as posted here
2PM UPDATE: A COLD front has dumped nearly 30mm rain on Perth overnight and early today, causing minor flooding on some roads and slowing traffic.
Traffic was brought to a virtual standstill on many major arteries into the city as commuters battled heavy rain and reduced visibility.
By 2.30pm Perth had recorded 28.4mm; Perth Airport had 24mm, Swanbourne 23mm; Jandakot 34mm, Gosnells 12mm and Medina in the south had 12mm.
In the Hills, Bickley has had 30mm, and Karnett, 70km south of Perth, had 20mm.
Yesterday Geraldton in the Mid-West was deluged with 38mm.
In the South West, Windy Harbour has had 38mm; Witchliffe, on the south coast, had 23mm, Cape Leeuwin 16mm, Busselton 17mm and Harvey 15mm to 9am today.
Forecast for Thursday
Showers and the chance of a thunderstorm, easing during the afternoon. Moderate
to fresh W/SW winds.
Precis: Showers, possible thunderstorm.
City: Max 19
Mandurah: Max 18
Friday Fine. Min 5 Max 18
Saturday Fine. Min 3 Max 18
Sunday Fine. Min 3 Max 18
Monday Fine. Min 3 Max 20
Tuesday Fine. Min 4 Max 21
Wednesday Shower or two. Min 4 Max 21
as posted here
Thursday, 11 June 2009
Compass wins breathing space with sale
as posted here
5th June 2009, 7:30 WST
Cash-strapped Compass Hotel Group has sold its Gosnells Railway Markets site to an unidentified private investor in a deal which will help it pay down debt and gain breathing space from its bank.
Compass managing director Bryan Northcote said yesterday the company was happy with the $5.68 million sale price in light of property market conditions. It represented an 18.3 per cent discount to book value but a 13.5 per cent premium to valuation.
“Obviously we’d like to sell things above book, but it’s a non-core asset (and) we’re happy with the price we got over valuation in this market,” he said.
The company hopes to use the majority of the cash to pay down debt but has sought permission from financier St George Bank to retain some for working capital. It bought the Gosnells markets site as part of its acquisition of the Gosnells Hotel in 2007.
Mr Northcote said Compass was also pursuing “various options” to strengthen its balance sheet, including the sale of other non-core assets such as the Peninsula Tavern in Maylands which has been earmarked for redevelopment. Once property development markets improved, the group would market that site with a view to a sale and lease-back agreement.
Compass has struggled to match prospectus revenue and profit forecasts after buying a stable of Perth’s best-known watering holes such as the Greenwood Hotel, Carine Glades Tavern and the Albion Hotel in Cottesloe at the height of the property boom.
It revealed in February that it was in breach of its banking covenants at December 28 for the second time in six months. It has since been renegotiating with St George to avoid a further breach at its June year-end.
As at December 28, Compass had total liabilities of $122.6 million, including borrowings of $95.2 million, against total assets of $160 million and $3.1 million in cash.
The stock last traded at 4¢.
RACHEL DONKIN
as posted here
5th June 2009, 7:30 WST
Cash-strapped Compass Hotel Group has sold its Gosnells Railway Markets site to an unidentified private investor in a deal which will help it pay down debt and gain breathing space from its bank.
Compass managing director Bryan Northcote said yesterday the company was happy with the $5.68 million sale price in light of property market conditions. It represented an 18.3 per cent discount to book value but a 13.5 per cent premium to valuation.
“Obviously we’d like to sell things above book, but it’s a non-core asset (and) we’re happy with the price we got over valuation in this market,” he said.
The company hopes to use the majority of the cash to pay down debt but has sought permission from financier St George Bank to retain some for working capital. It bought the Gosnells markets site as part of its acquisition of the Gosnells Hotel in 2007.
Mr Northcote said Compass was also pursuing “various options” to strengthen its balance sheet, including the sale of other non-core assets such as the Peninsula Tavern in Maylands which has been earmarked for redevelopment. Once property development markets improved, the group would market that site with a view to a sale and lease-back agreement.
Compass has struggled to match prospectus revenue and profit forecasts after buying a stable of Perth’s best-known watering holes such as the Greenwood Hotel, Carine Glades Tavern and the Albion Hotel in Cottesloe at the height of the property boom.
It revealed in February that it was in breach of its banking covenants at December 28 for the second time in six months. It has since been renegotiating with St George to avoid a further breach at its June year-end.
As at December 28, Compass had total liabilities of $122.6 million, including borrowings of $95.2 million, against total assets of $160 million and $3.1 million in cash.
