Westralia has a middy – or two

MIDNs Templeton and MacGregor with CO Westralia, CMDR John Alexander.

BY LEUT Paul Johanson
HMAS Westralia (CMDR John Alexander) recently welcomed two new additions to their Officer of the Day watchbill, with MIDNs Templeton and MacGregor receiving their Harbour Watch Keeping Certificates.

The two joined Westralia in early September last year for Phase II SEAAC and were subsequently recommended to continue their training on board combining the Shore and Sea time of Phase III.

MIDNs Templeton (18), from Canberra, and MacGregor (20) from Melbourne successfully gained their qualifications in early March, and with this accomplished they are preparing to sit at the Fleet Board in May, six months ahead of their class mates.

CMDR Alexander said, as he presented the Midshipmen with their Harbour Watchkeeping Certificates that, “it is quite an achievement,” for the Midshipmen to receive this qualification in a Major Fleet Unit.

If successful at the Fleet Board, they are eager to be posted to one of the West Based FFGs or Anzacs to gain their Bridge Warfare Certificate.

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