Introduction Previous articles describe the development from prehistory to the end of the Viking period, of a cycle whereby increasing trade necessitated larger and more efficient ships to transport merchandise and better weapons to defend or attack them, both of which facilitated more trading opportunities. However, it was not until the mid-18th century that Western… Read more »
It will be recalled in the first of this two-part article,1 that this year is the centenary of Australia’s involvement in the Boxer Rebellion. With over 550 men from NSW, Victoria and South Australia, it was the largest ever deployment by the colonial naval forces. Each contingent had it’s on medical personnel and the aim… Read more »
Introduction August 2000 is the centenary of Australia’s involvement in the Boxer Rebellion. This was only the second and last time that the colonial naval forces saw overseas service, the first being the deployment to New Zealand by the Victorian screw sloop Victoria in 1860-1. The Boxer Rebellion was the larger deployment of the two,… Read more »
Introduction A previous series of papers have analysed the following functions and roles of military health services necessary to conduct their three elemental and distinct yet intrinsically interlinked missions: providing treatment services, enabling operational capability and facilitating civilian re-integration:1 ‘Military health support’, pending a better term indicating that, whether deployed or not, all ADF commanders… Read more »
N Westphalen Introduction This article follows previous papers by the author regarding occupational and environmental medicine in the ADF.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 These articles, as well as a 2019 Productivity Commission inquiry,11 explain why high workplace illness and injury rates confirm the need to improve the management of hazards associated with ADF workplaces, with better emphasis on prevention. To… Read more »
Commander N Westphalen Introduction Previous articles describe the development from prehistory to the ancient Egyptians and Greeks, of a cycle whereby increasing trade required larger and more efficient ships to transport merchandise and better weapons to defend or attack them; both of which in turn facilitated further trading opportunities.1;2 However, it was not until the 18th… Read more »
Introduction This article is the latest of a series regarding the role of occupational and environmental medicine in the ADF.1,2,3,4,5,6 These articles, as well as a recent Productivity Commission inquiry,7 indicate that high workplace illness and injury rates confirm the need to improve the management of hazards associated with ADF workplaces, with better emphasis on… Read more »
Introduction Compared to other species, Homo sapiens have some major limitations. Examples abound of animals with better vision, hearing and olfaction; greater strength or agility, that can run, climb or swim faster; and have anatomical weapons such as claws, teeth and venom, with greater lethality. Our non-technological achievements such as the arts and literature have… Read more »
Introduction This article follows previous papers by the author, regarding occupational and environmental medicine in the Australian Defence Force (ADF).1,2,3,4,5 They assert that high rates of workplace illness and injury indicate the need to improve the management of hazards associated with ADF workplaces, with better emphasis on prevention. This assertion has been independently supported by… Read more »
Purpose More than a century after its establishment, many Royal Australian Navy (RAN) uniforms and ranks still reflect those used by the (British) Royal Navy (RN). Previous articles have described the history of Navy sailor uniforms or ‘rigs’ since 1509,1 the development of male and female health sailor uniforms since 1879,2 and the evolution of… Read more »
Commander Neil Westphalen, Royal Australian Navy 23 November 2018 Dear Sir, The July 2018 JMVH article regarding paramedics in the Australian Defence Force (ADF)1 requires further elaboration regarding its scope and conclusions. The article describes how the expanding professional profile of paramedics in the civilian health system is not being reflected in current career options… Read more »
Commander Neil Westphalen, Royal Australian Navy Reserve Purpose Mariners have been identifiable by their clothing for centuries. This reflects their ongoing need for attire that allows free movement for negotiating ladders, doorways and hatches, and performing physically demanding tasks such as hauling lines on cluttered decks and moving heavy weights. In the past, their garments… Read more »
G. C. Rose,1 N. Westphalen,2 G. D. Shanks3 Abstract: Four sailors aboard HMAS Newcastle were infected with falciparum malaria during a port visit to Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania. All four were successfully treated at sea with oral atovaquone/proguanil. Besides their apparent non-adherence with the usual antimalarial precautions, the key aspects of this outbreak include a lack… Read more »