The stock last traded at 4¢.
RACHEL DONKIN
as posted here
Four men charged over drug lab
as posted here
Police in Perth say four men have been charged over the discovery of a hydroponic cannabis set up and a drug laboratory.
It is alleged police found more than 90 cannabis plants during a search of a property in Margaret Street, Gosnells yesterday morning.
A later search of a house in Fremantle Road uncovered a methamphetamine laboratory, a rifle, ammunition and a stolen four-wheel drive.
The men have been charged with drug offences and are due to face the Armadale Magistrates Court this week
as posted here
Police in Perth say four men have been charged over the discovery of a hydroponic cannabis set up and a drug laboratory.
It is alleged police found more than 90 cannabis plants during a search of a property in Margaret Street, Gosnells yesterday morning.
A later search of a house in Fremantle Road uncovered a methamphetamine laboratory, a rifle, ammunition and a stolen four-wheel drive.
The men have been charged with drug offences and are due to face the Armadale Magistrates Court this week
as posted here
Men charged over Gosnells drug labs
as posted here
Four men will face court this week after a police raid on an alleged clandestine drug laboratory and hydroponic drugs operation at Gosnells.
Police searched a Margaret Street home yesterday morning and allegedly found a shed that had been converted into a number of rooms containing a hydroponic setup growing 90 cannabis plants.
Later in the afternoon police searched a nearby house in Fremantle Road and allegedly found another drug laboratory at the rear of the premises and a large amount of chemicals associated with the manufacture of methylamphetamine.
Police also seized a rifle and ammunition, a quantity of methyl amphetamine and cannabis and are investigating the discovery of a stolen Ford Explorer allegedly found in the backyard.
Three Gosnells men are expected to appear before the Armadale Magistrate’s Court today and tomorrow charged with offences including cultivating cannabis with intent to sell or supply and possessing cannabis.
A Kenwick man, 28, has been charged with breach of bail and will appear before the Armadale Magistrate’s Court today.
PERTH
LISA CALAUTTI
as posted here
Four men will face court this week after a police raid on an alleged clandestine drug laboratory and hydroponic drugs operation at Gosnells.
Police searched a Margaret Street home yesterday morning and allegedly found a shed that had been converted into a number of rooms containing a hydroponic setup growing 90 cannabis plants.
Later in the afternoon police searched a nearby house in Fremantle Road and allegedly found another drug laboratory at the rear of the premises and a large amount of chemicals associated with the manufacture of methylamphetamine.
Police also seized a rifle and ammunition, a quantity of methyl amphetamine and cannabis and are investigating the discovery of a stolen Ford Explorer allegedly found in the backyard.
Three Gosnells men are expected to appear before the Armadale Magistrate’s Court today and tomorrow charged with offences including cultivating cannabis with intent to sell or supply and possessing cannabis.
A Kenwick man, 28, has been charged with breach of bail and will appear before the Armadale Magistrate’s Court today.
PERTH
LISA CALAUTTI
as posted here
Appeal judge questions sentence of baby killer
as posted here
The jail term handed to the 25-year-old drink driver who killed 11-month baby Grace Moorby after crashing into her front yard seemed low considering the "colossal" amount of alcohol he drank before the incident, an appeal judge said today.
Appeal Judge Geoffrey Miller’s comment came as the State appealed against the three years and eight months sentence handed to Benjamin Alan Butler last November for the tragic death of Grace Moorsby and the injuring of her mother Tania Moorby when he careered into their Thornlie yard on April 18, 2007 with a blood alcohol reading of 0.166.
During Butler’s sentencing, the District Court was told he had felt "seedy and hung over” when he decided to drive to local shops shortly before 1pm after a night of drinking more than a dozen pre-mixed bourbon and scotch drinks.
During the trip, he accelerated heavily in his Holden Monaro to overtake two cars. His speeding car clipped one of the vehicles which was turning right, mounted a kerb and became airborne before landing in the front yard of the Moorbys’ home, where Mrs Moorby was wheeling Grace in a pram after returning from a shopping trip.
Director of Public Prosecution’s director of legal services Ken Bates argued yesterday that the jail term handed to Butler had been at the lower end of the scale despite the sentencing judge, Judge Richard Keen, ruling the crime had been towards the higher end of seriousness.
Mr Bates said Butler had chosen to drive despite having a blood-alcohol three times the legal limit.
Butler received 34 months jail for driving while incapable and occasioning death, plus ten months for causing bodily harm to Mrs Moorby by breaking her ribs in the collision.
