Wild storms lash bases
Gill nets are banned in Australian waters because of their singularly destructive impact on the marine environment

By Graham Davis

The cleanup begins; a crane removes the fallen spire from Watson’s Chapel.

The winds moved aircraft, roofs, walls and this tree on the perimeter of Albatross.

Winds gusting to 80 knots caused damage to eight buildings and in the scores of thousands of dollars to the RAN’s senior training establishment, HMAS Watson, in Sydney on Sunday, August 24.

During the wind storm, the base’s duty watch of eight personnel, led by CPOWTR Jodie Fuller did great work going from building to building checking for damage, identifying any electrical hazards and securing what loose debris they could find.

“They did an excellent job,” the base’s executive officer CMDR Ted Breukel, said later.

CMDR Breukel, who lives on the base, toured the facility between 1615 and 1640 checking on any damage. At that time there was none.

However minutes later the intensity of the westerlies intensified.

“About 1730 we copped it. Gusts reached 80 knots,” CMDR Breukel said.

“The serious winds lasted for about 30 minutes, it was in this time that the bulk of the damage occurred.
“Much of the roof, slate and tiles, and the spire came off the Chapel (a Sydney landmark).
“No one was inside at the time, the tiles landed just inside the fence. The spire on its side.
“A 10 metre section of the Newcomb Building came off. The building houses the CS, EW and ASW faculties.
“A tree fell against the Wardroom and there were trees amongst the cabins.
“There was damage to the Chief’s Mess.

“Other buildings had guttering torn off, windows were broken and trees came down partially blocking roads.
He said thanks to CSIG and the insurers covering the Chapel, work had already begun in making repairs.

“Despite the damage we remain operational,” he said.

Four aircraft, two of the RAN Historic Flight’s Dakotas and two aero club “lights”, were damaged when, like much of coastal NSW gale force winds hit HMAS Albatross the same day.

The Dakotas suffered wing tip damage while the aero club aircraft were “significantly” damaged when they broke from their moorings.

Considerable damage was also caused to buildings on the base.

Winds of 76 knots or 140 kph were recorded at the Naval Weather and Oceanography Centre on the Sunday afternoon.

The roof of the 805 Squadron hangarettes was peeled away in many places with some of the sheets coming to rest wrapped around the squadron’s utility truck. Due shortly for its 1000 km service it was badly scratched and dented.

Part of the base service station collapsed and the Junior Sailors Audit­orium lost part of its roof.

Guttering was ripped from other buildings while some had their roller doors twisted and buckled. Two large gum trees toppled breaching the perimeter security fence.

No RAN helicopters were damaged.

The only casualty a statue at HMAS Watson – it fell hard and lost its head.

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