NATIONAL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION

The National Annual General Meeting of the Association was held at the Coffs Harbour Ex Services Club on Sunday, 13th June 2010.

The following are your National Executive Members for 2010 - 2011.

National President	Darren Thompson	M: 0420 227 963
National Vice President	Kevin Hayton	H: 02 6653 4146
National Secretary	David Sandquest	1/12 Beronga Street North Strathfield, NSW 2137 H: 02 9743 0088 M: 0404 442 426
National Treasurer	John Rana	5 Mirror Cove Waikiki WA 6169 H: 08 9594 1913 Mob: 0402 143 211

National Executive 2010 - 2011

Only two nominations were received - nominations for President and Secretary were called from the floor.

As there was no nomination for President it was proposed that Darren Thompson, who had been nominated for Vice President, be called upon to take on the role of President.  He accepted and was voted in as SAA President 2010 - 2011.

David Sandquest was then nominated for Vice President and was voted in as SAA Vice President 2010 - 2011.

John Rana was the only nomination for Treasurer and was voted in as SAA Treasurer 2010 - 2011.

There were no nominations for Secretary, Norm Williams retiring for health reasons.  Nominations were called from the floor but no volunteers came forward.  Norm agreed to remain in the position for three months to give the Executive time to find a replacement.

After the AGM the National Committee, in a Special General Meeting, agreed on changes to the Executive, they being;

Kevin Hayton was nominated and agreed to take on the position of Vice President and was voted in as SAA Vice President 2010 - 2011 by the National Committee.

David Sandquest agreed to take on the role of Secretary and was voted in as SAA Secretary 2010 - 2011 by the National Committee.

David Sandquest

National Secretary
Submarines Association Australia

BIOGRAPHY – Chief Petty Officer Darren Thompson

Born in New Norfolk, Tasmania, in 1965, Darren grew up in Burnie, Tasmania. Prior to joining the Navy, Darren served with the Naval Reserve Cadets and with 44 Transport Squadron Army Reserve. 

In 1983, Darren joined the Royal Australian Navy and was posted to HMAS CERBERUS in Victoria to undergo Initial Entry Training (IET). On completion of IET he remained at HMAS CERBERUS and commenced training as a Radio Operator. He also volunteered for Submarine Service. After completion of his Radio Operator training in Victoria, Darren was posted to HMAS PLATYPUS,  Sydney, in 1984 for Submarine training. He was posted to his first Submarine, HMAS OXLEY, a OBERON diesel-electric class Submarine, later the same year for the completion of Submarine training. On the 15^th December 1984, Darren was awarded his Submarine Qualification Badge, the coveted ‘Dolphins’. Early 1985 Darren was sent to HMS DOLPHIN, Gosport, England, for Pressurised Submarine Escape Traning (PSET). On his return to Australia in Feb 1985, Darren was posted to HMAS ORION, another OBERON class Submarine, as a fully qualified Radio Operator Submarines.

During the period, 1985-1989, Darren served in the OBERON Submarines, HMAS ORION, OVENS, and ONSLOW. 1987 saw Darren awarded the Australian Service Medal (ASM) with clasp Special Ops. During the middle of 1989, Darren was loaned to HMAS TOBRUK, a Amphibious Heavy Lift Ship (LSH), for Exercise KANGAROO 89 off the Northern Territory. In December 1989, Darren was promoted to Leading Seaman. 

During the period 1990 to 1996, Darren served in HMAS PLATYPUS, Sydney Submarine Depot, the OBERON class Submarines HMAS OTWAY, ORION and ONSLOW. In August 1994 Darren was promoted to Petty Officer and qualified as a Petty Officer of the Watch Submarines (POOWSM). In Jan 1996, Darren was posted as the Senior Instructor Submarine Communications, to the newly built Submarine Training and Systems Centre (STSC) at HMAS STIRLING, Garden Island, Western Australia. During this time he completed the shore phase of conversion training from OBERONS to the new COLLINS diesel-electric Submarines.

In early 1998, Darren was posted to HMAS COLLINS, the namesake of the new Class of Submarines, to complete his conversion training. During this period he also did a short period posted to HMAS FARNCOMB, another COLLINS Class Submarine, in the role of Leading Radio Operator to gain more at sea experience. On completion of this training he returned to HMAS COLLINS in the role of Radio Supervisor.

