POMUSN Kirsty Jones with her new buddy Alana Webber, 10. Photo by ABPH Bill Louys

“It was probably the most rewarding thing I have ever done.”

This was the response from POMUSN Kirsty Jones after she had taken part in a “first” for the RAN earlier this month. With three sailors, LS James Hagan, Max Walker and Nick Blencowe and 16 NSW Police men and women, she had taken 20 primary school students away on a four-day camping holiday. The holiday was part of the NSW Police Citizens Youth Club’s program called Street Retreat. Its charter is to provide opportunities for children who are not so well off. The April getaway involved children aged from 8 to 11 years and attending the Plunkett Street and Darlinghurst Public Schools.

After a “meet your buddy” barbecue at the East Sydney Police Boys Club on the Thursday, the 20 sailors and police officers boarded two buses and headed to the Great Aussie Bush Camp near Hawkes Nest, just north of Newcastle.

“I was on duty the first night and I know the children didn’t get much sleep...they were too excited,” Kirsty explained.

“But didn’t they sleep well the second night,” she added.

“Over the four days they did everything from canoeing, to climbing rocks, abseiling, bushwalking, even rolling down sand hills,” she said.

The RAN involvement stems from the close working relationship the commanding officer, CMDR Brian Eagles and his XO, LCDR Carmel Barnes of HMAS Kuttabul have with the Kings Cross Police including the Local Area Commander, Supt Dave Darcy.

“A few months ago Supt Darcy mentioned the program and invited us to participate and CMDR Eagles sanctioned involvement,” LCDR Barnes said. “Word got out that volunteers from Kuttabul were sought. We were inundated. There was no shortage of volunteers,” she said.

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