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THE
KISS: AB Tom Challis receives a very warm welcome from
his girlfriend Briana Morgan.
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GOOD
SIGN :Part of the crowd on hand at Garden Island to welcome
HMAS Kanimbla home from Indonesia.
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Photos:
ABPH Yuri Ramsey
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LCDR
Mick Gallagher
HMAS Kanimbla has returned home to Fleet Base East to a warm
welcome of some 1,000 friends, relatives, VIPs and loved ones,
after an absence of four months.
As the ship came alongside and nestled behind HMAS Ballarat
and Manoora the RAN Band struck up We Are Australian to the
magnificent voice of vocalist ABMUSN Tracy Burke.
“Kanimbla has done an excellent job and it’s good to see her
home,” said the Warrant Officer of the RAN, WON David Turner
“Its just fantastic that she’s back home,” said Malcolm Booth
of Wollongong, who’s daughter Chantelle is an ABBM on Kanimbla.
Balloons with “welcome back, we missed you”, were held by many
friends and relatives.
Navy, Army and Air Force uniforms, including those of Indonesia,
mingled with the large crowd. Standing on the flight deck, as
a symbol of the recent tragedy, stood a lone Sea King helicopter.
As the ship’s company, in their summer whites, descended the
gangway in single file, a roar of jubilation filled the air.
“Good to see him home,” said Pam and Graham Varney who had travelled
with relatives from SA to see their grandson ABMT Neil Crosby.
“It’s great to have him back home,” said Kristie, partner of
LSET Jai Arambatzis, with son Marcus (21 mths) and Michellie
(4).
Others to welcome Kanimbla were members of the Vietnam Veterans
Motor Cycling Club from Canberra. “Kanimbla is our adopted ship
and we endeavour to meet her whenever she returns from overseas,”
said secretary Ron “Dimples” Sheargold a former engineering
officer in Kanimbla.
Police from Kings Cross were there too, with Salvos from the
Red Shield Defence Service at Holsworthy, Trevor Friend and
Dave Prigg, providing morning tea for the visitors.
Many high-ranking officers and politicians spoke admirably of
Kanimbla and her ship’s company. “They have done a great job,”
Prime Minister John Howard said.
“I thank you for the magnificent contribution to Australia ...
a very big hand to CMDR George McGuire and his ship’s company.”
CMDR McGuire said, “All aboard made an equal contribution ...
I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”
Mission
statistics
In Operation Sumatra Assist Phase II these are some of the things
Kanimbla provided the community of Nias Island.
