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Submariners have been recognised for their significant contributions to country among seventy-nine Defence personnel who received Australian Honours and Awards on Australia Day.
Chief Petty Officer Matthew was awarded a Conspicuous Service Medal for turning his office into a laboratory to quickly find a filter solution after heavy metals (nickel and cadmium) were detected seeping into drinking water aboard Collins-class submarines.
“We were looking at changing the pipe work because this contamination was coming from the welds throughout the pipes and tanks,” Chief Petty Officer Matthew said.
“The remediation package would have been really intrusive, very expensive and it would have taken a lot of time. This was, you know, an easy, quick, simple fix in the end.
“But I’m cognisant of the fact it wasn’t just me. I'm happy for the recognition for spearheading the concept but I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the rest of the team.”
Petty Officer Mark, was awarded with a Conspicuous Service Medal, for outstanding leadership and courage after he drove into the water during a man-over-board situation aboard HMAS Farncomb, while it was transiting to Hawaii for Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2022.
“I remember the water coming towards me when I dived in and thinking ‘all safety is lost’, because I knew we would be alone and isolated,” Petty Officer Mark said.
“It was a bit of a shock, actually. When the letter came through with the gold crown of the Governor-General letterhead I thought I was in trouble for something,” he said.
“I haven’t known too many sailors that have been recognised like this. So it’s a pleasant surprise but it hasn’t really set in yet.
“It wouldn't matter what rank or role I was in or what person it was that went, I think the reaction's the same.”
The two Royal Australian Navy submariners were among 25 Order of Australia recipients and 54 Military Award recipients across the ADF.
In support of Australia Day, the ADF provided displays in and around Sydney Harbour and Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra. Including a Royal Australian Navy MH-60R Seahawk flying the Australian National Flag underslung, Army firing a 21-Gun Salute, Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail conducting a fly over and Roulettes flypast.
Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Christopher Smith, AM, CSM, said Defence was proud to join in Australia Day activities across the country.
“Our sailors, soldiers and aviators are excited to strengthen their relationship with the community through these events,” said Rear Admiral Smith.
The full list of 25 recipients in the Military Division of the Order of Australia, three Distinguished Service decorations and 51 Conspicuous Service decorations includes the following personnel.
OFFICER (AO) IN THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Rear Admiral Jonathan Earley CSC RAN
MEMBER (AM) IN THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Navy: Commodore Richard Caton PSM RAN; Rear Admiral David Mann CSC RAN
Army: Major General B; Brigadier Matthew Campbell CSC; Colonel Martin Levey; Colonel Thomas McDermott AM CSC
Air Force: Wing Commander Cameron Douglas; Group Captain Marija Jovanovich CSM; Air Commodore Matthew McCormack; Air Commodore Michael Reidy; Warrant Officer Vanessa Schneider
MEDAL (OAM) IN THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Navy: Commander Luke Andrews RAN; Commander Sandra Bennett RAN; Lieutenant Commander Scott Clarke RAN; Chief Petty Officer Michael Cunnington; Captain Douglas Griffiths RAN; Commander Simon Kelly CSM RAN; Petty Officer Genene Sanders
Army: Warrant Officer Class One P; Warrant Officer Class One Jo-Anne Downes; Warrant Officer Class One Mark Everingham; Warrant Officer Class One Peter Wall
Air Force: Warrant Officer Gary Anderson; Group Captain John Price (retd)
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL (DSM)
Army: Brigadier James Hunter CSC
COMMENDATION FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
Army: Colonel Geoffrey Costello; Lieutenant Colonel Gerald McGowan
CONSPICUOUS SERVICE CROSS (CSC)
Navy: Warrant Officer Phillip Durnan CSM; Commander Nikola Ford RAN; Warrant Officer Stuart Hammond; Captain Matthew Hoffman RAN; Principal Chaplain Andrew Lewis RAN; Captain Antony Pisani RAN; Commander Matthew Ryall RAN; Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez Jr; Commodore Nigel Smith RAN; Commander Calvin Timms RAN
Army: Lieutenant Colonel D; Colonel Jacqueline Costello; Lieutenant Colonel Susana Fernandez; Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Grogan; Brigadier Damian Hill AM; Brigadier Nerolie McDonald
Air Force: Group Captain James Blagg; Air Commodore Anthony Jones (retd); Group Captain Darrell May; Wing Commander Lachlan Melville; Wing Commander Jamie Minor; Wing Commander Benjamin Sawley; Flight Lieutenant Matthew Thurling; Wing Commander Janine Tillott; Group Captain David Torrington; Squadron Leader James Wheeler
THE BAR TO THE CONSPICUOUS SERVICE MEDAL (CSM)
Navy: Warrant Officer Mark Verhoeven CSM
CONSPICUOUS SERVICE MEDAL (CSM)
Navy: Leading Seaman L; Lieutenant Commander Dean Dvornicich; Petty Officer Mark; Leading Seaman Katherine Lyon; Chief Petty Officer Michael Nowill; Chief Petty Officer Matthew
Army: Corporal L; Craftsman N; Major Drew Burkitt; Major Cameron Dunne; Warrant Officer Class One Susan Gallacher; Warrant Officer Class One Daniel Heller; Warrant Officer Class One Craig Hodge; Captain Natasha Kirkham; Warrant Officer Class Two Andrei Mazourenko; Warrant Officer Class One Lance Peterson; Warrant Officer Class One Shane Smith; Major Katelyn Thorne
Air Force: Warrant Officer Rita Coles; Squadron Leader Luke Georgeson; Flight Sergeant Peter Greentree; Squadron Leader Ryan Milsop; Wing Commander Brad Sheldon; Corporal Simon Tapply
