remainder were considerably younger and aged in their early to mid-twenties. It would be logical and reasonable to assume that Safrudin Akil would have been the ‘leader’ of the Indonesians on board, likely to be more experienced, and in accordance with Asian culture, the younger crew members would have deferred to him. This appears to have been borne out as will become evident later in this article. From known telephone contact between the Taiwanese Captain/Engineer and their families, together with the owners in Taiwan, High Aim 6 sailed from Bitung with two Taiwanese and 10 Indonesians destined for the Marshall Islands for fishing at about 2200hrs on 16 November 2002. There was further telephone contact the following day. The Marshall Islands are located 5500 kms from Bitung. The Republic of the Marshall Islands is an island country and an associated state of the United States near the Equator in the Pacific Ocean, slightly west of the International Date Line. Geographically, the country is part of the larger island group of Micronesia. The country’s population of 58,413 people is spread out over 29 coral atolls comprising 1,156 individual islands and islets. Further information from the owner was that the last contact he had was that High Aim 6 was fishing in the Marshall Islands. The coordinates provided were consistent with that location.

True Blue April 2021

The Captain’s father advised that his last contact via radio with his son was at about 8am on 8 December 2002. It was a short communication which was not clearly understood. Similarly, the Engineers wife was contacted around the same time with the same difficulties. The next apparent sighting was from another Taiwanese fishing vessel captained by a Tung Sing Choi who stated that he had seen the High Aim 6 (Hoi On No6) on 12 December 2002 at coordinates again consistent with being in the Marshall Islands. Later in December, in response to being unable to contact the vessel, a missing fishing boat call request was made to the US Coast Guard to undertake a search for High Aim 6. The vessel was not located, however fishing equipment believed to have belonged to the High Aim 6, was located in the search area. The next confirmed sighting of High Aim 6 was made by Australian Coast Watch on 4 January 2003. It was west of Broome travelling at 10 knots, on a course set at 220 degrees, with no sign of life on board and did not respond to communications. Photographs did not reveal the presence of life rafts or small craft on the vessel. No action was taken at this time as it was believed the vessel may have been transiting through Australian waters to fishing fields further away. On 9 January 2003, Australian Naval Ship HMAS Stuart sighted the High Aim 6 approximately 80 nautical miles East of Rowley Shoals and about 65 nautical miles from its position on 4 January 2003. The vessel was boarded and found abandoned. The vessel was placed under tow and relocated to Willie Creek near Broome, where it was further examined by WA Police, Quarantine, Fisheries and Customs. Advice from WA Police revealed there was no sign of foul play. The vessel’s engines were serviceable, and it would appear the batteries were flattened after the engines stalled due to being starved of fuel. A small AFP investigating team was assembled in Perth and travelled to Broome under the impression that the vessel may have been used for People Smuggling. The team comprised of Senior Sergeant Mike Smith the Senior Investigating Officer (SIO), Detective Constable John Whitehead and Forensic Scenes of Crime Examiner Sophie Dixon. Mike, a wily old investigator was, prior to joining the AFP, an Australian Navy Sailor, and therefore his maritime skills were to be invaluable to the investigation and the findings. On 11/12 January 2003 the AFP team conducted a forensic examination of the High Aim 6 at Willie Creek with the following observations:

Mike Smith and John Whitehead aboard the ‘High Aim 6’.

SENIOR INVESTIGATION OFFICER – DETECTIVE SERGEANT MIKE SMITH On arrival at the vessel, it was quite eerie, and my first thoughts were of the Marie Celeste. The vessel had all the appearances of the crew just disappearing. There was food on the table in the deckhouse, as if people had just got up and bolted. From memory I believe there were up to 12 Indonesian crew onboard. Also, I believe the vessel docked somewhere in Flores, Indonesia, where shark fin was unloaded. Why they didn’t take the tuna is baffling. I am sure it could have been sold. A quick review of the map shows given the course the vessel was originally sighted on, being 170, it is highly probable that it departed from the south coast of Flores Island on a southerly course with low risk of colliding with an island. I presumed they didn’t have the knowledge to open the seacocks and allow the vessel to sink which would have been the ideal outcome for the crew. Examination of the vessel was probably one of the most difficult you could imagine. Conditions below deck were as bad as it gets. Picture a steel coffin filled with tonnes of rotten fish, fuel oil, human detritus etc. heated in high temperatures day after day. The reek made a rugby players locker room smell like Dior. It was only possible to spend limited time below decks, as John and Sophie bolted for the side to unburden themselves of breakfast, lunch and snacks.

