ADF chief handled busy watch (Australia's Chief of Defence Force awarded highest honour)

The Australian ^ | 26th January 2008 | Mark Dodd

[naturalman1975]

HE shot to public prominence in 2001 with a courageous and principled stand on the "children overboard" affair, contradicting the Howard government's claims of children being thrown off a leaky refugee boat wallowing off the northwest coast.

Now Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston was characteristically gracious about his latest award, the Companion of the Order of Australia in the military division. ....

"We've had a very high level of operational tempo -- close to 20,000 individual deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, East Timor and Solomon Islands; indeed, many other places. We've conducted 35 operations in that time."

The citation commends Air Chief Marshal Houston as a consummate military professional who had led the ADF "through an unprecedented period of operational tempo to emerge with a structure and vision which will enable it to operate effectively into the future".

A Companion in the Order of Australia also caps a distinguished naval career for retired Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce, who was last August appointed Governor of South Australia.

Admiral Scarce, 55, has been recognised for his contribution to the defence industry and to the people of South Australia.

.....

Special Operations Commander Major-General Mike Hindmarsh was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia, Military Division for distinguished service to the ADF in senior command and staff appointments.

[naturalman1975]

Unfortunately, due to a decision by a socialist government, Australia no longer awards Knighthoods. This leaves the Companion of the Order of Australia as the highest honour Australia can bestow.