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Outgoing
PCHA Simon Hubbard hands the weight, an impressive silver
anchor, to incoming PCHA Eric Burton.
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PCHAP
Eric Burton receives a blessing from the Anglican Bishop
to the Defence Force, Dr Tom Frame.
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PCHA
Eric Burton takes the weight at Duntroon.
By
Graham Davis
The
Royal Australian Navy has a new Archdeacon. Principal Chaplain
Eric Burton was collated as the new archdeacon before a congregation
of 300, including the Governor General Dr Peter Hollingworth,
Chief of Navy VADM Chris Ritchie and 40 of his peers led by the
Bishop to the Defence Force, Dr Tom Frame.
PCHAP
Burton also becomes the Director General of Navy Chaplains. The
ceremony took place in the Anzac Memorial Chapel of St Paul at
Duntroon.
As
well as prayers for PCHA Burton and his ongoing work there were
prayers for the 2000 Defence personnel now committed to Operation
Falconer in The Gulf.
In
his sermon, retired Archdeacon Emeritus John Jones, a mentor to
PCHA Burton said Eric had joined the RAN as an 18-year-old recruit
the year man walked on the moon.
He
went on to say that Eric had later left the RAN but returned in
1988 becoming a chaplain. To Eric he said, “You have served
Him faithfully.”
He
continued, “It is time to pray for courage and wisdom in
the Government and the Defence Force.” Later the Registrar,
CHAP Colin Aiken, read the certificate appointing PCHA Burton
to his new role.
Then
PCHA Burton knelt on the sanctuary steps as Bishop Frame formally
welcomed him and handed him the certificate of office. There was
loud applause as his office was confirmed.
PCHA
Burton was joined on the steps by his wife Lynda and their children.
And,
as is naval tradition, there was a handing on of the “weight.”
Outgoing Archdeacon Simon Hubbard, who is taking a rotational
posting elsewhere before his retirement, handed PCHA Burton a
mounted silver anchor and chain. Other clergy then expressed their
welcomes to PCHA Burton.
Bishop
Frame announced that Mr Mark Ramage, a former air technical sailor
and SQNLDR Helen Dinsmore had been awarded a “Reverend Dennis
Johnson Scholarship” to study for the ministry. He also announced
the Registrar, CHAP Colin Aiken had been made the Honorary Canon
of the All Saints Cathedral in Bathurst.
Service
for those in peril
Despite
just hours to organise, more than 120 sailors, soldiers, airmen
and Defence civilian workers packed the Garden Island Chapel on
March 21 to pray for the safety and safe return of the 2000 Australian
personnel now committed to Operation Falconer.
Buses
brought personnel from outstations while scores of others left
their desks on Garden Island to walk to the historic chapel.
PCHA
Brian Rayner, SCHA Richard Thompson, CHAP Chris Aulich and SCHA
Mark Wallbank, officiated.
MCAUST,
RADM Raydon Gates did the first reading from the Bible while the
executive officer of HMAS Kuttabul, LCDR Carmel Barnes read the
second lesson.
After
a welcome the service began with ABMUSN Tracey Burke leading the
congregation in the Naval Hymn.
The
pivot of the service was the prayer for those involved in Operation
Falconer lead by SCHA Wallbank.
The
Command Chaplain, PCHA Rayner delivered the homily. During the
service the traditional pennant, which declares to the enemy that
prayers are being said and that the “ship should not be attacked”,
flew from the chapel balcony.
Extra
brake inspected
When
outgoing Archdeacon of the Navy, Simon Hubbard was driving away
from R1 at the Russell Defence Headquarters in Canberra, his vehicle
was subjected to a search by security guards under the upgraded
“Safebase Charlie” rules.
When
a guard looked in the boot he noticed it contained the Archdeacon
of the Navy’s “weight”...an impressive silver anchor
and chain mounted on a highly polished board.
“Ah,
I see you have some additional braking capacity,” the witty
security officer suggested to PCHA Hubbard.
A
few hours later he handed over the weight to PCHA Eric Burton
and told the congregation of the encounter with the guard .
