Droggies bond to school

By LCDR John Sperring

CAPT Rod Nairn with Flinders Public School representatives Adriana Mazevski, Daniella Whitehead (P&C Vice-President), and David Lewis (Principal) after presenting the school with a framed photo of Matthew Flinders.

The Australian Hydrographic Service recently strengthened its link with its local community with the presentation on September 10 of a framed photograph of early explorer CAPT Matthew Flinders to the Flinders Public School, Shellharbour.

The Director of Hydrographic Operations & Capability, CAPT Rod Nairn established an ongoing link between Navy and the recently opened school to coincide with NSW Education Week.

The presentation also coincides with the Centenary of Flinder’s circumnavigation of Australia in 1802-03.

Previously he had carried out extensive explorations of the coast south of Sydney, including his epic voyage in 1796 past Shellharbour aboard the small sailing vessel Tom Thumb with fellow explorer George Bass.

Following a brief school assembly where the school song was sung publicly for the first time, CAPT Nairn answered probing questions about Navy life at sea from a gathering of students who have been undertaking a maritime project.

Included in the group were children of serving members of the RAN.

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