HMAS Arunta slips from Diamantina Wharf FBW with visiting ship USNS Watkins on the right.

PO Douven and daughter Kaitlyn share a last hug.

Susanne Harris, Frank Holcroft, LS Vicky Harris, Jan Holcroft and Ron Harris say their goodbyes.

Darlene O’Brien, Karen Sterry, with Dillon and Keegan, wave farewell in the rain. Photos by ABPH Tony Barclay-Jeffs

By LS Rachel Irving

Monday July 14 was one of the wettest days at HMAS Stirling but it failed to dampen the spirits of family and friends who turned out to farewell HMA Ships Arunta and Warramunga.

The weather may have diminished the size of the crowd, but did nothing to diminish the smiles and waves of loved ones as the two frigates slipped in the rain, heading for the North Australia Exercise Area to participate in Ex Kakadu VI.

Kakadu, conducted annually out of Darwin, this year runs from July 21 until August 1.

The exercise will see ships, submarines and aircraft from the RAN and RAAF participate in a series of advanced mariner and warfare strategies with units from other regional countries.

This year, those countries include France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Singapore.
Observers will come from India, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines and South Korea.

Warramunga will be this year’s Task Group Commander’s command platform.

At the conclusion of Kakadu, Warramunga will head to the pacific waters of Hawaii to complete a series of firings at Barking Sands range, returning to Fleet Base West at the end of the year.

Farewells from the East....

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