Splashdown as Cairns celebrates Navy Week

Photo: ABPH Helen Frank

And they’re off.... competitors in the novelty swim race take to the water at Tobruk Memorial Pool. Photo: ABPH Yuri Ramsey

It was laughs all round as local youngsters and Cairns sailors got into the spirit the Almost Anything Goes day.

Photos: ABPH Yuri Ramsey

SMNMUSN Carl Reseley takes a break from singing to trip the light fantastic. Children from the Good Counsel School in Innisvale enjoyed a concert by the RAN Band- Sydney.

Photo: ABPH Helen Frank

Students of Djarragun College and Woree High School in the “Chariot Race” during the novelty sports day.

Photo: ABPH Yuri Ramsey

HMAS Cairns made a splash earlier this month when they treated the local community to a series of events in celebration of Navy Week.

The busy week commenced with an Open Ship that saw HMA Ships Leeuwin, Tarakan, Shepparton, and Whyalla doing a busy trade.

Among the other activities was an Almost Anything Goes sports day, where a Navy team competed against local organisations, schools and the Cairns Taipans basketball team in a number of novelty races.

The Royal Australian Navy Band performed free concerts throughout the week at schools and public venues and a Ceremonial Sunset was conducted on the Cairns Esplanade.

 

Anything goes as Cairns puts on the ritz

By LCDR Mitch Edwards

HMAS Cairns celebrated Navy Week in style earlier this month with celebrations and concerts involving the whole community.

The busy week commenced with an Open Ship that saw HMA Ships Leeuwin, Tarakan, Shepparton, and Whyalla hosting the public.

The day was well attended and the many and varied displays were popular with the public.

The Royal Australian Navy Band performed free concerts throughout the week at schools and public venues and a Ceremonial Sunset was conducted on the Cairns Esplanade.

On Monday the Commanding Officer HMAS Cairns (CMDR Niel Wark) hosted seventy local Legacy widows and legatees onboard with a morning tea to formally open Legacy Week.

Throughout the week over $1500 was raised for Legacy by the sailors who attended Navy Week public events.

A Battle for Australia Day commemorative church service was conducted at the Lake St. Baptist Church on Wednesday with CHAP Duncan Becsi officiating.

This was followed by a Commemorative Service held the next day at the HMAS Warrnambool memorial, dedicated to those who lost their lives in the ship in WWII.

A popular event was the Almost Anything Goes sports day, where a Navy team competed against local organisations, schools, and the Cairns Taipans basketball team in number of novelty events.

HMAS Cairns played host to a number of VIPs including the Minister for Defence, Senator Hill, the Naval Systems Commander, CDRE Geoff Geraghty, and the Mayor of Cairns, Kevin Byrne.

A successful week concluded with the Far North Queensland Navy Ball held at the Shangri La Hotel where the Navy Band let down their hair and had everyone dancing the evening away.

Photo: ABPH Yuri Ramsey

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