Whyalla celebrates her 21 years

By SBLT Amanda Dickerson

CO Whyalla LCDR Tim Byles and the youngest member of her crew ABBM Serret cut the cake.

HMAS Whyalla (LCDR Tim Byles) was launched in July 1982 by Mrs A.C. Ekblom (Mayor of Whyalla) and commissioned into the service of the RAN on July 3rd under the command of LCDR A. Tipping.

She has just celebrated her 21st birthday in her home port of Cairns, a significant milestone in the life of a ship that has worked as hard as Whyalla. Living up to her motto of "Thrust Ahead", she has covered more than 560,000 nautical miles since her commissioning - that's about twenty-six times around the Equator!

Whyalla spent the early years of her life in the RAN based in Sydney, conducting patrols around Sydney and Bass Strait, before moving to Cairns in the mid-1980s to patrol Australia's northern waters. A job she has been doing ever since.

In July, Whyalla's ship's company invited the Mayor of Cairns (Cr Kevin Byrne), the CO of HMAS Cairns (CMDR Wark) and the CO of the Minor War Vessel Sea Training Group (CMDR Burling) to join them at the Reef Casino, Cairns to celebrate her twenty one years of service with a ball.

After pre-dinner drinks LCDR Byles and the youngest member of ship's company - ABBM Serret - cut the 21st birthday cake, leaving everyone to kick up their heels and dance the night away.

A great night was had by all and Whyalla sailed the following Monday to continue patrolling Australia's north.

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