By Hugh McKenzie

RADM Gates with Jill Green the Commissioning Lady

CO CMDR Micheal Noonan with the youngest member of his ship's company, SMNCSO Bradley Rowe, cuts the commissioning cake.

HMAS Parramatta will man ship

The Sea King towes the huge White Ensign from bow to stern.

Photos by POPH Bill McBride

“How many VIPs are we receiving on parade?”
“Umm...MCAUST, CN, CDF, the Minister and the Guest of Honour, five in all.”
“Are the guests standing for each arrival?”
“Yes”
“They’ll be bobbing up and down like yo-yos. Let’s stand them for the whole of the arrivals.”
“OK ...good idea.”

No ship’s commissioning is ever the same. The ceremonial might be prescribed but there are always subtle differences. On one unforgettable occasion we got the bunting up before the prayers were said.

On another, an enthusiastic Chaplain would have finished the prayers before any of the readings were done.

Sometimes the Commissioning Pennant doesn’t break but the shackle does. Sometimes it rains but thank Heaven, mostly it doesn’t.

My heart is usually in my mouth when the Guard Commander presents his compliments to the Commissioning Lady and invites her to inspect the “Guard and Ship’s Company”;

I find the singing of “We are Australian” by ABMUSN Tracy Bourke accompanied by the band and the parade trumpeters incredibly moving.

In the case of HMAS Parramatta (CMDR Michael Noonan) there were two additions to the ceremonial, which had a considerable impact. The lore of the sea holds that the caul of a newborn child prevents a sailor from drowning and that when carried aboard a ship protects the vessel.

The caul of Jaimie Clare Noonan CMDR Michael Noonan’s first-born daughter (Blessed by Chaplain Loch) now rests in a special casket in the CO’s safe and like the Commissioning Pennant will stay for the life of the ship.

One wag in the crowd later wondered if the CO of Ballarat was in fact married and if not what his endeavours would be to provide a caul for his ship.

A lighthearted look at a moment in the cer-emony, which had considerable meaning for all concerned. Four older men, Edward Fryer, William Wood, Frank Davidson and Harold Moss bemedalled, moved to the front of the saluting dais to be met by a party of ABs from the ship.

In one graceful movement... “Off Caps!”... and the four, who had served in Parramatta II, exchanged caps with their young counterparts. You could have heard a pin drop.

Terrific, the applause was instantaneous long and loud as it was when the ship’s company, hav-ing manned ship, stood as a Sea King with a mas-sive White Ensign hanging below, flew her length in salute.

CMDR Mike Noonan summed up his feelings, saying to his ship’s company, “As individuals you are wonderful; as a crew you are awesome.”

Jill Green the Commissioning Lady whose grandfather CMDR Langford was Captain of a previous HMAS Brisbane and whose father LEUT Bill Langford was lost with Parramatta II at Tobruk, wished Parramatta IV safe voyages wherever she went in the service of her country.

The ship is manned and cheered, the Chaplains have blessed her and the reception begins with presentations and the cutting of the commissioning cake.

Her officers and crew, visiting dignitaries, families and friends, toast her health. A memo-rable day.

They always are, each in their own way.

As Master of Ceremonies I see one constant, the cream of the Royal Australian Navy follow-ing those in service in far away places, following those who have gone before, those who have given all in the service of their country.

It has been a great privilege.

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