True Blue April 2021

It would have been good fishing around the boat with the amount of burley in the water. Given my naval background I pretended that it was a normal day in the office and made a number of comments about the younger generation having to harden up. In reality John and Sophie went above and beyond the call of duty to professionally examine the boat and determine no foul play or other issues.

RECOLLECTIONS OF THEN DETECTIVE CONSTABLE JOHN WHITEHEAD: We were despatched from Perth at short notice to reports of a SIEV (People Smuggling vessel) with no crew that had been intercepted by the Navy. Our task was to investigate what had happened to the vessel and its crew. We jokingly referred to the matter as the Marie Celeste. I had never been to Broome but soon discovered that it was the wrong time of the year to be visiting as upon our arrival the weather was humid with temperatures over 40 degrees in the shade. The morning after arriving in Broome we met up with local Customs officers who took us to Willie Creek. There we boarded an inflatable dinghy to head out to the High Aim 6 which was anchored off the shore. As we made our approach from a distance, the first thing that I noticed was that the vessel was leaning over to one side. Then as we got within a couple of hundred metres the smell started to become noticeable. Three tonnes of rotting tuna in the bilges. It began as a hint of something unpleasant in the breeze and gradually became more concentrated and overpowering as we got closer and closer. I was thankfully offered a disposable face mask and a jar of Vicks VapoRub by one of the Customs Officers. We boarded the vessel and began to orientate ourselves. The deck radiated heat from the sun overhead, sloped with the lean of the vessel and moved with the swell of the ocean. Below deck there were living quarters and a kitchen. The space was cramped with little head room and the air was thick with the smell of diesel fuel and rotting fish. With every step it seemed that I crushed a cockroach or some other kind of insect, which I thought was alarming, until I was reassuringly told that quarantine had already fumigated the larger bugs. We started to examine the scene and it appeared that everything was as if the crew had simply got up and walked out with utensils and personal items having been left where they were being used. As we recorded our observations the heat, humidity, and overpowering stench began to take its toll. The disposable face mask that I had so gratefully been handed became saturated with sweat so that every

breath became harder and harder. Eventually it was disposed of, by which time the putrid smell of rotting fish had permeated everything. I remember Mike was wearing overalls as we examined the vessel. He lost so much sweat that I think he shed around 3 kilograms. Our forensics officer Sophie turned green shortly after we boarded and spent much of the time leaning over the side vomiting. She had what was then a state-of-the-art new digital SLR camera to record the scene. In the humidity and sea salt it wouldn’t work, and we had to rely on a video and a disposable film camera instead. My funniest memory of the job was a couple of 17-year-old blokes who had been hired by the manager at Willie Creek to empty the bilges of the rotting fish. They arrived back at Willie Creek at the end of the day and were having a beer with us when we were comparing notes about the smell of the fish and how even after a shower it seems to remain. One of the blokes then told us he was going on a date that night!

INTERNATIONAL ENQUIRIES A few days later, on 14 January 2003 information was received from the Taiwanese Cultural Ambassador in Canberra (Taiwan has no official ties with Australia). Advice received from the family of the Taiwanese Engineer Chung Lin was that his mobile telephone 0937786779 (Taiwan) had been used on 87 occasions in Indonesia between 24 December 2002 and 10 January 2003. The family called this number, and it was answered in a foreign language not understood and not that of the Engineer. On 16 January 2003 the AFP initiated a range of requests through the AFP International Liaison Network. This included a request to locate the Indonesian crew broker in Bitung, interview the vessel owners in Taiwan and the relevant authorities in and around Micronesia. The requests also asked if the Indonesian authorities were able to identify who was holding and using the mobile phone of the Taiwanese Engineer. On 21 January 2003 information was received through both the AFP Jakarta Office and the Taiwanese representative in Australia that the Indonesian National Police confirmed they had arrested crewmember Safrudin Akil for the murder of the Taiwanese Captain and Engineer of the High Aim 6. Safrudin confessed that he and the other Indonesian crew members had murdered the master on board by stabbing him in the stomach and then thrown him overboard. This he stated occurred on 12 December 2002. The crew then stabbed the Engineer in the back, and he also was thrown overboard while still alive. The Indonesian crew of ten made landfall