Yesterday, Justice Miller said the sentence seemed at the lower end of the scale given how much alcohol Butler had consumed and questioned whether a jail term of two years and ten months for baby Grace’s death had been enough.
"His level of alcohol was so colossal that it seems to me... that the sentences are very much at the lower end," he said.
Justice Christine Wheeler, who pointed out the crime had not involved other aspects of bad driving such as a police chase or persistent speeding, suggested "a pattern of inappropriate sentencing" was possibly to blame because it may have created the accepted sentencing range in which Butler’s jail term fell.
Justice Wheeler also queried whether Butler had been aware of how incapable he was of driving when he got behind the wheel, with Justice Christopher Pullin suggesting the crime would have been worse if Butler had got into the car straight after a drinking session.
But Justice Geoffrey Miller said Butler would have been aware he was still intoxicated.
"He must have known that he was affected by alcohol," he said.
The three judges reserved their decision yesterday.
PERTH
CHRISTIANA JONES
as posted here
The jail term handed to the 25-year-old drink driver who killed 11-month baby Grace Moorby after crashing into her front yard seemed low considering the "colossal" amount of alcohol he drank before the incident, an appeal judge said today.
Appeal Judge Geoffrey Miller’s comment came as the State appealed against the three years and eight months sentence handed to Benjamin Alan Butler last November for the tragic death of Grace Moorsby and the injuring of her mother Tania Moorby when he careered into their Thornlie yard on April 18, 2007 with a blood alcohol reading of 0.166.
During Butler’s sentencing, the District Court was told he had felt "seedy and hung over” when he decided to drive to local shops shortly before 1pm after a night of drinking more than a dozen pre-mixed bourbon and scotch drinks.
During the trip, he accelerated heavily in his Holden Monaro to overtake two cars. His speeding car clipped one of the vehicles which was turning right, mounted a kerb and became airborne before landing in the front yard of the Moorbys’ home, where Mrs Moorby was wheeling Grace in a pram after returning from a shopping trip.
Director of Public Prosecution’s director of legal services Ken Bates argued yesterday that the jail term handed to Butler had been at the lower end of the scale despite the sentencing judge, Judge Richard Keen, ruling the crime had been towards the higher end of seriousness.
Mr Bates said Butler had chosen to drive despite having a blood-alcohol three times the legal limit.
Butler received 34 months jail for driving while incapable and occasioning death, plus ten months for causing bodily harm to Mrs Moorby by breaking her ribs in the collision.
Yesterday, Justice Miller said the sentence seemed at the lower end of the scale given how much alcohol Butler had consumed and questioned whether a jail term of two years and ten months for baby Grace’s death had been enough.
"His level of alcohol was so colossal that it seems to me... that the sentences are very much at the lower end," he said.
Justice Christine Wheeler, who pointed out the crime had not involved other aspects of bad driving such as a police chase or persistent speeding, suggested "a pattern of inappropriate sentencing" was possibly to blame because it may have created the accepted sentencing range in which Butler’s jail term fell.
Justice Wheeler also queried whether Butler had been aware of how incapable he was of driving when he got behind the wheel, with Justice Christopher Pullin suggesting the crime would have been worse if Butler had got into the car straight after a drinking session.
But Justice Geoffrey Miller said Butler would have been aware he was still intoxicated.
"He must have known that he was affected by alcohol," he said.
The three judges reserved their decision yesterday.
PERTH
CHRISTIANA JONES
as posted here
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Man charged over shopping centre assault
as posted here
An 81-year-old Perth woman has spoken of her shock at being assaulted in a shopping centre car park by a man who accused her of scratching his car.
The woman, who wants to be known as Betty, says she was in Maddington on Saturday morning helping her daughter unload shopping from a trolley when she heard a man shouting at her.
She says the man told her the trolley had hit his car.
"Without any other words, just turned and put his fist up and let me have it in the chest," she said.
"I must have fallen on my elbow mostly because that's a bruise and you know I've taken skin off and also my ankle's got skin off.
"And he's still ranting at me even though he's standing over the top of me."
A 40 year old Gosnells man has been charged with Assault Occasioning Bodily Harm and is due to appear in court on Friday.
as posted here
An 81-year-old Perth woman has spoken of her shock at being assaulted in a shopping centre car park by a man who accused her of scratching his car.
The woman, who wants to be known as Betty, says she was in Maddington on Saturday morning helping her daughter unload shopping from a trolley when she heard a man shouting at her.
