Navy Day delights
Crowds flock to Navy festivities

A Sea King helicopter from 817 Squadron prepares to descend before many onlookers.

ABCD Geoff Frith gets up close and personal with spectators in the dive tank during one of the many presentations.

ABCD Steve Budgeon sets the pace during the sporting challenge at Navy Day. TheAUSCDTONE team from HMAS Waterhen battled it out in various relay races against a team from the Australian Federation Guard. The divers won the money donated by ADCU, with $500 going to the Cancer Council and $500 to the Burns Unit at Westmead Children’s Hospital. Photos by Michael Weaver

By Michael Weaver

Navy Day 2003 will go down as a definite bright point, with perfect conditions and many hundreds of people enjoying the occasion in Canberra on March 17.

Held in conjunction with Canberra Day, the large crowd took full advantage of a public holiday in the ACT to witness all the Navy has to offer, along with plenty of pomp and ceremony.

Australian Navy Cadets from TS Canberra opened proceedings with Colours, while Navy fire-fighters, divers and musicians put on many eye-catching performances that filled children and adults alike with awe.

A Sea King from 817 Squadron performed a fly-over and wet-winch demonstration, creating a great spectacle on Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin.

Show bags full of Navy paraphernalia also proved a big hit, with Navy personnel taking their fair share of recruiting enquiries as well.

A traditional Beat to Quarters and Ceremonial Sunset had an additional aspect to it when the handover of command for HMAS Harman was given to CMDR Suzanne Smith, following CMDR Julie Mitchell’s two-year tenure.
CMDR Mitchell will now take long-service leave before accepting a promotion to captain and a posting with Navy Headquarters.

CMDR Smith arrives at Harman looking forward to the establishment’s 60th anniversary jubilee celebrations, with events planned during the coming months.

“I’m very much looking forward to Navy personnel past and present coming together and also being able to honour the WRANS who have served at Harman,” said CMDR Smith.

This will be her second shore command posting, having previously held the command of HMAS Penguin. CMDR Smith arrives at Harman having just completed her most recent posting in the Directorate of Navy Employment and Conditions.

More photos can be found in the Gangway section.

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