True Blue April 2021

A chart on the course of High Aim 6 constructed by AFP Senior Investigating Officer Mike Smith.

and sold the 2 tonnes of shark fin that was on board. The crew then set the vessel on locked course under power and abandoned the vessel which was located in Australian waters. Despite requests for further details the Indonesian Police declined to provide the additional information sought. This reticence to providing further information is not uncommon for a variety of reasons, incompetence or simply being sympathetic to the plight of the Indonesian crew members. Bearing in mind the crew admitted to having sold several tonnes of valuable shark fin the police could have readily come to some amiable financial arrangement. According to a report from the Indonesian police headquarters dated 19 January, police in Bitung, North Sulawesi Province, nabbed a suspect who admitted that he was one of the 10 Indonesians that the High Aim 6 recruited in early November to fish in waters near the Marshall Islands. Police say the man told them his nine colleagues had fled and probably returned to their homes in central Java, while Chen and Lin had been killed. Following the receipt of this information from Indonesian authorities the AFP Investigators reviewed the available and known information which together with their forensic examination of the vessel. Investigators determined that the earlier possible scenarios of People Smuggling, Trafficking in Narcotics, and Piracy were discounted. The Hijacking of the Indonesian ship and murder of the Captain and Engineer, as confessed by the arrested member Safrudin Akil,

is supported by the events as previously described and consistent with AFP and Indonesian Police Investigations including: • The crew had been recruited in Indonesia and travelled to the Marshall Islands where the vessel was sighted and conformed with telephone calls with the family in Taiwan • The vessel was flying an Indonesian Flag. • The majority of the fishing nets and equipment were missing which suggests that it was left behind in the Marshall Islands as per the sighting of the US Coast Guard • There was no shark fin on board which supports the confessional that the valuable shark fin was removed and sold. The remainder was left on board as it would have required significantly more logistics and would have drawn attention to the Captain and Engineer not being on board. • There was no lifeboat as it would have been used to transfer the crew and shark fin ashore prior to setting the vessel away from land. The autopilot was set to on. • The radio was missing as power supply cut. • The recent diary entries were in Bahasa Indonesia which would not have occurred had the Captain and Engineer been on board. • Backtracking the course taken and speed of this vessel it is estimated that the vessel would have left Flores about 3 days prior to it being sighted by Australian Coast Watch

True Blue April 2021

MOTIVE – MAYHEM ON THE HIGH SEAS: When considering the known and admitted circumstances attributed in this article, the obvious question to be answered was “what was the motive of the crew” in murdering the Taiwanese Captain and Engineer. In recent years an increasing number of reports continue to be published about migrant fishing labour violations occurring on Taiwanese-flagged vessels. These reports are part of a larger body of journalism focusing on the symptoms of a global fishing industry that has been largely left outside of world regulation standards and exists within an environment traditionally difficult to enforce. The reports are eerily similar: garnished and unpaid wages, confiscated identification, verbal abuse, beatings, and rumours of murder at sea are common. Equally common to the reports are the tactics Taiwanese-owned fishing vessels use to escape persecution. Flags of convenience, nonregistration of vessels, turning off transponders, and spending time on the high seas where no nation’s jurisdiction can reach, are all tactics employed to skirt around the law and continue exploiting migrant labour. Many of these cases are textbook examples of human trafficking. Workers are coerced or forced to stay in dismal working conditions against their will, moved about the oceans, threatened with violence, and kept from going ashore in some cases.

SMALL SAMPLE OF REPORTED EXAMPLES OF MISTREATMENT OF FOREIGN CREWS • In 2002 the Taiwanese fishing vessel Hairisheng was discovered empty by the Indonesian military. Three crew members were subsequently arrested (of a total of 10) and confessed to the murder of the Taiwanese captain and the engineer. Retaliation by the crew for mistreatment is suspected to be the motive. • As recently as June 2019 Arif, a 19-year-old Indonesian fisherman, died quietly in his bunk on a Taiwanese fishing vessel – blood staining his mouth – a Fijian coroner ruled that he had suffered a pulmonary oedema. But his fellow crewmen tell a different story to the official narrative and allege his sudden passing was likely linked to the brutal beatings to the head and neck that were regularly meted out to the rookie crew member from his superiors. “Every single day they bullied him, they punched and hit him on his head. it was a terrible sight and very stressful for all the crew.” • A video showing the body of a young man being callously thrown into the sea has sparked an international investigation and shone a spotlight on the “slave-like” conditions allegedly suffered by

