By
LCDR Mick Gallagher & LEUT William Gordon
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Master
of ceremonies and Aboriginal elder Reg Blow assists SMNCSO
Melissa Smith Nuship Parramatta leave her mark for the Navy.
Photo by AB Caraline Ennis
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When
HMAS Stuart (CMDR David Greaves) visited Melbourne last month
she took the opportunity to join with the local indigenous community
in the National Aboriginal Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC)
celebrations.
With Stuart were representatives from Nuship Parramatta (CMDR
Mike Noonan) now alongside Williamstown and yet to be commissioned.
At a show of force for reconciliation by the RAN and Victoria
Police, representatives received a pair of indigenous flags during
a special ceremony at Hobsons Bay City Council.
The flags were the Aboriginal flag coloured red, yellow and black
and the Torres Strait Islander flag of blue, white and green.
Police superintendents from 11 stations in Melbourne’s western
suburbs attended.
The Victorian Commissioner Christine Nixon was very pleased with
Navy’s participation especially as her father Ross Nixon
served in the RAN in WWII as an ASDIC operator.
Ross later joined the NSW Police Force where he also served with
distinction and continues his Navy interests in returned services
activities.
Receiving the flags for HMAS Stuart were LEUT William Gordon and
LS Chris Proud.
The flags were presented by the Chair of the NAIDOC Western Region
and member of ATSIC (Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Commission)
Mrs Colleen Marion.
LEUT Jane Landon and SMNCSO Melissa Smith accepted the flags for
Nuship Parramatta.
“The ceremony showed tremendous commitment to reconciliation,”
said Mrs. Marion.
LEUT Gordon (Stuart) and SMN Smith (Parramatta) were then invited
to leave their mark of reconciliation for the Navy by placing
their handprints on a large painting by Aboriginal artist Daryl
Nayler.
The two Aboriginal flags were flying on HMAS Stuart for the remainder
of NAIDOC week.
As Stuart had to depart for Sydney and then to Ex CROC03, Nuship
Parramatta has offered a group of Aboriginal children a ship’s
tour in the near future.
