Bravo Zulu Townsville

Patrol boat HMAS Townsville (LCDR Jeff Goedecke) received an unexpected ministerial bravo zulu at Thursday Island late last year.

The 250 tonne craft had just brought in an apprehended foreign fishing vessel and was about to continue her patrol when there was an unscheduled visit by the Federal Minister for Fisheries, Ian Macdonald.

On the island for a conference, he was accompanied by Henry Palaszczuk, the Queensland Minister for Primary Industries and Terry Waia, the chairman of the Torres Strait Regional Authority.

Mr Macdonald said he was keen to visit Townsville before she left so he could congratulate the ship’s company for its latest FFV apprehension and to pass on thanks on behalf of Defence Minister Senator Robert Hill for the efforts of the patrol boat fraternity during the past year.

.