Fed: Nowra remembers their four crewman

AAP General News (Australia)
04-08-2005
Fed: Nowra remembers their four crewman

By Graeme Webber

NOWRA, April 8 AAP - Personnel from the naval base that was home to four of nine crew
who died in a helicopter crash in Indonesia have mourned the men as "irreplaceable".

The service at HMAS Albatross at Nowra came as Prime Minister John Howard said all
bona-fide partners of the defence personnel killed in last Saturday's crash, while delivering
aid to earthquake victims, would receive compensation.

He also flagged a review of the humanitarian service medal system as a political debate
raged about whether the nine Navy and RAAF personnel should receive posthumous medals.

With tears in the eyes of many, grief and shared memories marked the tributes of naval
officers and colleagues for the the four, Lieutenant Matthew Goodall, Lieutenant Paul
Kimlin, Lieutenant Jonathan King and Leading Seaman Scott Bennet, who were aboard the
Sea King as it crashed.

"As the commanding officer of the squadron, I feel the loss of four of my men deeply,"

Commander James Tobin, the commanding officer of 817 Squadron told the gathering at HMAS
Albatross at Nowra on the NSW south coast.

"I sent a team away and four of them will not be returning and I feel this very hard."

Chief of Navy Vice-Admiral Chris Ritchie told the mourners, including the entire 1,500
strong Nowra naval community, the four crewman had carried out their duties in a spirit
of service and sacrifice to help and protect others.

"They are irreplaceable and they will always be remembered by their shipmates, by the
navy, by the airforce and by the nation," Vice-Admiral Ritchie said.

Colleagues gave stirring eulogies for each, highlighting their professional work ethic,
mateship and good humour.

Prayers and tributes were offered by defence officials and colleagues as the 1,500-strong
navy community shared their grief with the wider community.

Mr Howard meantime said although he believed compensation payments were now adequate,
the government would look at the system if there were complaints following the Sea King
disaster.

"The Act - as I have been advised - if you're living in a bona-fide domestic relationship,
whether married or not, you get the entitlement, so I don't think that is an issue," Mr
Howard told Melbourne radio station 3AW.

He would also review the humanitarian service medal system, but said he would not enter
the debate and interfere with the military medal system - a system steeped in history
and tradition.

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KEYWORD: CHOPPER NIGHTLEAD (PIX AVAILABLE)

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