100 Years of Communications Training (speeches)

100 Years of Communications Training (speeches)

OC DFSS MCISW Speech on the occasion of 100 Years of Communications Training at HMAS Cerberus 1 July 2021

 

Introduction – General CDRE Matt Doornbos RAN – Director General Navy Information Warfare, COL Edmund Wunsch Commandant – Defence Command Support Training Centre, COL Anthony Lias – Commanding Officer Defence Force School of Signals, CMDR Martin Holzberger AM CSC RAN Executive Officer HMAS Cerberus, Warrant Officer Deb Butterworth OAM, CSM + Bar Warrant Officer of the Navy, Distinguished guests, Staff, Students and Trainees of the Defence Force School of Signals Maritime CIS Wing, thank you for your attendance and welcome to this gathering on the historic occasion of the 100th anniversary of Communications Training at HMAS Cerberus. On the 1st of July 1921 A purpose built facility was opened at the southern extremities of the recently completed HMAS Cerberus. This building was named the Royal Australian Navy School of Signals and replaced the preceding training facility located at Williamstown Victoria which had been in operation from the establishment of the Royal Australian Navy in 1911, throughout World War 1 and beyond. The Man to see this new facility into operation was then Lt (S) William David Hunter, RAN an Australian born man who had joined the Royal Navy in 1904 as a Boy Signals and come back to Australia onboard HMAS Australia in 1913 as a Yeoman of Signals. He was subsequently one of the original members of the Royal Australian Navy. William saw service in Guinea during the early stages of World War 1 and bore witness to the loss of Able Seaman Signals William Williams in 1914 who was one of the first Australian casualties of World War 1. William accepted commission to Signals officer eventually achieving the rank of Lt Cdr. He retired in 1931, falling ill and passing away in 1934. William is buried in the Presbyterian section of Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney. Sadly, his grave bears no recognition of his service to Naval Communications. In recognition of his contribution to establishing the School of Signals at Cerberus, a plaque will be laid at his final resting place detailing his service as the inaugural Officer in Charge of the facility to ensure his legacy is known to all who visit his grave. Following those early years, 68 People have followed William, stewarding RAN communications training for both Sailors and Officers through the last century of our Navy’s service to the nation. Today is dedicated to the thousands of Men and Woman who have been part of this story over the past century. Those who have passed through our doors and gone on to serve in the Navy, those who have returned to the facility to impart their experience on their successors, and those civilian members who have been there throughout our history in support of our training outcomes.

Introduction – CDRE Doornbos, RAN We are honoured today to have CDRE Matt Doornbos, RAN Director General Naval Information Warfare present as our first guest speaker. Commodore Matthew Doornbos is Australian Defence Force Academy graduate completing a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems in 1992. He completed various sea and shore postings in Australia and overseas. He commanded HMAS GEELONG and HMAS Ballarat. Commodore Doornbos is a Principal Warfare Officer (PWO) specializing in Surface Warfare and Communications. He has two Masters Degrees, a Master in Business Administration and a Master in Business Administration (Maritime Logistics Management). Commodore Doornbos is currently the Director General Naval Information Warfare, leading the Navy Information Warfare Branch, Navy Strategic Command. Ladies and Gentleman, Commodore Doornbos. DGNIW Speech…. Sir, thank you for taking time out today to share your insights with us. We look forward to having you down at Cerberus when circumstances permit in the near future. Introduction – Warrant Officer Deb Butterworth OAM, CSM and Bar I am humbled to have the honour of introducing our next guest speaker. She needs no introduction as her reputation precedes her. But I will regardless. WO Butterworth enlisted into the Royal Australian Navy as a Stores Naval Sailor in 1989. WO Butterworth has enjoyed serving in various ships and establishments both in Australia and overseas as a Stores Naval Sailor. She has had an exceptional career and has been recognised on a number of occasions for her dedication to service. CPO Butterworth was awarded a CSM in 2006 in recognition of her service in Newcastle during OP CATALYST. She was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for meritorious service to the Royal Australian Navy in the field of logistics management in 2012. WO Butterworth assumed the role of Ship’s Warrant Officer in HMAS Success in December 2011, and was recognised with a bar to her CSM in recognition of her service in Success following that posting. In 2017, WO Butterworth was appointed Command Warrant Officer Training Force and in 2019 she was appointed to the role of Warrant Officer of the Navy, our most senior sailor in the Royal Australian Navy. WO Butterworth holds a Master of Military and Defence Studies. Ladies and Gentleman, Warrant Officer Butterworth. WO-N Speech… WO Butterworth, we are honoured to have you with us today. Thank you for your involvement and support. You are an inspiration to our people and testament to the opportunities life in the Navy offers to those willing to give it a go. Conclusion This concludes the formal phase of this mornings events. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our guest speakers and our visiting VIP’s for their support to allow today be proceed. The future looks bright for Naval Communications and you are all part of the next chapter of this story. You should be justifiably proud of your roles in the future of Communications. I would also like to thank our Centenary Committee including WO Shane O’Gradey, CPO Leo Vredenbreght, PO Deb Navin, PO Fane Cokanauto and LS Peta Binns. Without their efforts we would not have been able to give today the recognition it has had. I would like to invite you all to join me at Club Cerberus where we will cut the Centenary Cake, share a feast of smally eats and dodgy war stories provided by CPO Lennie Marshall
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