Warramunga
rescue
A boarding party from HMAS Warramunga has undertaken a dangerous
night time operation to transfer a critically ill 76-year-old
passenger from an ocean cruise liner to shore off Christmas Island.
The rescue, carried out on March 9 has since brought praise to
Warramunga’s ship’s company from fellow passengers and Christmas
Island residents.
The patient also expressed thanks. The elderly passenger took
ill on the P&O cruise liner Adonia on March 9. Warramunga’s CMDR
John Vandyke provided a boarding party and RHIB to evacuate the
passenger.
Terrorism training
The former DDG HMAS Brisbane might be destined as a dive site
but she certainly proved a valuable asset in Sydney earlier this
month.
Brought from the old Platypus base at Neutral Bay to the West
Wall of Garden Island, Brisbane became a training venue for ongoing
counter-terrorism training.
On the night of Monday, March 15, Army commandos from the Holsworthy-based
4th Battalion, RAR practised shipboarding techniques using the
4,720 tonne warship.
The scenario was for 25 commandos to operate from small boats
and board the old timer.
Bird has flown
A bird - a bronze waterhen - is now in the hands of CMDR Steve
Reid.
Earlier this year there was a change of command at HMAS Waterhen,
home of the RAN’s minehunters and AUSCDTONE.
Outgoing CO, CMDR Adrian Winter handed the weight - the bird -
to CMDR Steve Reid in a clear lower deck ceremony on the Quarterdeck.
CMDR Reid comes to Waterhen from the Directorate of Navy Ministerials
and Coordination in Canberra.
Freo commendations
In recent Commanding Officer’s Commendations on HMAS Fremantle
(LCDR Matt Brown), two members of the ship’s company have been
mentioned for their exemplary work ethic.
POB Ferguson and ABBM Parker have been commended for their countless
hours of hands-on hard work.
Their contributions have been many and significant which have
been pivotal to the operational effectiveness of the ship.
Creswell donations
HMAS Creswell was honoured recently with the donation of two significant
items from people of the Shoalhaven area.
SBLT Hampton Cooper, a retired Navy Reserve officer who commanded
warships in WWII, donated his Officer’s Commission to the base,
while Colleen Nicholls donated a magnificent model of Nelson’s
flagship, the Victory.
Remote
patrol
As a break from surveying in Arnhem Land, members of HMAS Benalla
(LCDR Stewart Dunne) visited the Minjilang Aboriginal Community
on Croker Island.
Personnel liaised with the community’s Town Clerk, Margaret Barnes,
before taking a tour of the small town.
Benalla also took the opportunity to donate a volleyball and softball
kit to the local school.
HMA Ships Benalla and Shepparton (LCDR Peter Kenshole) are currently
surveying a route into Mountnorris Bay that will allow better
access to the supply ships which service the local communities
and oyster farms.
Armoury opened
Nearly 1000 visitors ranging from parents with children, historians
and military buffs attended the first public open day at the former
RAN Armament Depot at Newington in central Western Sydney on February
15.
Next open day will be March 21. Entry is $8 Adults, $4 concession,
$20 family and $5 each if a group of more than 15 attend.
The armoury is part of Sydney Olympic Park. Inquiries and bookings
on (02) 9714 7545 or (02) 9714 7509
Electronic navigation
Defence has signed a $6.2 million contract with Western Australian
company Nautronix that will help to improve safety on Navy warships.
Under the contract, the Fremantle-based Nautronix will deliver
enhanced Electronic Chart Display Information Systems suitable
for military use.
The new systems will be fitted to the bridges and operations rooms
of Navy warships for the electronic planning, monitoring and recording
of voyages.
The first systems are scheduled to be delivered in early 2005.
