After 34 yrs Gary pays off

MCAUST RADM Raydon Gates presents LCDR Gary Prince with his parting gift.

By LEUT Brad Dobinson

Maritime Commander, RADM Raydon Gates recently presented LCDR Gary Prince with a parting gift.

Gary joined the Navy in 1969 as a Junior Recruit. He transferred to the Apprentice (Shipwright) scheme in 1970 and completed his apprenticeship aboard HMAS Brisbane.

By 1975 he had been promoted to Petty Officer and posted to (the old HMAS) Leeuwin’s Refit Unit as the Maintenance Schedular and Refit Controller for HMA Ships Diamantina, Moresby and Acute.

Gary joined HMAS Stalwart in 1979 where he worked for two years as the refrigeration and air conditioning maintenance specialist in the shipwright’s workshop. His next posting was to Fleet Headquarters from 1983-85 as the Assistant Fleet Shipwright Officer.

Gary then returned briefly to Stalwart as OIC FIMA (Hull), before joining HMAS Vampire as the Chief Shipwright.
Postings to HMAS Cairns and HMAS Waterhen followed.

In 1992 he was promoted from warrant officer to lieutenant and a further promotion to lieutenant commander followed in 1997.

Gary recently moved with his wife and two daughters to Lake Munmorah, north of Sydney. He isn’t likely to miss the four-hour round trip to work, but we hope that he will keep fond memories of his 34 years of service in the RAN.

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