By LS Rachel Irving
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AB
Daniel Zarb keeps a close eye on the crowd, securing the
area for the landing of the Seahawk and arrival of Brumby
Jack and the game ball.
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A
fast roper makes his way into Canberra Stadium from HMAS
Canberra’s flight.
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Blues
flanker Justin Collins takes the ball in a lineout.
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Photos:
LS Rachel Irving
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With
a roar from more than 20,000 people, three fast ropers armed with
Steyrs shimmied onto the ground from HMAS Canberra’s flight and
secured the area.
With the rope recovered, the Seahawk slowly landed and to the
crowd’s delight a horse appeared from the flight’s door - yes,
it was Brumby Jack with the game ball for the opening round of
the 2004 Tooheys New Super 12 season.
On a perfect February night in the nation’s capital, the ACT Brumbies
took on and defeated the Auckland Blues in spectacular fashion,
but it was the ball delivery into Canberra Stadium that had the
crowd on their feet from the start.
In the Seahawk were its pilots LCDR Patrick Davitt (Flight Commander),
LEUT Scott Myers, TACCO LEUT Justin Hardiman and SENSO LSA David
Vowell.
Fast ropers on the night were PO Alan Marsh, LS Craig Range and
AB Daniel Zarb while AB Brad Richardson had the honour of escorting
the newly named Brumbies mascot, Jack, and the much awaited game
ball to the side of the ground.
The crowd and Brumby Jack were clearly thrilled by the polished
performance of the flight and her crew.
Her fast ropers safely back onboard, the Seahawk rose from the
ground and grandly spun, the crew waving to the thousands below,
before vertically exiting the stadium.
Pilot LEUT Myers said afterwards, “Having only been posted to
Canberra’s flight for a short time, it was great to be able to
represent HMAS Canberra in continuing to foster its long time
relationship with the community of Canberra and the Brumbies.”
“To do so by flying Brumby Jack into the stadium for the Brumbies
first Super 12 match was a complete thrill.”
The flight left NAS Nowra where the crew were based for a few
days while the ship was alongside in Sydney, picking up Brumby
Jack along the way.
After delivering the ball, the flight returned to Nowra. HMAS
Canberra, homeported to FBW, was in the east participating in
exercises Ocean Protector and Tasmanex.
Canberra has a close affiliation with her namesake city and in
particular with the ACT Brumbies. Her Rugby team proudly wears
Brumbies jerseys, the RAS (Replenishment at Sea) flag is a Brumbies
flag while Canberra’s ships ball caps sport the Brumbies logo.
Earlier last month, 11 members of the ACT Brumbies spent the day
embarked in Canberra out of Jervis Bay.
The Brumbies, this season under the captaincy of Stirling Mortlock,
defeated the Blues on the opening night, 44-27 and have since
defeated the South African Cats 68-28.
