Cairns parades for Navy

The HMAS Cairns rowing team together after competing in the inaugural Cairns Corporate Rowing Regatta.

September’s HMAS Cairns (CMDR Peter Metcalf) Navy Week provided colour, music, sport and fun for both the ship’s company and the city’s residents.

Run parallel with the Cairns Festival, the week also coincided with the City’s premiere social event, the Cairns Amateurs Racing Carnival.

Navy Week began with the inaugural Cairns Corporate Rowing Regatta, with a team from HMAS Cairns powering home to win their heat. In the semi-final, the team, consisting of LSCD Ashe Konig, ABBM Brett Lyford, ABBM Brendan Joicey and ABHSO Sebastian Kira, led by a large margin before experiencing equipment failure. They went on to win the B Division final by a convincing distance.

Other activities for the week included a dedication ceremony by the Cairns Baptist Church, a corporate golf challenge, a Navy Week reception on HMAS Cairns’ Mess patio, cricket competition, Freedom of Entry, lawn bowls, Far North Queensland Navy Ball, school visits and a performance by the RAN Band in the ABC live recording studio.

Friday saw the start of the Amateurs Racing Carnival, drawing VIPs, dignitaries and punters from around Queensland. The RAN Band -Melbourne bugler, ABMUSN Jamie Lawson, officially launched the carnival lunch at the Cairns Botanical Gardens.

 

.