COMMODORE T.A.ROACH AM RAN Retired
Tullamore Park
Mayfield Road
via Tarago NSW 2580
AUSTRALIA
Telephone 61 48 427 175
Fax 61 48 427 175

Commodore Terence Anthony Roach [Terry] was born on the 23 January 1939 in Cairns, Queensland. He was educated by the Christian Brothers at St. Joseph's College Nudgee, in Brisbane before entering the Royal Australian Naval College at the age of thirteen in 1953. Upon graduation from the Naval College, he joined the training ship HMAS SWAN [FF 74] before further studies at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth UK. On return to Australia he served in the survey ship HMAS WARREGO [FF 73], the fleet destroyer HMAS VENDETTA [DD 08] and the Junior Recruits Training Establishment at HMAS LEEUWIN in Western Australia.

After training in 1964 at the Submarine School in HMS DOLPHIN, he served with the Royal Navy in HMS ONSLAUGHT [SS 14], TALENT [SS 37] and ASTUTE [SS 47], before returning to Australia to join HMAS OXLEY [SS 57] in 1968. Upon successfully completing the Submarine Commanding Officers Qualifying Course, he joined HMAS OTWAY [SS 59], in command in September 1970. He was commended for rescuing the survivors of the foundered ketch 'One and All' in dramatic circumstances off Middleton Reef in the Tasman Sea. After a period on the Naval Staff [1972-74] in Canberra, where he was involved in the selection of and planning for new weapons, systems and sensors he took command of HMAS OVENS [SS 70] [1975-77].

He was promoted to Commander in 1976. As the Deputy Director of the RAN Tactical School [1977-78] he taught submarine tactics and was the inaugural Director of the Submarine Warfare Systems Centre [1979-80]. During this latter period a new submarine combat system from Singer Librascope was refined, tested and trialed with new software to supplement the original. Integration with the Mk 48 torpedo was completed. After studying [1981] at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island USA he was the Executive Officer of HMAS HOBART [DDG 39] in 1982, when HOBART won the Gloucester Cup for the top ship in the Fleet.

Promoted to Captain he was the Head of the Military Staff of the Australian Defence Force Academy [1983-84] including six months as the first Commanding Officer. As the Director of Submarine Warfare [the professional head of the Submarine community] in the Department of Defence [Navy] [1984-88] he was involved in the selection of the COLLINS class submarines. In recognition of this service he was made a Member of the Order of Australia [AM] in 1988.

Subsequently, on promotion to Commodore, as the Director General of Naval Warfare [1988-90] he participated in the ANZAC Ship selection process before moving to Director General Force Development [Sea] in the Headquarters of the Australian Defence Force in 1990.

In January 1992 he took up his final posting as the Naval Attache at the Australian Embassy in Washington DC, USA. He was also accredited to Ottawa, Canada as the Australian Naval Adviser to the High Commissioner there. After forty two years of service in the Royal Australian Navy, Commodore Roach transferred to the emergency list in January 1994.

He has represented the Navy at Interservice Sports - Rugby and downhill skiing. Commodore Roach married the former Diane Syer of Geelong, Victoria in 1964. They have three children, now adults.

Since leaving the Navy they have established themselves on a 1200 acre grazing property - Tullamore Park, some 70 km to the east of Canberra between Braidwood and Tarago, where they run 2500 sheep to grow super fine wool for the export market. They are members of the Super Fine Woolgrowers' Association of Australia. In addition, Commodore Roach is a part time consultant to the Department of Defence,a number of international defence industry companies as well as carrying out studies for the Navy as a part time reservist.

As new arrivals in the Braidwood district they have both entered into community life. He is the Chairman of the Parish Council of St. Bede's Church and the Reedy Creek Landcare group. He is also a supporting member of the Manar Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade. A member of the Braidwood Sub-Branch of the Returned and Services League, Commodore Roach is also a member of the Submarine Association of Australia.

In 1995, he was elected President of the RAN Ski Club for a second term.