She says the man told her the trolley had hit his car.
"Without any other words, just turned and put his fist up and let me have it in the chest," she said.
"I must have fallen on my elbow mostly because that's a bruise and you know I've taken skin off and also my ankle's got skin off.
"And he's still ranting at me even though he's standing over the top of me."
A 40 year old Gosnells man has been charged with Assault Occasioning Bodily Harm and is due to appear in court on Friday.
as posted here
DPP appeals Baby Grace Moorby death driver sentence
as posted here
JAIL terms for drivers who kill may be low because of a "pattern of inappropriate sentences", a WA judge said today.
At an appeal hearing over the sentence given to drunk driver Benjamin Alan Butler, who killed 11-month-old girl Grace Moorby, Justice Christine Wheeler said the lowest jail sentence in similar cases might be too low.
The Director of Public Prosecutions Robert Cock has appealed the 44-month jail term handed to Butler, 25, last November after he pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
Butler had a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit when the Holden Monaro he was driving smashed into the Moorbys' Thornlie house about 1pm on April 18 last year.
Butler attempted to pass two cars on Berehaven Ave at high speed but clipped one and crashed into the house, striking Mrs Moorby and baby Grace as she was being wheeled in a pram outside.
Grace, who was found under bricks, died at the scene. Police recorded a blood alcohol level for Butler of 0.166.
District Court judge Richard Keen sentenced him to two years 10 months jail for causing Grace's death and an extra 10 months for the injuries to Mrs Moorby.
Today, the court heard jail terms for dangerous driving causing death ranged from two to nearly seven years.
Justice Wheeler, who was one of the three sitting appeal judges, said the range might be low as a ``result of a pattern of inappropriate sentences over a period of time’’.
But she said Butler’s crimes would have been considered worse if he had driven and killed Grace on the night of his extensive drinking and not the day later.
DPP prosecutor Ken Bates today argued that the sentence was manifestly inadequate because while Judge Keen said the crimes were at the higher end of the scale, the sentence was at the lower end.
Butler’s lawyer John Prior said the term should stand as the judge took into account the time in jail was in line with the sentencing range and his client’s youth, his previous good character and remorse.
``There was genuine remorse, real remorse, separate from his plea of guilty,’’ Mr Prior said.
The judges reserved their decision on the appeal.
as posted here
Govt defends dumping solar rebate
as posted here
Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has defended his decision to pull the Government's $8,000 solar panel rebate.
The Government surprised retailers and customers yesterday by announcing the rebate would end at midnight last night, three weeks earlier than expected.
Some retailers extended their opening hours last night to allow customers time to get the necessary paperwork through.
Mr Garrett says the industry was given plenty of warning that the rebate system would end.
"The industry has known not only from the time that there would be a transition to solar credits," he said.
"But also since that period of time that the Government would want to see a transition to solar credits and that the rebate was running at levels which were very, very clearly providing a significant amount of work for the industry which it still hadn't undertaken."
Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt says the Coalition has been supportive of moves to change the incentive scheme for renewable energy products.
But he says the surprise move to dump the solar panel rebate makes it hard to have confidence in the Government's plans.
"We are very sympathetic to the goal of a stronger renewable energy target," he said.
"We'd like to see the legislation, we want to be constructive.
"We do, of course, have concerns that Mr Garrettt, overnight, has broken the COAG announcement, broken their Budget promise and thrown the solar sector into chaos."
Greens Senator Christine Milne has criticised the Government for dumping the rebate scheme before changes to its renewable energy incentive scheme are approved.
"We certainly support a renewable energy target but we'd like to see one much higher than the Government is aiming for," she said.
"So, it's arrogant in the extreme for the Government to go ahead, change the system overnight before it has even been debated in the Senate where changes may well be made."
as posted here
Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has defended his decision to pull the Government's $8,000 solar panel rebate.
The Government surprised retailers and customers yesterday by announcing the rebate would end at midnight last night, three weeks earlier than expected.
Some retailers extended their opening hours last night to allow customers time to get the necessary paperwork through.
Mr Garrett says the industry was given plenty of warning that the rebate system would end.
"The industry has known not only from the time that there would be a transition to solar credits," he said.
"But also since that period of time that the Government would want to see a transition to solar credits and that the rebate was running at levels which were very, very clearly providing a significant amount of work for the industry which it still hadn't undertaken."
Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt says the Coalition has been supportive of moves to change the incentive scheme for renewable energy products.
But he says the surprise move to dump the solar panel rebate makes it hard to have confidence in the Government's plans.
