Cessnock hosts bush students

An Aboriginal student from the Batchelor Institute gets better acquainted with HMAS Cessnock while she was alongside Darwin Naval Base.

Photo: LSPH Kaye Adams

It’s a long way from bashing “round the bush to bobbin’ on the oggin”, but for some Top End young people it might be the start of a sailor’s life.

Students from the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education enjoyed a rare opportunity to step aboard Navy Patrol Boat, HMAS Cessnock, at the Darwin Navy Base wharf last month.

Batchelor is 100km south of Darwin, and most students live in remote bush territories within the desert.

For some, it was their first time aboard a boat of any kind, and for all, it was their first experience with the Royal Australian Navy.

In many rural Aboriginal communities, English is the second or even third language, so the college has designed a workshop to increase its students’ fluency with spoken and written English to prepare them for further studies.

The students spent the week before their excursion in the classroom, learning about Defence and military terminology.

The XO of HMAS Cessnock, LEUT Andrew Montgomery, gave the students a full tour of the Patrol Boat, while POB Andrew Lowe explained how the 40/60 gun worked and LSMT Scott Winchester showed them through the engine rooms.

Although initially shy and somewhat reserved, the students were made to feel comfortable by a helpful and friendly crew and were soon firing a magnitude of questions as they gathered the information they needed for their assignments.

Although LEUT Montgomery was unaware that he was under scrutiny, students at a more advanced stage of their English studies were taking notes on his presentation techniques, to assist them for their own verbal presentations.

Instructor Bevil Staley told Navy News the students had an enjoyable time on board, which they described as “a unique once in a lifetime experience”.

It was the first time the school has taken students on board a Patrol Boat and the instructors said the experience was an educational success and as well as giving a positive view of the Navy.

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Ship helps its namesake

By LEUT Paul Singer

Crew members from HMAS Launcestocn prepare to lead the Anzac Day March. From left, POB Clarke, LEUT Singer, ABMT Williams, ABBM Mathews, LSBM Fryer and PONPC Williams.

It was a far and distant cry from the tropics of Darwin for six members of HMAS Launceston (LCDR Paul Koerber) last month.

Led by Executive Officer LEUT Paul Singer, the team of PONPC Williams, POB Clarke, LSBM Fryer, ABBM Mathews and ABMT Williams flew in to the city of Launceston to take part in the Anzac Day commemmorations.

For ABBM Mathews and ABMT Williams, is was an opportune and proud return to their home town.

HMAS Launceston has always enjoyed a very rewarding association with the active naval community in Launceston.

While the ship undergoes scheduled maintenance in Darwin, the visit team used the opportunity to further existing strong relations with TS Tamar, Launceston RSL and the Launceston South Sub-Section of the Naval Association through a series of briefs and presentations.

The relationship was deepened by forging new friendships and associations with other welfare groups, primary and secondary schools and local industry.

The obvious highlight of the five-day visit was the enthusiastic involvement in the Anzac Day celebrations.

The visit was also valuable for pre-deployment planning for a proposed visit by the ship to her city later in the year.

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Geraldton receives welcome attention

The ship’s company of patrol boat HMAS Geraldton received a warm welcome

Geraldton on duty in the Solomons.

home to Darwin recently.

LCDR Terry Morrison and his 25 officers and sailors had been away for seven weeks on patrol in waterways around the Solomons as part of Australia’s commitment to Operation Anode. Operation Anode seeks to restore law and order in the Solomons.

LCDR Morrison and his personnel did take time out, however, to take New Zealand folk to a spot off Munda where in WWII a New Zealand Air Force Hudson had been attacked by Japanese Zeroes, sent into the sea and then its escaping crew strafed.

A memorial service was conducted at the site. (Page 2 story in February 26 edition of Navy News.) As the 250-tonne patrol boat neared the Darwin Naval Base wharf there were cheers and waves from the wives, children, partners, parents and friends of the ship’s company.

Once ashore the sailors were soon in the arms of their loved ones.

LCDR Morrison said: “Our time in the Solomons was quite different to our usual duties here in the north of Australia and I think it was that change of pace and the experience we gained professionally which helped make the time away from home a little more bearable.

“Some of it was even fun. But there is no place like home.

“We are looking forward to spending some time with our family and friends.”

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Adventures in Vanuatu

A working party helps out in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

Patrol boats, HMA Ships Bunbury (LCDR Andy Schroder) and Warrnambool (LCDR John Navin), recently completed a port visit to Port Vila in Vanuatu.

After long months of Cranberry and Relex tasking, this was a long anticipated port visit.

For many of the men and women in both boats, Vanuatu was the first foreign port they have visited since joining the Navy.

Along with the usual tourist activities undertaken by ships visiting these ports, both ship’s companies also sent a working party to the International School and played a game of soccer against a team of expats.

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