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ABOVE:
Candle light, crystal and silver NEOC 28 dines in the historic
hall at HMAS Creswell. Below: One of the trainee stewards
concentrating very hard. Photos by ABs Tuddenham & Richards.
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By
LEUT Tom Lewis
New Entry Naval officers of NEOC 28, RANC staff and Navy stewards
came together recently on the occasion of the Officers Training
Mess Dinner, held in the historic and culturally significant College
Dining Hall, HMAS Creswell (CAPT Andrew Cawley).
For the stewards, it was an opportunity to practise their new
skills at a large formal Navy function before 120 naval officers.
For the officer trainees, it was an opportunity to participate
in a Navy Mess Dinner complete with all the protocol, custom and
traditions they had studied during their New Entry Officer Course.
Normally steward services are carried out at the College by the
civilian contractor, Serco Sodexho.
However, stewards training in Sydney are required to complete
their task book with a formal Navy function.
For officer trainees, there is little opportunity within the New
Entry Course to interact with Navy stewards and experience full
naval protocol prior to joining the fleet. So in an initiative
by the Creswell XO, CMDR Henry Pearce, and CPO Gary Clarke from
Defence Plaza in Sydney, the two needs have been happily combined.
The new approach may well see both Training Mess Dinners held
each year within the College being able to utilise this valued
service.
The event highlighted the importance of surrounding trainee officers
with both the tradition and history of the Naval College, as well
as Naval culture and values, embodied in the role and functions
of naval stewards.
Guests of honour at the Mess Dinner were the Director General
of Naval Personnel and Training, CDRE Simon Hart, and Systems
Commander, CDRE Russ Crane.