"We are very sympathetic to the goal of a stronger renewable energy target," he said.
"We'd like to see the legislation, we want to be constructive.
"We do, of course, have concerns that Mr Garrettt, overnight, has broken the COAG announcement, broken their Budget promise and thrown the solar sector into chaos."
Greens Senator Christine Milne has criticised the Government for dumping the rebate scheme before changes to its renewable energy incentive scheme are approved.
"We certainly support a renewable energy target but we'd like to see one much higher than the Government is aiming for," she said.
"So, it's arrogant in the extreme for the Government to go ahead, change the system overnight before it has even been debated in the Senate where changes may well be made."
as posted here
Man charged after woman, 81, attacked in carpark
as posted here
POLICE have charged a man after an assault on an elderly woman in the carpark of a Maddington shopping centre on Saturday.
Gosnells police were conducting routine foot patrols of the shopping centre about 11.30am when a member of the public told them an assault had just taken place in the carpark.
When officers arrived at the scene they saw a number of people shouting at a man being taken away by security staff, and an elderly woman lying on the ground receiving first aid from members of the public.
It will be alleged the man assaulted the 81-year-old woman after her shopping trolley touched the front of his vehicle.
After being struck by the man, it is believed the woman fell backwards to the ground and sustained lacerations.
She appeared to be in shock and was having difficulty breathing, and was taken to Armadale Hospital by St John Ambulance for treatment to her injuries.
The offender was removed from the immediate vicinity for his own protection.
A 40-year -ld man from Gosnells has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and will appear in the Armadale Magistrates Court on Friday.
as posted here
POLICE have charged a man after an assault on an elderly woman in the carpark of a Maddington shopping centre on Saturday.
Gosnells police were conducting routine foot patrols of the shopping centre about 11.30am when a member of the public told them an assault had just taken place in the carpark.
When officers arrived at the scene they saw a number of people shouting at a man being taken away by security staff, and an elderly woman lying on the ground receiving first aid from members of the public.
It will be alleged the man assaulted the 81-year-old woman after her shopping trolley touched the front of his vehicle.
After being struck by the man, it is believed the woman fell backwards to the ground and sustained lacerations.
She appeared to be in shock and was having difficulty breathing, and was taken to Armadale Hospital by St John Ambulance for treatment to her injuries.
The offender was removed from the immediate vicinity for his own protection.
A 40-year -ld man from Gosnells has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and will appear in the Armadale Magistrates Court on Friday.
as posted here
Man admits raping woman on two separate occasions
as posted here
A man has pleaded guilty in court to sexually assaulting a woman in Perth on two separate occasions.
In the District Court in Perth Lawrence Henry Quartermaine admitted six charges including sexual penetration without consent and aggravated burglary.
He broke into the woman's home in Maddington in March 2003 and raped her. He repeated the offence three weeks later.
Quartermaine originally pleaded not guilty to the offences but changed his pleas today after his victim testified in court yesterday.
He is due to be sentenced in August.
as posted here
A man has pleaded guilty in court to sexually assaulting a woman in Perth on two separate occasions.
In the District Court in Perth Lawrence Henry Quartermaine admitted six charges including sexual penetration without consent and aggravated burglary.
He broke into the woman's home in Maddington in March 2003 and raped her. He repeated the offence three weeks later.
Quartermaine originally pleaded not guilty to the offences but changed his pleas today after his victim testified in court yesterday.
He is due to be sentenced in August.
as posted here
Man charged with sex assault
as posted here
A 54-year-old Gosnells man has been charged with sexually assaulting a 39-year-old man.
Police allege Garry Michael Narkle committed the assaults in January this year in the Perth suburb of Queens Park.
He has been charged with three counts of sexual penetration without consent and two of indecent assault.
He is due to appear in court tomorrow.
as posted here
A 54-year-old Gosnells man has been charged with sexually assaulting a 39-year-old man.
Police allege Garry Michael Narkle committed the assaults in January this year in the Perth suburb of Queens Park.
He has been charged with three counts of sexual penetration without consent and two of indecent assault.
He is due to appear in court tomorrow.
as posted here
Narkle charged over sex attack
as posted here
9th June 2009, 15:45 WST
Garry Michael Narkle has been charged with sexually assaulting a 39-year-old man after an attack earlier this year.
Sex Crime Division officers have charged Narkle, 54, of Gosnells, in relation to an alleged attack at a Queens Park home on January 24.
