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Tassie
ties strengthened
Huon, Manoora host activities in Apple Isle
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HMAS
Huon conducted a Freedom of Entry ceremony in Huonville,
Tasmania, earlier this month as part of a three day visit
to the Huon Valley.
Photo by LEUT Daryl Peebles.
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The
month of February has seen numerous events and activities throughout
Tasmania in which ships and personnel for the Royal Australian Navy
have played a key role.
The crew of the minehunter HMAS Huon (CMDR Barry Jones) was granted
Freedom of Entry at a ceremony held in Huonville in the state’s
south on Saturday February 1.
The ceremony was one of a number of activities planned to coincide
with the three-day visit of HMAS Huon to the Huon Valley.
The first event was a special guided tour of Huon for the youth
of the Huon Valley with a free bus service provided by Council Youth
Services.
After the parade and ceremony, the ship’s company and a drum
corp from NHQ Tasmania and TS Derwent proceeded to the beautiful
Huon River where Senator Paul Calvert unveiled a sculpture commemorating
the Boer War.
The sculpture of a Boer War soldier was carved from the stump of
a tree planted in 1902 to commemorate the local men who volunteered
for service in the Boer War and to commemorate the lifting of the
siege of Ladysmith in that conflict.
Celebrations continued throughout the weekend with Huon open for
public inspection on both Saturday February 1 and Sunday February
2.
The following weekend, a long weekend in southern Tasmania, HMAS
Manoora (CMDR Martin Brooker) and HMAS Huon were in Hobart.
Manoora acted as flagship for the Royal Hobart Regatta while Huon
was again open for public inspection on the Saturday and Sunday.
On Thursday February 6, Huon was used as a platform for an ash-scattering
ceremony commemorating the life of Mr Alan Woolnough Grant.
Mr Grant served in the RAN during World War II and survived the
torpedoing of HMAS Hobart.
Mr Grant’s wishes were that his ashes be scattered at the mouth
of the River Derwent.
His widow Marie, together with colleagues from the Naval Association
and a piper took part in the ceremony.
A Sea King helicopter from 817 SQN based in Nowra, flying from HMAS
Manoora, conducted wet-winching demonstrations in Sullivans Cove
as part of the Australian Wooden Boat Festival.
The Sea King then proceeded to Devonport to participate in the Devonport
Air Show.
The Royal Australian Navy Band was also in town over the long weekend,
giving two performances including a special prelude to the traditional
Royal Hobart Regatta fireworks display.
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