Funworks, pasta, pizza make great family day at GI

They exchanged telephone numbers, talked of common problems experienced because a spouse was deployed and promised to keep in touch.

These were the family members of ADF personnel now serving far from Australia. Defence Community Organisation Sydney/ North brought them together at Garden Island on Sunday, May 18 for a family gathering. More than 100 adults and children attended. It was one of the largest DCO organised family gatherings ever. Present were loved ones with members in HMA Ships Sydney, Kanimbla, Manoora, Newcastle, Gascoyne and Norman and with the Middle East Logistics Unit.

Guest of honour was “kindred spirit”...Mrs Alison Gates, wife of the Maritime Commander, RADM Raydon Gates. A Navy wife for 30 years, she told the gathering of the times spent alone at home. “Been there..done that,” she explained, observing that Defence families have a “unique way of life. Outsiders have no idea of what it’s like.”

Mrs Gates spoke of the pride she had experienced two days earlier when, with her husband, she had gone to Melbourne to meet the ship’s company of NUSHIP Parramatta. She also said seeing NUSHIP Toowoomba launched and sliding into the water was one of the most exciting days of her life.
Photo by ABPH Bill Louys

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