Cairns walks for cancer research

The things we do for charity. ABSN Adam Carter strutted his stuff on the catwalk for the “Womanless Beauty Pageant” and won for HMAS Cairns.

Some of the HMAS Cairns walkers :Back Row: LSBM Ricky Ellem, CMDR Niel Wark, CHAP Col Acton, LCDR Sharon Daniels, ABHSO Carla Doherty. Front Row: LCDR Wendy Munday and her son Brock, ABBM Jo Foley, and Mrs Anne Adams.

By LEUT Donna Ellem
For 18 hours sailors, officers and civilians from HMAS Cairns (CMDR Niel Wark) walked around Barlow Park to raise money and awareness for the Queensland Cancer Fund.

The team of 13 was one of over 150 teams who participated in this event, which is in its second year. Members of the team had to raise at least $100, and devise a theme for their tent and members. The Cairns team dressed as cleaning ladies under the motto of “Cleaning out cancer in the Navy”, but enjoyed looking at other teams who dressed up as ballerinas, naughty nurses, mobsters and nuns to name a few.

Among the many events that were organised during the 18 hours was the candlelight ceremony.

This ceremony is used to recognise anyone who had died from cancer. The team lit a candle to remember all sailors and officers who have died from this disease, and it burnt throughout the night guiding the walkers as they circled the park.

Another activity that was more light hearted was the “Womanless Beauty Pageant”.

True to form, the Navy team put in a contestant, ABSN Adam Carter. With the help of fellow female team members, Adam was made up and dressed up for the strut down the catwalk. With 24 other contestants vying for the title of Queen of the Night, the competition was stiff. But, Adam did the team and the Navy proud by swaying his hips and flashing his fish net stockinged legs, and winning the title. When asked to say a few words all the blushing beauty could say was, “Thank you to my team members and to the sponsors”, and that he now needed to sit down as one of his heels was broken and he couldn’t walk.

The night had a carnival atmosphere, which would explain the increase in participation from the previous year, and the fact that the amount raised well exceeded the target set and broke the National record. The event raised over $366,000, with the Cairns team contributing $1732 and eager to put in a team again next year. The team members were LEUT Donna Ellem (team captain), CMDR Niel Wark, LCDR Wendy Munday, CHAP Collin Acton, LCDR Sharon Daniels, POPTI Miranda Harper, LSBM Ricky Ellem, LSRO Jo Gaskell, LSDEN Katie Simpson, ABSN Adam Carter, ABHSO Carla Doherty, ABBM Jo Foley and Mrs Anne Adams.

 

 

 

 

.