HAVE A GO: HMAS Anzac’s ABMUSN Heather Wright giving the students at Ukhanyo School in Masephumelele in South Africa an opportunity to play with the drums.

Photo: POPH Damian Pawlenko

By LEUT Rachel Irving

In a dream weekend for HMAS Anzac’s devoted rugby fans, ship’s company got a chance to get up close and personal with their idols when the Wallabies came to dinner in South Africa last week.

On July 25, Captain of the Australian Wallabies team, George Gregan, and his fellow players, coaches and management staff joined Anzac in Simon’s Town when the frigate was in port as part of her Northern Trident deployment.

The ship’s company was treated to a night of mingling with the Wallabies, the flight deck transformed into an Aussie backyard, complete with barbecue and band.

The Wallabies were of course in South Africa for the start of the Tri-Nations series. Taking pride of place in the wardroom on the evening was the Tri-Nations Cup, a popular spot for photos amongst the crew and even with the team.

Gregan was asked at one stage if he would hold the Cup for a photo, to which he cheekily replied, “I would love to hold the Cup for a while.”

CELEBRITY: The CO of HMAS Anzac, CAPT Richard Menhinick with the Captain of the Wallabies side, George Gregan, and other team members.

Photo: POPH Damian Pawlenko

Anzac hosts the Wallabies team

The Wallabies presented the ship’s company with a signed jersey which will take pride of place in the junior sailors’ sports café.

While the CO, CAPT Richard Menhinick, and the ship’s company were all thrilled to host the team, the Wallabies were also pleased to be on board.

“It’s great to know that we have a group of supporters here in South Africa and wherever you sail,” Gregan said.

“It’s great to be here tonight and we really appreciate you having us.”

Two days earlier, five lucky members of Anzac’s crew, flew to Johannesburg to see the Wallabies in action at Ellis Park against the Springboks for the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate.

CMDR Liam Donley, CPOB Jeremy Savage, LSET Aaron Wilesmith, ABMUSN Andrew Hansch and ABSN Brett Fisher joined ABMUSN Tracy Burke at the game for a once in a lifetime opportunity.

AB Burke sang the Australian National Anthem at the game to the roaring appreciation of the thousands of spectators and an international audience, flanked by CPO Savage and LS Wilesmith. CMDR Donley described the experience as ‘unbelievable’.

“My lasting memory of the game was looking around and just seeing green jerseys everywhere,” he recalled.

“It was almost frightening being among more than 60,000 Springbok fans, particularly after the home side scored the first two tries.” After the game, CMDR Donley seized the opportunity to shore up an affiliation between the Anzac Rugby Club, the Diggers, and the newly formed Western Force Super 14 Club after a chance meeting with Western Force coach John Mitchell.

Mitchell even offered to run some training sessions for the Anzac team. Anzac will return to Australia later this month in time for the reciprocal match of the Wallabies vs.Springboks at Subiaco Oval on August 20 with some excited fans from Anzac in the crowd.

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