Narkle was arrested today and charged with three counts of sexual penetration without consent and two counts of indecent assault.
He is due to appear in Perth Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.
PERTH
STAFF REPORTERS
as posted here
9th June 2009, 15:45 WST
Garry Michael Narkle has been charged with sexually assaulting a 39-year-old man after an attack earlier this year.
Sex Crime Division officers have charged Narkle, 54, of Gosnells, in relation to an alleged attack at a Queens Park home on January 24.
Narkle was arrested today and charged with three counts of sexual penetration without consent and two counts of indecent assault.
He is due to appear in Perth Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.
PERTH
STAFF REPORTERS
as posted here
Monday, 8 June 2009
Submariners recall close encounters of Soviet kind
as posted here
HMAS Ovens powered slowly through the frigid depths of the Tasman Sea, the crew of the 90mlong Oberon-class submarine manning their posts in silence.
Their enemy, a Soviet submarine sent to spy on the Australian coastline, lurked somewhere nearby.
It was 1971, the height of the Cold War, and the Ovens was busy playing its part in the cloak-and-dagger battle for intelligence supremacy raging between the US and the Soviet Union.
Gosnells resident Fred Lawrence, 64, who was the petty officer in charge of sonar on the Ovens at the time, said their mission had been to stay undetected and keep track of the enemy sub’s movements.
“We caught up with her somewhere down near Tasmania,” he said. “It was an old Russian submarine. She’d come down out of the Pacific, right down our east coast and came as far west as Albany before she turned around and went back.”
Yesterday, Mr Lawrence and nine other original members of the Ovens’ 60-strong crew gathered at the WA Maritime Museum, where the submarine now rests on display, to commemorate 40 years since the vessel was launched.
But despite the passage of time, the old sailors remained reluctant to give away too much detail about the missions they ran during the Cold War, much of which has never been officially acknowledged by the Australian Government.
Mt Hawthorn resident Lloyd Blake, who was a petty officer on the Ovens, said most Australians were oblivious to the secret contribution Australian Cold War submariners had made beneath the waves.
Mr Blake said that during the 60s, Australian sailors training on British submarines had been involved in secret sea battles with Russian vessels on “mystery tours” in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans.
By 1969, Australian Oberon-class subs, such as the Ovens, were leading the espionage war against the Soviets in the southern hemisphere.
Crews would leave port in Australia with no knowledge of their mission and remain submerged for up to six weeks.
“Spooks and language specialists” were passengers, Mr Blake said. “We were able to get within 5m of a big (enemy) ship, photograph her and record her sound signature and slip away totally undetected,” he said.
JOSEPH CATANZARO
as posted here
HMAS Ovens powered slowly through the frigid depths of the Tasman Sea, the crew of the 90mlong Oberon-class submarine manning their posts in silence.
Their enemy, a Soviet submarine sent to spy on the Australian coastline, lurked somewhere nearby.
It was 1971, the height of the Cold War, and the Ovens was busy playing its part in the cloak-and-dagger battle for intelligence supremacy raging between the US and the Soviet Union.
Gosnells resident Fred Lawrence, 64, who was the petty officer in charge of sonar on the Ovens at the time, said their mission had been to stay undetected and keep track of the enemy sub’s movements.
“We caught up with her somewhere down near Tasmania,” he said. “It was an old Russian submarine. She’d come down out of the Pacific, right down our east coast and came as far west as Albany before she turned around and went back.”
Yesterday, Mr Lawrence and nine other original members of the Ovens’ 60-strong crew gathered at the WA Maritime Museum, where the submarine now rests on display, to commemorate 40 years since the vessel was launched.
But despite the passage of time, the old sailors remained reluctant to give away too much detail about the missions they ran during the Cold War, much of which has never been officially acknowledged by the Australian Government.
Mt Hawthorn resident Lloyd Blake, who was a petty officer on the Ovens, said most Australians were oblivious to the secret contribution Australian Cold War submariners had made beneath the waves.
Mr Blake said that during the 60s, Australian sailors training on British submarines had been involved in secret sea battles with Russian vessels on “mystery tours” in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans.
By 1969, Australian Oberon-class subs, such as the Ovens, were leading the espionage war against the Soviets in the southern hemisphere.
Crews would leave port in Australia with no knowledge of their mission and remain submerged for up to six weeks.
“Spooks and language specialists” were passengers, Mr Blake said. “We were able to get within 5m of a big (enemy) ship, photograph her and record her sound signature and slip away totally undetected,” he said.
JOSEPH CATANZARO
as posted here
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