CPONPC Stevan Coll and HMAS Darwin. CPO Coll retired from active duty on August 2 after a 39-year career in the Royal Australian Navy. Photo by ABPH Gavin Hainsworth.

Early this month, one of the Royal Australian Navy's longest serving sailors was presented with a special medallion on the eve of his retirement by Chief of Navy, VADM Chris Ritchie, at HMAS Stirling.

CPONPC Stevan Coll, who walked down the gangway of HMAS Darwin for the last time while on active duty on August 2, was commended for his 39-years' service to the RAN by VADM Ritchie during an address at the Senior Sailors' mess.

CPO Coll, who will be 55 later this year, was also presented with a medallion from the Naval Investigative Service in appreciation of his valued contribution over many years.

He embarked on his naval career when he reported aboard the former HMAS Leeuwin barracks in Melbourne on a rainy Sunday afternoon on July 7, 1963.

On completion of basic training he was posted to the destroyer HMAS Duchess. He served in more than eight warships and several shore establishments, firstly as a stoker, then later as a Naval Police Coxswain.

CPO Coll lists many highlights over his long and varied career. They include taking part in the Vietnam War, becoming a Naval Police Investigator and receiving an Order of Australia in the mid 1990s.

A special highlight was returning to sea in 1991 as Coxswain aboard the frigate HMAS Torrens.

"That was something I aspired to for a long time and to get my own ship again as Coxswain was pretty good," he said.

CPO Coll's love of the sea has rubbed off on two of his children. His daughter Kirstey is a LSAWA aboard the submarine HMAS Waller, while son Sean is an ABCK in HMAS Anzac.

CPO Coll said he was "stoked" that Kirstey and Sean are carrying on the family tradition of serving in Australia's Armed Forces. His father and grandfather served in the army.

As he prepares for his retirement, the main thing he will miss about Navy life is companionship.

"There is not a day goes by when you don't have a debate or an argument with your fellow chiefs about something, and it can get heated at times. But at the end of the day there is nobody there you wouldn't call a mate," he said.

CPO Coll plans to join the Navy Reserves and keep busy in the community.

Initially, he has offered his services to the Rockingham Volunteer Sea Rescue Group and is looking at joining a fire brigade, SES unit or sea rescue group, depending on where in Western Australia he decides to 'drop the pick'.

Meanwhile, he intends to travel around Australia and visit another daughter he hasn't seen for a while in the backblocks of Queensland and assess his options for the future.

These include doing some serious fishing and writing a book about his time in the Navy for members of his family.

By Tim Slater