Officers and sailors from eight navies stood with heads bowed at the Cenotaph in Sydney last week to remember the men and women who gave their lives in the defence of right.

They prayed for peace with the RAN personnel present, pleading, "Lord God, bless our homeland, Australia. Protect and care for all our people of every background".

The prayers came during a Centenary of Federation Commemorative Service conducted by the RAN on October 3.

More than 1200 people attended the 11am service. Prominent were members of the Australian naval associations who gathered with their banners and flags.

NSW Governor Professor Marie Bashir was the principal attendee. She was escorted by the Maritime Commander RADM Geoff Smith.

Other VIPs included RADM Yang Fucheng from the PLA/Navy, Alan Cadman representing the Prime Minister, representatives from the NSW Government and Opposition, representatives from Returned Service organisations, NSW Police, Service Chiefs and the City Council.

Members of the Australian Naval Cadets along with naval cadets from several visiting nations, also attended.

RADM Smith, in the principal address, warned the sea was a very dangerous environment.

"All seafarers are possessed with a special bond," he said.

Speaking after the service RADM Smith said a special thoughts had gone out to the ship's company of HMAS ANZAC serving in the Gulf.

Of the present world crisis, RADM Smith said the RAN was ready to carry out the orders of the Australian Government.

Speaking of the presence of so many representatives of other navies at the service, the Maritime Commander said that originally they, their ships and ships' companies were coming to join the RAN for its Centenary of Federation Fleet Review.

With the review cancelled because of the RAN's operational commitments, the ships had, never-the-less, carried on to join the Australians in a goodwill visit.

Governor Bashir and the Maritime Commander laid wreaths on the memorial.

They were followed by other dignitaries and folk who stepped from the public area.

One of the last to move forward was a young schoolgirl bearing a single red rose.

She had not forgotten.