Gascoyne enters her zone

ABOVE: In the bright light of an Exmouth day HMAS Gascoyne exercises her freedom of entry.

LCDR Jay Bannister with Carnarvon's Shire President Mrs Del Mills and Shire Clerk Mr Clinton Strugnall..

HMAS Gascoyne (LCDR Jay Bannister) is currently enjoying an around Australia deployment having departed HMAS Waterhen on August 26.

In her travels she has sailed through the Great Barrier Reef to Cairns, encountered the heat of Darwin, purchased pearls in Broome, marched in Exmouth, shopped in Fremantle, relaxed in Albany and participated in Navy Week South Australia.

Gascoyne spent three weeks in the northwest waters of Australia conducting extensive route survey operations in the approaches to Dampier, a major shipping port. This is the first time an MHC has undertaken significant survey operations and proved to be a useful learning experience for the mine warfare capability of the ship.

Exmouth was a highlight for the crew of Gascoyne as she exercised her right to the Freedom of Entry. The boat was adopted by the Gascoyne zone, comprising the shires of Carnarvon, Exmouth, Shark Bay and Upper Gascoyne of Western Australia.

Led by the Western Australia Navy Band, the officers and ship’s company of Gascoyne marched proudly in full brilliance through the streets of Exmouth. A flight of RAAF PC9s executed a fly past over the town.

Gascoyne is currently in company with HMAS Diamantina (CMDR Michael Rothwell) for the remainder of her voyage.

• By LCDR Jay Bannister
  

 

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