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Three
RAAF FA18 Hornets dip low over HMAS Kanimbla in salute at
the end of her Dawn Service.
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By LEUT
Emily Curtis
HMAS Kanimbla has completed a unique and moving ANZAC Day ceremony
while anchored off the Al Faw Peninsula in The Gulf.
This
is the peninsula upon which HMAS Anzac bombarded Iraqi military
positions in support of allied forces in previous weeks.
Minister
for Defence, Robert Hill, CDF, GEN Peter Cosgrove, Defence Secretary
Ric Smith and RAN Task Group Commander CAPT Mark Kellam joined
the CO Kanimbla, CMDR David McCourt and his 350 ship’s company
for the ceremony.
Also
present was USN CDRE John Peterson, Commander Naval Forces in
the North Arabian Gulf who brought four of his junior officers
to experience the ANZAC spirit first hand. The American party
had transferred to Kanimbla at 0300.
At
0445 the flight deck was dimly lit, the Australian White Ensign
illuminated as sailors and soldiers fell in for the dawn service.
Kanimbla
is fortunate to have four musicians embarked as part of the aviation
department. They played throughout the ceremony, including the
Naval Hymn and Advance Australia Fair, while ABMUSN Sonya Henderson
played the haunting notes of the Last Post and Reveille on the
bugle.
Senator
Hill gave the ANZAC Day address and spoke of how the ADF has contributed
to operations in the past months.
“You
and your coalition colleagues have been mightily successful. You
have removed the immediate threats,” he said.
As
the ship’s company sang the final note of Advance Australia
Fair, three RAAF FA-18 aircraft overflew the ship at 200 feet,
making a fitting end to a very memorable ANZAC Day service.
On
completion of the ceremony the visitors joined the ship’s
company for a big Aussie breakfast in the hangar, after which
GEN Cosgrove led a game of Two-Up in the finest ANZAC Day traditions.
For
CMDR McCourt the service marked a poignant moment in his command
of Kanimbla.
“It was significant because unlike other ANZAC Day ceremonies
at home we are away on active duty in a war zone with shipmates
who have shared that experience. I don’t think today is a
day any one of the ship’s company or I will forget,”
he said.
