CONTENT

1. Resumé of history of NLA and Cadets
2. President's Commentary
3. NLA Maritime Essay Competition

CENTENARY "NAVY LEAGUE OF AUSTRALIA - 2000"

Navy League branches were established in Tasmania in 1900, in Victoria July 1915 and NSW in Nov 1918. The 'Australian' Navy League Sea Cadet Corps was introduced into Australia by the new NSW Branch in the post World War 1 period as a civilian parallel to the Defence Department - Navy's own Australian Navy Cadet scheme that dated from 1st July 1907.
The Navy League Sea Cadet Corps (NLSCC), developed rapidly in New South Wales from 1920, supported by very influential and enthusiastic volunteers. It expanded into Victoria in the late 1920s and in all States over the next 50 years, reaching totals of 2500 cadets by 1970.
The Navy League's work centred mainly on establishing youth Sea Cadet training groups to encourage Australian youth in their interests in the sea.
Over the last 100 years we have seen the 1950 formation of a separate Australian Navy League Company, The Navy League of Australia (as distinct from the previous Navy League in Australia as branches of the UK parent body), resulting in the 1920 Navy League Sea Cadet Corps' (NLSCC) being renamed Australian Sea Cadet Corps (ASCC) and the formation of a new 'Australian Sea Cadet Council' jointly with RAN representation, the Director of Naval Reserves and Cadets as the Chairman.
In 1973, by mutual arrangement with the Australian Naval Board, the 2000 Navy League's Australian Sea Cadet Corps merged with the Navy's 300 Australian Navy Sea Cadets into a new body, under the direct sponsorship and management of the Royal Australian Navy, and named Naval Reserve Cadets (NRC).
The Navy League Branches and Divisions continued to support and take an active interest in the Naval Reserve Cadet training.
The centenary of the NLA was celebrated in Launceston.
In April 2001 the NRC was renamed Australian Naval Cadets (ANC) to conform with the overall government sponsorship of the three services Navy, Army and Air Force cadets.
This was followed by substantially improved financial support from Government.

COMMENTARY
PRESIDENT'S PAGE April-June 2007

The interests of the Navy League are wide ranging. They cover almost anything to do with maritime affairs.
The items below on Cadets, Naval acquisitions and Naval heritage are evidence of that.
Each year one Navy Cadet unit is chosen as the best unit in Australia. The judging process involves inspection of units throughout the nation. The prize for being judged as best unit is the award of the Navy League Efficiency Trophy.
In 2006 the winning unit was TS BUNDABERG in Queensland. In 2006, as in previous years, the award was presented by Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Russ Shalders, who made the presentation at Bundaberg on 25th November 2006.
The League congratulates TS BUNDABERG on its success. The Efficiency Trophy is not the only award provided by the League for cadets. In each State there exist awards and prizes.
In addition to awards recognising the work of units there are in a number of States prizes for individual cadets.
The League has a long, historic connection with the Cadets. Indeed from 1920 to 1973 the League, with some assistance from Navy, ran and funded what was then known as the Australian Sea Cadet Corp. Since the Navy took over the primary responsibility in 1973 the League has retained an active interest in the welfare of the cadets.
It has regularly brought to the attention of Navy issues concerning cadets. It has also over the last thirty years provided financial support amounting to several million dollars. This year is the centenary of naval cadets in Australia.
The initial proposals prepared by the National Commander for the Celebration of the centenary have been withdrawn. An alternative programme including a national camp at HMAS CERBURUS is now proposed.
The League will itself be undertaking a number of activities to recognise the first hundred years of cadets. Readers of this magazine will know of the interest the League has taken in the proposed new amphibious ships and AWDs (Air Warfare Destroyers). Although the Government has made a commitment to the acquisition of these ships no announcement has yet been made as to which ships will be built. Whichever firm is chosen the question as to where has been decided.
The Federal Government has stated that the AWD will be built in Adelaide. The place at which the two amphibious ships are to be built is yet to be decided. It is at least a possibility that this could be overseas. The decisions regarding both projects will be announced by the government mid year. 2007 is an election year. It is thus appropriate to consider the views of the Opposition regarding these projects.
So far as the amphibious ships were concerned there has been a clear difference of approach. Mr Beazley, when he was Opposition Leader, opposed the government proposal to acquire two large ships. He argued for four smaller vessels. However, Mr Beazley has been replaced by Mr Rudd.
It is not yet clear whether a change in leader has been accompanied by a change in policy. There seems less likelihood of differences arising over the destroyer project. Apart from any other factor, the commitments which have already been made by both the Federal and the South Australian Governments would make it difficult not to proceed. It would be expected that should the present government enter into binding contracts in respect of these projects, then in the event that there was a change of government the contracts already entered into would be honoured.
No doubt the views of the new leadership of the Opposition will be made known during the course of this year. The League is often involved in seeking to maintain our maritime heritage. In most cases this is done in concert with an ally appropriate to the; particular issue.
The League has for seven or eight years been lobbying for something to be done regarding the AE2, the Australian submarine lost in the Sea of Marmora at the start of the Gallipoli campaign. In recent years the Australian Submarine Institute has taken the lead in pressing the issue. There have now been some worthwhile developments.
The government has offered the Institute $368,000 to conduct a detailed dive survey. Following the survey a report is to be prepared and a joint Australian-Turkish workshop conducted to agree on options and make recommendations on the future management of the AE2.
A very long running heritage issue is the fate of Osborne House. Osborne House Geelong was the site of the first Australian Naval College and later the first submarine base. Members of the League have with other interested organisations, local community groups and the Geelong Council been engaged in meetings, committees and inquiries for fourteen years. A proposal now under consideration may finally result in a satisfactory outcome. It is the aim of the League to ensure that whatever development takes place the historic fabric of the House is preserved and its naval heritage recognised.
Recently I wrote to the Minister for Defence Concerning the possible disposal of the Belconnen Naval Transmitting Station. In my letter I supported representations already made by Engineers Australia and the National Trust. Belconnen was once the most powerful naval wireless station in the British Empire and the largest naval or commercial station in the southern hemisphere. The case is being put that it should be World Heritage listed. Another recent representation concerned the protection of naval memorials overlooking the sea at Queenscliff, Victoria. Issues of this kind continue to arise.
Whenever appropriate the League will give its support to the preservation of our naval heritage.
By Graham Harris; Federal President Navy League of Australia

NLA 2007 Maritme Essay Competition
The Navy League of Australia 2007 Maritime Essay Competition

The Navy League of Australia is holding a maritime essay competition during the first half of 2007 and invites entries on either of the following topics:

20th Century Naval History or
Modern Maritime Warfare.

A first, second and third prize will be awarded in each of two categories:
Professional, which covers Journalists, Defence Officials, Academics, Naval personnel and previous contributors to THE NAVY;
and Non-Professional for those not falling into the Professional category.
The prizes are:
. Professional category: $1,000, $500 and $250.
. Non-Professional category: $500, $200 and $150.
Essays should be 2,000-3,000 words in length and will be judged on content and structure.
The deadline for entries is 30 June 2007, with the prize-winners announced in the October 2007 issue of THE NAVY.
Essays should be submitted in Microsoft Word format either on disk and posted to:
Navy League Essay Competition, GPO Box 1719, SYDNEY NSW 2001; or emailed to: editorthenavy@hotmail.com.
Submissions should include the writer's name, address, telephone and email contacts, along with the nominated entry category.
THE NAVY reserves the right to reprint all essays in the magazine, together with the right to edit them as considered appropriate for publication.