Bertram Slape OAM

I was born in Adelaide, South Australia in 1954 and was 18 years old when I enlisted into the Royal Australian Navy as a General Entry Sailor (Marine Technical Propulsion Sailor) in 1972. After basic category training, I served on HMAS Melbourne before being posted to the United Kingdom to carry out Submarine training in Aug 1976. I transferred to the Officer ranks in 1997 and served on HMAS Onslow and Otama as the Marine Engineer Officer, and HMAS Kanimbla and Manoora as the Engineering Officer. I have held a range of Engineering and Staff appointments. These include; Staff Officer – Technical, Australian Amphibious and Afloat Support Group (Fleet Command); Staff Officer – Engineering, Australian Hydrographic and Metrological Group (Fleet Command); Maintenance Manager – Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Systems Program Office (Defence Materiel Organisation); and Trial Officer – Submarines RAN Test, Evaluation and Acceptance Authority (Director General Navy Capability and Sustainment).

In 1997 I was humbled when I was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australian (Military Division) for meritorious service and an Australia Day Medallion in 1996 for professionalism and commitment to the highest possible standard. During 2004, I deployed to Banda Aceh on HMAS Kanimbla as part of the international humanitarian response to the Indian Ocean Earthquake (magnitude 9.0) which killed 250,000 people in a single day over a devastating 75 minute period. I have also seen operational service in the Middle East. I am married to Anne-marie and we have 3 adult children, 1 of which graduated in the top 5% of UWS Medical students in 2014, Dana Slape.