Indonesian fishermen on board Chinese-owned vessels. This is the story of just two families, mourning sons and brothers who died trying to build a new life. • A recent report by the environmental group Greenpeace highlights harrowing testimonies from Indonesian migrant workers about dire conditions on board foreign distant-water fishing vessels. The workers told of being overworked, having their wages withheld, being forced into debt bondage, and experiencing physical and sexual violence. Experts say slavery on board fishing vessels is strongly linked to illegal fishing activities. Greenpeace has called on governments and boat operators to resolve human rights issues at sea as part of efforts to achieve sustainable fisheries. • A 28-year-old Indonesian man was witness to a deadly assault on a fellow boat crew member by the captain when they worked aboard the Taiwanese fishing vessel Da Wang a few years ago. The captain hit his friend in the head, then forced them to continue working. “In the morning when we woke up for breakfast, we found him dead in his room. The captain wrapped up my dead friend’s body with a blanket and then stored him in the freezer,” Da said in an interview in July 2019. • The Taiwan-flagged Wen Peng became the site of an alleged double murder at sea. According to Taiwan’s Fisheries Agency, a conflict broke out about 900 nautical miles off the south coast of Sri Lanka between fishermen and the boat’s chief officer, who allegedly killed one Filipino and one Indonesian. Six other foreign crew members were reportedly forced to jump into the sea and were never found. • Taiwan’s estimated US$2 billion fishing industry operates over a third of the world’s longline tuna vessels. Taiwan says its deep-sea vessels employ about 26,000 foreign crew members, although NGOs and US agencies put the number closer to 160,000. These fishermen frequently report nonpayment, long work hours, and verbal and physical abuse, often at the hands of Taiwanese captain.

CONCLUSION Given the circumstances as detailed in this article it is believed that the Captain and Engineer of the High Aim 6 was murdered on or about 12 December as confessed by crewman Safrudin Akil to the Indonesian Police. Between the 12 December and say 24 December (12 days) when telephone records indicated first use of the Engineer’s handphone in Indonesia would have provided sufficient time for the vessel to be sailed from the Marshall Islands and for the arrangements made to remove the shark fin for sale and for the vessel to be placed under full power (on or about)

True Blue April 2021

The ‘High Aim 6’.

from the most likely departure point in Indonesia consistent with its first confirmed sighting by Australian Coast Watch on 4 January 2003. The motive for the crew to murder the Captain and Engineer can reasonably be concluded then that they were, to a high degree of probability, mistreated to the point the crew conspired against them and took the murderous actions as confessed by senior crewman Safrudin Akil.

POLICE CAREERS AND WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Detective Sergeant John Whitehead has been an operational member of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for 30 years and is currently working as the Team Leader of the AFP Criminal Assets Confiscation Team in Perth, Western Australia. During his AFP career he has worked in the AFP Melbourne and Perth Offices and has experience conducting and managing investigations in relation to a broad range of offences and crime types including fraud, financial crime, foreign bribery and proceeds of crime. He describes one of his career highlights as being when he was fortunate to represent the AFP by travelling to the United States of America (US) where he spent a fortnight working in New York with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation gathering evidence as part of an ??????11 offshore taxation fraud inquiry. His efforts resulted in the extradition of an Australian company director and funds manager who was subsequently convicted and imprisoned in Perth.

