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Medal
marks Bool’s 500,000 miles
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HMAS
Warrnambool (in the lead) gets in some valuable practise
towing her sister HMAS Fremantle.
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The
Darwin-based HMAS Warrnambool (LCDR Mark Sorby) is the second of
the 14 patrol boats of her class currently in service (and the first
to be built in Australia).
Warrnambool was launched on Saturday 25 October 1980 and entered
service in the RAN on 14 March 1981. After commissioning, Warrnambool
was initially based in Cairns where she was tasked extensively for
fisheries patrolling throughout the Torres strait and the Barrier
Reef and South to Bass Strait.
Her first apprehension occurred on 17 August 1981 when an illegal
Taiwanese trawler was boarded off Cairns. Following the successful
apprehension of the trawler, Warrnambool proceeded on her maiden
overseas visit a month long South West Pacific tour.
Twenty-two years later, Warrnambool is still proudly serving, based
now in the tropical north in Darwin following a long period home-based
in Sydney.
Warrnambool’s role is now focused to the north of Australia
where together with her sister ships is heavily involved in border
patrol operations. With more than 490,000 nautical miles on the
clock, the current crew of Warrnambool is expecting to steam the
milestone of half a million miles around June this year.
To appropriately commemorate this significant milestone, a commemorative
medallion will be produced. Warrnambool’s ship’s company
extends an invitation to all those interested in obtaining a medallion,
particularly those past and present Warrnambool Warriors over her
22 years of distinguished service, to register your names and be
a part of this special occasion.
The Commemorative Medal is to be struck by the Royal Australian
Mint in Canberra and is expected to be constructed of aluminium
bronze with a fine silver plating made to a proof finish. It will
be 40mm in diameter and delivered in a presentation case. Total
cost of each medallion should be $80, and orders may be placed by
phoning LEUT Daniel Hughes on (08) 89355267.
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