By Graham Davis

ABET Alan Gillett receives a warm welcome home by his girlfriend Candice Bratt after the Huon Class Mine Hunter, HMAS Diamantina returned from the Solomon Islands to HMAS Waterhen, in Sydney on November 14.

LCDR Paul Scott spots family and friends as Diamantina docks.

Diamantina cuts a pretty picture under the harbour bridge.

Photos: ABPH Yuri Ramsey

The RAN’s coastal minehunter HMAS Diamantina (LCDR Paul Scott) has helped recover an 18-year-old Solomon Islands girl abducted six months ago.

Using the ship’s security detachment along with Australian Federal Police and re-inforcements from the Solomon Islands police, the teenager was removed from a house on one of the remote islands in the group.

The recovery of the girl was one of the more unusual tasks carried out by Diamantina and her ship’s company during her two months as part of Operation Anode.

The minehunter returned to her home base, HMAS Waterhen, on Friday, November 14 to be given a warm welcome by family and friends.

They were joined by the Deputy Maritime Commander, CDRE Nigel Perry, the head of the CD Minewarfare FEG, CAPT Steve McDowall and the Maritime Command Warrant Officer, David Baker.

Telling of the abduction, LCDR Scott said: “About six months ago the girl was abducted from her own village near Ghizo and taken to another island.

“The abduction was reported to the Solomon Islands police on the island and they went and got the girl from the house.

“They took her to their police station but the occupants of the house came down and took her back.

“Because an offence had occurred it was decided to get her back and take her to her home village.

“We took some Solomon Islands police, and Australian Federal Police to the island.

“Along with our own security detachment the police went ashore and recovered the girl. It was a pretty benign affair,” LCDR Scott noted.

She was returned to her home village near Ghizo.

LCDR Scott said that in addition to the abduction incident his ship’s company had done eight boardings.

“We also visited 30 villages getting the message across that law and order was being restored.

“We were warmly welcomed,” he said.

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