For Those Of You At Museums/rsl's, Military rifles/achine guns on offer

[Brendan Cowan]

Military rifles and machine guns on offer to

RSLs and museums for preservation

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today released a Request for Offer (RFO) for up to 90 L1A1 Self Loading Rifles (SLRs) and 40 M60D Machine Guns.

The items will be open for sale to museums, returned services associations, military heritage and other historical organisations as exhibits for static display.

“These military weapons have played an important role in our history, and it is important that they are preserved,” Minister Clare said.

“The M60D Machine Guns were fitted to Iroquois helicopters during the Vietnam War.

“The SLRs were also used in Vietnam by most field units of the Australian Army.

“More recently they have been used in a ceremonial role by the Australian Federation Guard.”

A number of these items will also be retained within Australian Army History Units and the Australian War Memorial.

All items must be demilitarised as a condition of sale.

Copies of the Request for Offer are available through the AUSTENDER website tenders.gov.au with reference DMOFD/RFO183/2011 for the M60D Machine Guns and reference DMOFD/RFO184/2011 for the SLRs.

Queries relating to the RFO documents should be directed to the AUSTENDER helpdesk by phone: 1300 651 698, or email: tenders@finance.gov.au.

Queries in relation to the offer can be made to the Defence Disposals Agency at disposals@defence.gov.au or phoning on 02 9393 2914.

The Request for Offer will close on 17 January for the M60D Machine Guns and on 23 January for the SLRs.



Media contact: Korena Flanagan – 02 6277 7620

[herkman]

Important they be preserved they the government say,

So why are RSL and museums expected to find money to do what is the responsibility of the governments.

The system sucks and it is time proper proceedures were put in place or we will have nothing

Thats my two cents

Regards

Col

[Bruce Linwood]

My two cents worth!
Perhaps Museum and Military Heritage display curators could approach their local members - of whatever persuasion - and enquire as to the viability of a donation by the sitting member to his "local" organization. At least the pollie would be putting something back into his/her community, spend a little of their tax-payer funded allowance and have these items of public interest, sentimental and intrinsic value preserved.
After all, haven't we - the tax-payer - already paid for them?

Bruce Linwood
Bundaberg, VH

[Brendan Cowan]

Good points,

It seems that there is no differentiation between the general disposal process and the retention of items of historic and cultural signifigance with recognised institutions now.

I also wonder if they mean that the dimiling is a cost that is passed on to the purchaser too?

BC

[military museum]

Have just been advised by Defence Disposal that 6 Hueys are to be made available for Museums across Australia, expected DeMil is $10,000 each!!!Better start saving our penny's, also for the M2A2 105 Howitzer,$4000, SLR $600, Door Gun M60 $300, F111 $50,000(thats for the shed to put it in!!) Oh well, one Powerball

[Brendan Cowan]

Thanks for that,

Here is the associated anouncement:

Vietnam War Helicopters to get new homes

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today released the Request for Offer (RFO) for six Iroquois helicopters reserved for sale to historical organisations.

From today historical organisations will be able to apply for one of six Iroquois Helicopters for static display.

Priority will be given to historical organisations in Australia that have strong historic connections with the aircraft.

“The Iroquois helicopters - affectionately known as Hueys - served the Australian Defence Force for nearly half a century and featured prominently in the Battle of Long Tan during the Vietnam War,” Mr Clare said.

“They also assisted in many peacekeeping and humanitarian missions.

“Their final deployment was to Sumatra in Indonesia to provide assistance following the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami,” Mr Clare said.

“The helicopters flew from dawn till last light everyday, delivering food, water, medical supplies and aid workers to affected areas. They completed approximately 300 missions, evacuated close to 500 people and delivered 150 tonnes of vital supplies.”

Iroquois helicopters were withdrawn from service in December 2007.

“It is important that we preserve these helicopters to ensure their contribution to our military history is not forgotten,” Mr Clare said.

Eleven Iroquois helicopters have already been allocated to Defence bases around Australia and one to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra for static display.

Another five Iroquois helicopters will be kept by the Australian Defence Force as training aids and another two have been offered for sale to national returned service organisations.

Organisations displaying the Iroquois Helicopters will be subject to the approval of the United States Government, under their International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

The helicopters will need to be demilitarised at a cost of up to $10,000 per aircraft. The cost of this work, and other costs associated with preparing the display will be the responsibility of recipients.

RFO documentation will shortly be available for download after registering on the AUSTENDER website www.tenders.gov.au citing reference DMOFD/RFO117/2011.

The tender will close on 27 January 2012.

Queries relating to accessing the RFO documents can be brought to the attention of the AUSTENDER helpdesk on phone: 1300 651 698; International: +61 2 6215 1558, or by email: tenders@finance.gov.au

Queries relating to the sale process or the equipment available for sale can be brought to the attention of the Defence Disposals Agency by phone +61 2 9393 2914, or by email: disposals@defence.gov.au.

Imagery of the Iroquois helicopters is available at:
http://images.defence.gov.au/fotoweb/Grid.fwx?archiveId=5003&search=11120107


Media contact: Korena Flanagan – 02 6277 7620