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Features
By
Graham Davis
HMAS
Manoora, the RAN’s 8,450-tonne amphibious transport ship
the Solomon Islanders dubbed the “bikfala sip”, is safely
home.
After six months serving in Operation Falconer in The Gulf and
Operation Anode in the Solomons, CMDR Martin Brooker and his ship’s
company of 260 sailors and soldiers, brought Manoora home to Fleet
Base East on November 6.
More than 200 family members and friends waited on the wharf to
give them a warm welcome.
Joining the crowd were the Minister Assisting the Minister for
Defence, Mr Mal Brough, VCDF VADM Russ Shalders, the Maritime
Commander, RADM Raydon Gates and Land Commander MAJGEN David Hurley.
Manoora left Sydney on May 12 and sailed to the Middle East to
bring back to Australia equipment used by Special Forces in the
Iraq campaign.
While in The Gulf she rescued eight Iraqi fishermen and in the
Indian Ocean off Fremantle, was diverted to help a sick fisherman.
The Australian Government, realising that lawlessness in the Solomon
Islands was worsening, and with other Pacific nations in support,
decided to send police, supported by the military, to the island
nation.
Manoora, often described as a “can-do” ship because
of her versatility, her state-of-the-art communications and her
ability to carry several helicopters and two 70-tonne landing
craft, was directed to Townsville to collect stores, equipment
and people and proceed across the Coral Sea as part of Operation
Anode.
Four other RAN warships went with her.
Manoora became a command ship with CMDR Brooker named as the Maritime
Task Group commander. Stationed off Honiara she became a hub of
maritime activity, co-ordinating the task group and the logistics
support for 450 personnel.
She helped with the transportation of more than 213 tonnes of
cargo and some 2,100 Army and police personnel to the outer islands
and police outposts.
Manoora helped relocate more than 500,000 pounds of equipment
using her two 817 Squadron Sea King helicopters. The two 17-passenger
helicopters flew a total of 312 hours and 2319 passengers.
The two landing craft carried by the ship moved 955 tonnes of
cargo and 6,100 passengers.
“A total of 3,700 weapons were confiscated,” CMDR Brooker
told Navy News.
During the six months away she sailed 29,157 nautical miles, was
at sea for 154 days, consumed 110 tonne in provisions while her
cooks prepared 186,556 meals – 1187 per day.
CMDR Brooker said it was good to be home. He said he had aimed
at making it a safe deployment.
“Not a shot was fired and we are home safely,” he said.
CMDR Brooker was welcomed home by his partner Sue Mitchell and
eight-year-old daughter Belinda and his parents.
As Manoora entered the Heads under police escort, her pair of
Sea Kings flew above her. Her well turned out ship’s company,
in their whites and khakis, lined the decks.
As the warship swept around Garden Island the Sydney detachment
of the RAN Band struck up, flags were waved, banners held high
and flowers readied.
A “princess” was waiting for ABSTD Jackie Moore, 19
of Brisbane.
Below was her little sister Sky, aged two and wearing her “princess”
tiara and waving her magic wand.
There with her mother Mrs Melinda Lee and good friend Mrs Janine
Mason, Sky also had a “welcome home” sign.
Also on board were twins Toni and Susan Christensen, 20 of Morayfield
in Queensland.
Susan is an AB writer while Toni is a dental nurse...(who might
enter the RAN). Toni had flown to Townsville to join her sister
for the sea ride to Sydney.
She was one of 40 civilians to join serving family members to
taste RAN life and watch what their loved ones do in the navy.
The twins’ parents Colin and Jenny were on the wharf waiting
for them.
The November 6 homecoming was a day of several celebrations for
the ship’s executive officer, LCDR Brett Wolski.
It was his birthday and that of his nine-year-old daughter Elena.
Brett’s father Les Harvey accompanied him from Townsville.
One man glad to be home was the ship’s operations officer
LCDR Kimbal Dunsmore. His daughter Mhairi was only two weeks old
when he departed.
In dockside addresses, Minister Brough, and the Shadow Defence
Minister Chris Evans along with leading RAN officers, publicly
congratulated Manoora and her ship’s company.
“Welcome Home Manoora..Well Done.”
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