In addition to his ongoing operational duties, John has a keen interest in supporting the development and enhancement of law enforcement capabilities through the delivery of training and providing support to law reform. Associated with this he co-authored and has presented the AFP’s Financial Crime training program to investigators across a range of Commonwealth and state law enforcement agencies in Australia, and has also presented financial investigation training in Bogota, Colombia on behalf of the AFP to police participants from fifteen different Latin American countries. Detective Sergeant (retired) Mike Smith was an operational member of the AFP from 1983 until retiring in 2012. During that time, he worked in the ACT General Duties and CIB, Eastern Region Sydney and Newcastle, Resident Agent Port Hedland and Perth Office. He also worked overseas as Liaison Officer to Phnom Penh and various International Deployment (IDG) and United Nations (UN) Missions including Cyprus, Solomon Islands, Nauru, PNG and Timor Leste. Following his retirement from the AFP Mike has, or the past 8 years, been working in Cambodia with the Child Protection Unit, a joint Cambodian National Police and NGO unit investigating serious crimes against children. Thanks to Mike and John for their recollection of events on this investigation. Thanks also to the AFP (Commander John Tanti & Amanda Roberts) Perth Office for providing access to official records.

True Blue April 2021

If My Body Was a Car! This is scary but how true it is!!! If my body was a car, this is the time I would be thinking about trading it in for a newer model. I’ve got bumps and dents and scratches in my finish and my paint job is getting a little dull... But that’s not the worst of it.

My whitewalls are stained with varicose veins. It takes me hours to reach my maximum speed. My fuel rate burns inefficiently. But here’s the worst of it. Almost every time I sneeze, cough or sputter,

My headlights are out of focus and it’s especially hard to see things up close.

Either My Radiator Leaks

My traction is not as graceful as it once was. I slip and slide and skid and bump into things even in the best of weather.

My Exhaust Backfires!

One minute you’re young and fun, and the next, you’re turning down the stereo in your car to see better. 41

Vale On behalf of the UNOPAA National Executive, our National Committee, State Branches and all members of UNOPAA, we would like to acknowledge the service of the following, particularly to overseas peacekeeping, and to express our sympathy to family, contingent colleagues and friends. It is with regret that we advise of the passing of:

PETER DOUGLAS THEODORE Peter passed away on 7 December 2020 aged 71 years. He joined the Commonwealth Police Force in November 1975. He was still a serving Police Officer (Detective Sergeant) at the time of his passing and was the longest serving member of the AFP having served 45 years. He deployed on four missions to East Timor, two to Cyprus and one to the Solomon Islands.

RAYMOND JOHN COOPER Ray passed away on 9 December 2020 aged 75 years. He joined the Australian Capital Territory Police in 1969 and became a member of the Australian Federal Police on Foundation Day in 1979. Ray served with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus in 1975. Ray’s Funeral Service was held at Gregson and Weight Funeral Chapel, Caloundra on Tuesday 15 December 2020 at 1pm.

DONALD IAN (DON) SHEARER Don was a Tasmania Police member of the 9th Contingent to Cyprus (1972-73). Don passed away in Tasmania on 16 December 2020, aged 69 years. His funeral was held at Spreyton, Devonport, on Wednesday, 23 December 2020 at 1.30pm.

ROSEMARY (MOLLY) STEWART Molly was the widow of Bob Stewart, a Victoria Police member of the 4th Contingent to Cyprus (1967-68). Molly passed away in Melbourne on 4 March 2021, aged 90 years. Her funeral was held at Le Pine Funerals, 1048 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill on Thursday, 11 March 2021, commencing at 2.00pm.

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Being online has made meeting and interacting with others easier than ever before, but it’s important to know how to stay safe. Here are ThinkUKnow’s top tips for safer online interactions: • • • •

Question suspicious accounts, and trust your instincts if something doesn’t seem right - not everyone is who they say they are. Avoid meeting someone in person that you have only ever spoken to online. However, if you do meet, choose a public place and take someone with you. If something goes wrong, know how to block or un-match and report. Your safety should always come first!

Sometimes things don’t go to plan but there is always help available. For more information, visit www.thinkuknow.org.au ThinkUKnow is a national online child safety program led by the Australian Federal Police, delivered in schools through educational presentations and resources for young people and their parents and carers.

OFFICIAL MEDICAL ADVICE

Coronavirus: Thanks to you, we are saving lives and stopping the spread. But it’s important we continue to keep all Australians safe. Stay at home unless necessary and avoid non-essential travel. Banks, supermarkets, petrol stations, medical services and suppliers remain open.

If you can, you should work from home. Use phones for meetings, stop handshaking, tap to pay where possible instead of using cash.

Maintain physical distancing and hygiene practices. Keep 1.5 metres of physical distance, exercise away from others, and wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds.

Visit australia.gov.au to find restrictions specific to your State or Territory. Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra