The totally off-topic thread

[medhead]

I dont think I have ever seen a SASR member identified by their rank before in public, very impressive speech and humble attitude shown on the news last night by the Corporal.

Besides Corp Donaldson ...

 

[ozbeachbabe]

This afternoon I watched the ABC coverage of Cpl Roberts-Smith receiving his VC. It sounded like the PM called him Corporate Robber Smith :shock:

Pretty impressive postnominals - VC MG!

I heard GG Quentin Bryce on the radio saying something to that effect, unless Julia did it too. :shock:

 

[JohnK]

Does the numberplate C * 1 belong to the Prime Minister? Is this number plate registered in each state?

Saw this car driving down High St, Toowong (with what looked like a female adult in the back seat) and turn left onto Benson St then continuing on Coronation Drive. It was being followed by another car.

 

[thewinchester]

Does the numberplate C * 1 belong to the Prime Minister? Is this number plate registered in each state?

Saw this car driving down High St, Toowong (with what looked like a female adult in the back seat) and turn left onto Benson St then continuing on Coronation Drive. It was being followed by another car.

Correct, C 1 is the Commonwealth-issued plate designated for the Prime Minister.

Along with ARMY1, NAVY1, RAAF1 and those issued in the Northern Territory, they are the only federal vehicles to carry plates still issued under C of A titles. The Federal Vehicle register was closed in 2000, and manufacture/issue of the plates is now handled by the state of primary registration.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Does the numberplate C * 1 belong to the Prime Minister? Is this number plate registered in each state?

Saw this car driving down High St, Toowong (with what looked like a female adult in the back seat) and turn left onto Benson St then continuing on Coronation Drive. It was being followed by another car.

If the adult female in the back seat had red hair that would be a giveaway!

That's the PM's car on official duties so the car should have the Australian Flag on the bonnet also. They usually just use the same C1 plate and transfer it to whatever car she's using at the time. On unofficial duties the car would just have normal number plates minus the Australian Flag.

The GG's car just has a crown on the number plate & would by flying the Vice-Regal Standard flag on the bonnet.

 

[markis10]

Besides Corp Donaldson ...

He was promoted last year I suppose he is the first, although he was a trooper at the time of the VC presentation, maybe its only officers that are not identified?

 

[medhead]

He was promoted last year I suppose he is the first, although he was a trooper at the time of the VC presentation, maybe its only officers that are not identified?

Still he was identified by rank as a trooper. I would think it more likely for officers to be identified ala the CO of SASR, etc.

The write up in the paper today says that the only limitation with identifying SASR personnel is that they can't do undercover jobs. So I would say the general rule is not to ID them except in special circumstances. Easy to keep track of a few special cases with their career than numerous people.

 

[markis10]

The write up in the paper today says that the only limitation with identifying SASR personnel is that they can't do undercover jobs. So I would say the general rule is not to ID them except in special circumstances. Easy to keep track of a few special cases with their career than numerous people.

I have shared on a number of occasions the visitors quarters at various RAAF bases with a sabre squadron and at no time was rank obvious, I was told that they are never identified that way as a rule, hence my curiosity at seeing the Corporal identified rather than the use of the generic or entry rank of trooper. The lack of identification prior to the presentation was in that context, I wonder if as you say things are different for the special cases, as surely a VC recipient is?

Regardless its fantastic to see the work being recognized, I am sure many SASR and indeed many ADF personnel are not recognized for their excellence as often as they should be.

 

[JohnK]

If the adult female in the back seat had red hair that would be a giveaway!

It was hard to tell with tinted windows but the person did look like they had reddish hair which is why I thought it was the prime minister's car.

I did also the same number plates in Sydney a number of years and recognised John Howard in the front seat even though I was driving a car at the time.

 

[medhead]

I have shared on a number of occasions the visitors quarters at various RAAF bases with a sabre squadron and at no time was rank obvious, I was told that they are never identified that way as a rule, hence my curiosity at seeing the Corporal identified rather than the use of the generic or entry rank of trooper. The lack of identification prior to the presentation was in that context, I wonder if as you say things are different for the special cases, as surely a VC recipient is?

Regardless its fantastic to see the work being recognized, I am sure many SASR and indeed many ADF personnel are not recognized for their excellence as often as they should be.

Yep, I had heard of that rank-less thing on Army bases as well. It seems to be an important basis for how they operate. Must say that I was caught by surprise by the award with the first I realised of it was the morning of the presentation when the radio announced that "Corporal Ben" would be presented with a VC later that day.

Either way the recognition is great, especially if we can recognise excellence.

 

[MissBurrill]

He was promoted last year I suppose he is the first, although he was a trooper at the time of the VC presentation, maybe its only officers that are not identified?

Still he was identified by rank as a trooper. I would think it more likely for officers to be identified ala the CO of SASR, etc.

The write up in the paper today says that the only limitation with identifying SASR personnel is that they can't do undercover jobs. So I would say the general rule is not to ID them except in special circumstances. Easy to keep track of a few special cases with their career than numerous people.

I have shared on a number of occasions the visitors quarters at various RAAF bases with a sabre squadron and at no time was rank obvious, I was told that they are never identified that way as a rule, hence my curiosity at seeing the Corporal identified rather than the use of the generic or entry rank of trooper. The lack of identification prior to the presentation was in that context, I wonder if as you say things are different for the special cases, as surely a VC recipient is?

Regardless its fantastic to see the work being recognized, I am sure many SASR and indeed many ADF personnel are not recognized for their excellence as often as they should be.

Whilst serving they won't be identified regardless of rank. The VC's are an exception because we want to know all about them (and it would no doubt come out eventually).

Although rank exists, traditionally in the Special Forces mbrs are largely addressed by name/nickname. The title Sir isn't used too much rather the term boss when it isn't appropriate to address by name such as the CO.

The camera that filmed the service was very limited on what it filmed and I suspect a military cameraperson (yes, that trade exists) was used to film the footage which the ABC broadcast.

Cpl Donaldson has served again in Afghanistan since receiving his VC.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Was minding a friend's three dogs for them while they were on hols & got a text from them in Bali asking if I could feed them for an extra night as their DPS/DRW flight had been cancelled. I believe this happened the previous day also, so some pax had been stuck for 2 days.

Sounds like they're not too happy with a certain airline so I guess I'll find out more details when I see them.

According to what other pax on that flight have said, they were not told anything & stuck at the airport for 6 hours without being given water before they were allowed to leave the terminal. Lack of information caused a lot of aggro amongst pax some of whom got into a punch up. :shock:

 

[QF WP]

Does the airline's icon roar

 

[NM]

Does the airline's icon roar

DPS-DRW flights would be JQ82, JQ84 or QZ8632. I don't see any operators whose icon may roar in the scheduled arrivals from DPS.

 

[Nigelinoz]

I just received a belated Christmas present from my sister-it's a Coopers home brew kit,anyone had success with these?
Cheers
N'oz

 

[JohnK]

According to what other pax on that flight have said, they were not told anything & stuck at the airport for 6 hours without being given water before they were allowed to leave the terminal. Lack of information caused a lot of aggro amongst pax some of whom got into a punch up. :shock:

Typical of the customer service one should expect from them.

And people are waiting for them to open up routes to Europe? Never, ever, ever....

 

[QF WP]

DPS-DRW flights would be JQ82, JQ84 or QZ8632. I don't see any operators whose icon may roar in the scheduled arrivals from DPS.

Ah, I guessed (without checking thoroughly like you, NM ) that it may have been Tiger. I must be wrong

Oops, sorry about editing your post above NM - I hit "Edit Post" rather than "Post with Quote" in your post above. Only realised when I had pressed enter, so I had to delete what I had written and post again here . That'll teach me to try and do 2 things at the same time.

 

[tuapekastar]

I just received a belated Christmas present from my sister-it's a Coopers home brew kit,anyone had success with these?
Cheers
N'oz

I bought what was a virtually identical kit (but "Wander" brand) many years ago and brewed many successful and tasty batches of beer (only one or two 'misses'). I still have it and at the right time will resurrect it. Brewed many different Cooper's brews. If you get enough of a 'reserve' supply and solely drink these for a while, going back to commercial beer definitely has a different taste.

Takes some work, but is worth it. With the very first brew I made I was up during the night checking on it, rather like a new-born babe. :shock:

The most important thing is hygiene/sterilisation - make sure everything is sterile and clean as per instructions. I used empty commercial 'stubbies/half-necks' mostly (~56 per brew, not sure exactly what size my fermenter is, around 25 - 30 litres), and just twisted the tops back on after filling them with the brew, though if you do this, ensure you have a device to do it with otherwise your hand will end up a raw mess.

Anyway, it's easy enough once you get the hang, and worth the effort IMHO (at least till you get sick of doing it)

 

[Nigelinoz]

Thanks so much tuapekastar,.
My kit comes with 30 plastic bottles with screw caps,it also has some special carbonation drops that look like little cough drops that you add to each bottle to add extra "fizz",there also seems to be a good range of different beer styles mixes available.
I'm looking forward to having a go at it,there doesn't seem to be too much that can go wrong if I follow the instructions:!::mrgreen:.
Cheers
N'oz

 

[MissBurrill]

One of my colleagues hurried round the office today saying Qantas had a 'mid-air in flight emergency in the air'.

I replied 'mid-air in the air?'

She was 'yes!' Then hurried off to tell the others. Bit of a double use of air I thought but she didn't get it.