Darren was awarded the Defence Force Service Medal (DFSM) for 15 years service in July and promoted to Chief Petty Officer in December 1998. In early 1999, after completing his Chief of the Boat (COB) training, Darren was loaned to HMAS FARNCOMB as COB. This was a very busy an exciting time which culminated in the introduction of the first females on Submarines and the sinking of the decommissioned Destroyer Escort, HMAS TORRENS. Shortly after he returned to HMAS COLLINS in the role of COB.

In mid 2000 Darren and his partner relocated to Canberra to take up a posting in the Directorate of Sailors Career Management (DSCM) as the Non-Technical Submarine Category Poster. During this time Darren completed his conversion training from Radio Operator to the new Communications Category of Communications Information Systems (CIS). On completion of his busy and exciting role in DSCM,  Darren was lucky to be chosen to participate in an exchange program with the Royal Navy, Long Look 2003. Prior to his departure for the United Kingdom Darren was awarded the first clasp for 20 years service to the Defence Force Service Medal (DFSM). As part of his of the exchange Darren was posted to Flag Officer Submarine Training (FOST) at HMAS NEPTUNE, Faslane, Scotland. Darren spent four months working with the Royal Navy and exploring Scotland and the British Isles.

Returning   to Australia, he was posted back the DSCM as the Acting Officer in Charge (A/OIC) of DSCM Cell 1, responsible for overseeing the career management of Submariners, Fleet Air Arm and Supply Category personnel throughout the RAN. In 2004 Darren was posted as the Deputy Communications Security (COMSEC) Manager-Navy in the Defence Comsec Controlling Authority (DCCA) in Canberra. This was the commencement of a very busy twelve months travelling all round Australia to audit various Australian Defence Force (ADF) Comsec accounts.

In 2005 Darren was posted as the Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Submarine Communications Centre, at Fleet Headquarters at Garden Island, Sydney. During his tenure he represented the Fleet Commander at several Communications forums with our Allies in New Zealand and the United States. In late 2006 Darren had a short but busy posting with Defence Force Recruiting in Parramatta, Sydney, as a Defence Interviewer. He was also awarded the new Australian Defence Medal (ADM) during this time in recognition of his initial four years service.

2008 saw Darren back in Western Australia posted to the Submarine Force Element Group (SM FEG) otherwise know as Submarine Headquarters, at HMAS STIRLING. Darren’s new role saw him responsible for the management of all Submarine Communications Information Systems sailors, Submarine Communications issues relating to personnel, Assistant Submarine Human Resource Manager, Submarine Presentation Team co-ordinator and various other ancillary tasks. July 2008 saw the completion of 25 years service in the RAN and the award of his second clasp to the Defence Force Service Medal (DFSM).

2009 had  Darren heavily involved in the implementation of several personnel issues to improve conditions for all Submariners now and into the future. Particularly as we plan for the replacement for the COLLINS class Submarines around 2020. 2009 also saw him become the Vice President SAA(WA) Inc and a member of the Submarine Steering Group at the WA Maritime Museum. In December 2009 Darren celebrate 25 years since he was awarded his Submarine Qualification badge (Dolphins).

2010 has started with Darren becoming the SUBMARINE FORCE Human Resource Manager.

Darren lives in Port Kennedy with his spouse, Cath, cat Victoria and dogs, Jessie and Jack. He is an avid reader of Military History, enjoys working on computers and walking.

Index:

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• Notices of Motion

  There was only one Notice for the agenda.

  •  To make minor amendments to the Constitution - a private submission by Paul Meakin, seconded by Andrew Armes.  P Meakin's proposed changes.  This has since been cancelled.

• Reports;   

  • President

  • Secretary

  • National Health & Welfare Coordinator

  • Web Manager

  • Welfare Fund - To be tabled at AGM

  • Financial Reports

  • Report on “Investigation on a possible change to the structure of the Submarines Association Australia"

    • Report

    • Conceptual Constitutional changes

     

  • Although not required by the Constitution the following Branch Presidents kindly presented Reports on their Branch activities for 2009/10.

    • NSW Branch

    • Victoria Branch

    • Queensland Branch

    • Western Australia Branch

Minutes of Previous Meetings

• 2009 AGM - Fremantle

• 2009 National Committee - Fremantle

• 2008 AGM - Canberra

• 2008 National Committee - Canberra

• 2007 AGM - Adelaide

• 2007 National Committee - Adelaide

• 2006 AGM - Brisbane

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