And from the East...

Waving farewell to HMAS Newcastle

Sharing a quiet hug before she sails

MC RADM Raydon Gates salutes the ship

Enjoying a final moment with family before Newcastle’s deployment

By Graham Davis

HMAS Newcastle (CAPT Gerry Christian) left Sydney earlier this month bound for The Gulf with a mission to “promote the peace.”

For the next five months she will patrol waterways leading to the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr carrying out seaway security, policing and customs-like roles.

Before sailing, CAPT Christian said the capability of his ship’s boarding parties to board and check vessels would be invaluable for the operation.

“We are going to promote the peace,” he said.
More than 350 people were on the wharf at Fleet Base East on July 14, to farewell Newcastle.

As the last lines were cast off and the brow lifted, “O6” edged away from the wharf. With officers and ratings lining her decks, the ship saluted the Maritime Commander, RADM Raydon Gates.

He returned the salute as the warship gathered speed, picked up her guard of NSW Police and RAN Police escort launches and headed for the open sea.

Her Seahawk helicopter sat on the flight deck ready in a few weeks to provide top cover.

In a dockside address RADM Gates told families and the ship’s company, “the war is over—the job has a long way to go.”
“It is not as dangerous as it was ... but it is still not safe. They are as safe as they can be,” thanks to the training they have already undertaken.

To Newcastle, “You will do us proud,” he said.
RADM Gates thanked family members for the support they have given and will continue to give their loved ones while they are away.

Farewells from the West...

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