By
Alicia Miriklis
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Nine
youths from land-locked Walgett enjoy a day onboard HMAS
Canberra.
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Photo:
POPH Bill McBride
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The
Royal Australian Navy played host to nine young boys who live
far from the sea when a group of Walgett youths sailed aboard
HMAS Canberra (CMDR Stuart Mayer) to Jervis Bay earlier this month.
The Aboriginal boys aged 10 to 14 years were on a trip to Sydney
as part of the police program Giyaali, which is devised to steer
young people in a positive direction.
The ship’s company demonstrated the capabilities of the Western
Australian-based frigate during the voyage to Jervis Bay.
These included a fire exercise, helicopter landing and displays
of the ship’s weapons. An important part of the Giyaali program
is for the group to meet with a positive Indigenous role model.
On this trip, the boys met Navy Petty Officer Bill McBride, who
stressed the importance of education to the group. “Academic education
is very important and I have been telling them that they need
to reach a minimum of Grade 12,” he said.
POPH McBride has been in the Navy for 32 years and is the longestserving
Aboriginal in the history of the RAN. He said he wanted to direct,
guide and support the boys to do something important with their
lives.
“A lot of people in the country don’t get the opportunity to go
to sea or to see other Aboriginal people who have done something
with their lives.
I want to give them something to aspire to,” PO McBride said.
