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Veterans of a former Yarra aboard for commissioning The ship’s company has ‘manned ship’ and now wait for the CO to be piped aboard. Piping the side and manning ship are ceremonial that come down the ages from the days of sail. When the ship’s company man the rails it means her guns are unattended and she is vulnerable.   Geoff Bromilow and Reg Manthey, survivors from Yarra II wait to break the commissioning pennant on Yarra IV.   Sylvia Merson wife of CDRE ‘Red’ Merson is Yarra’s guest of honour. Mrs Merson launched Yarra and today is her commissioning lady. She is escorted to her seat by RADM Raydon Gates. Carolyn Vile, Mrs Merson’s daughter, deputed for her, inspecting the parade and proposing the ship’s health.   The Minister Mrs Vale presents the CO of Yarra CMDR Alex Hawes with the engraved decanter, her gift to the ship.   The Commissioning ceremony begins at HMAS Waterhen.   Mrs Carolyn Vile inspects the parade on behalf of her mother Mrs Merson.   The ship’s emblem, a kookaburra with XO, LCDR Max Muller, CO CMDR Alex Hawes, President of the Yarra Association Mr Frank Glover and the Minister Mrs Vale with Mr Bob Vale her husband. By Graham Davis All photos by ABPH Kel Hockey More than 600 people watched two World War II veterans help commission HMAS Yarra in Sydney earlier this month. Former Leading Seaman Signalman Geoff Bromilow and Petty Officer Quartermaster Reg Manthey proudly broke the pennant which for the life of the ship will fly at her masthead. The veterans were even more chuffed when Yarra’s commanding officer, CMDR Alex Hawes applauded them with “thank you ‘sigs”, thank you ‘guns’”. Geoff and Reg are the last of 14 sailors who survived the sinking of HMAS Yarra II in the Battle of the Sunda Strait in 1942, when 34 ratings leapt into the sea before the valiant sloop, outgunned by the Japanese, disappeared. Fourteen survived in lifeboats before being rescued five days later. The commissioning of the 720-tonne ‘plastic fantastic’ brought to an end the $1 billion contract ADI Limited had entered into to use its Newcastle facility to built six of the Italian designed coastal minehunters. Because it was the final ship, dozens of civilians who had worked on the project attended the ceremony swelling the audience to more than 600. The Maritime Commander, RADM Raydon Gates and Mrs Gates hosted the function, conducted in brilliant sunshine on the wharf and followed by a reception in the messes. Joining RADM Gates were the Chief of Navy, VADM Chris Ritchie and Mrs Ritchie, VCDF, VADM Russ Shalders and guest of honour and Yarra’s launching and commissioning lady, Mrs Sylvia Merson. Sylvia is the wife of CDRE ‘Red’ Merson who was the first commanding officer of Yarra III. She watched proudly from her VIP seat while her daughter Mrs Carolyn Vile deputised for her by carrying out an inspection of the ship’s company and addressing the crowd. “This is a highly significant occasion and on behalf of my mother I wish the best to all who serve in her,” Mrs Vile said. A few minutes earlier the call had come to “man ship” and the ship’s company marched proudly from the wharf to positions along her rails. There was loud applause as the sailors continued the centuries-old ‘cheer ship’ tradition. In his formal address their commanding officer, CMDR Hawes told the gathering: “To your front you see a warship attended by her ship’s company — together they are the Yarra. “She is a coastal minehunter, a third generation proven platform, with an Italian pedigree, Australian-built and at the cutting edge of technology. “She rounds out the last of a force of six, whom, along with the Australian clearance diving teams, form the most potent countermeasures force in the world today, bar none. “This ship will serve her nation for 25 years before the naval surveyors close in to assess her overall shape and condition. “She is a good ship, well made and will in all likelihood serve for a further ten years thereafter. “My youngest sailor, Seaman Masson (SMNMW Phillip Masson, 18 from Toronto, Newcastle), will be then a sprightly 54-year-old and approaching the mandatory retirement age. “He will be able to reflect on a long and satisfying career in the service of his country, muse on commands that he has had, wharf sides that he abused, hearts that he has broken and so forth.” CMDR Hawes then provided facts for the future of the ship. “Over the years she will be commanded by a succession of 20 captains,” he said. “Forty cooks will prepare her meals, 120 divers will serve her, 200 mine warfare ratings, almost 300 stokers — fully 1000 sailors will serve this mighty little ship. “She is a warship and she will fight and win at sea. “She will detect and neutralise the threat and she will bring this precious cargo, the sons and daughters of Australia, home safe from the sea. “This ship is nothing without this fighting 40. “These that you see before you are my 40. “I consider myself privileged beyond words to serve with them and to lead them. “I count them as amongst the very best men and women that this great nation has to offer,” CMDR Hawes declared. Yarra now begins an extensive period of work-ups leading to her operational readiness evaluation (ORE)...and as many remarked at her commissioning... “God go with her and all who sail in her”. Commissioning a bitter sweet day for ADI Commissioning of HMAS Yarra 4 on March 1 was a “bitter-sweet day” for Mr Peter Simmons. He was the project manager for ADI Limited for the construction of five of the six Huon class minehunters built in Newcastle. Addressing the large crowd attending the reception, which followed the formal ceremony, he said, “This is a bitter sweet day. “There were six ships in the contract. The culmination of the contract is this day. “Unfortunately we don’t have another ship to build,” he said. His remarks came after it was announced ADI Limited has presented the ship with a non-magnetic barbecue, one of several gifts presented to the new warship. Mr Chris Jenkins, the managing director of Thales Underwater Systems, presented a magnificently-boxed 1890 Admiralty sextant while Mr Frank Glover of the Yarra Association presented a boxed plate upon which were painted four kookaburras, each bird a symbol of the four Yarra’s which have served with the RAN. CPO Jason Dodd [of the Senior Sailors’ mess] presented the ship with a boxed kookaburra perched on Huon pine while Mr Tom Clayton told of a $1000 donation to the ship’s welfare fund from the Muswellbrook RSL. He also presented a “Lest We Forget” wreath to remember those who served in previous Yarra’s in particular his cousin. In addition all ship’s company members received an engraved commemorative glass plate.