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AUSSIE
YAKKA: LSMT Chris Cook, ABMT Daniel Savage and ABMED Anita
Rayner rubbing back the wall before they commence painting.
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Photo:
POPH Damian Pawlenko
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WORKING
HARD: ABCSO Suzanne Monaghan (with SBLT Shane Penniment
and LSMT Simon Bird in the background) painting one of the
classrooms.
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Photo:
POPH Damian Pawlenko
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By
LEUT Rachel Irving
It was all hands on deck last week in South Africa as volunteers
from HMAS Anzac went into the community to help out underprivileged
children.
Twenty-three members of the ship’s company visited two schools,
taking the opportunity to apply some much-needed paint to classrooms.
Armed with paint, rollers and brushes provided by the Australian
High Commission in Pretoria, two groups headed to Thandokhulu
Senior School and Walmer Senior where classrooms were in dire
need of attention.
The children greeted the volunteers with traditional songs and
dances at lunchtime.
At Thandokhulu Senior, the 80- year-old classrooms had not seen
paint in many years and acting Principal Jimmie De Villiers said
it was the first time any group had helped the school. “We have
960 pupils here ranging in age from 14 to 18 years old.
The students are from very poor areas and pay just 150 Rand ($A30)
per year to come to school, though many can’t even afford this,”
Principal De Villiers said.
“Over the years we have had offers of help from groups of people
from all over the world but this is the very first time anyone
has actually shown up.
“We can’t believe it – we certainly appreciate all the help we
can get and you can rest assured the children will appreciate
it as well.” Walmer Senior, with 450 students ranging in age from
12 to 18, had four classrooms painted by the helpers, the first
time the rooms had seen paint in more than 10 years.
Principal Raymond Jensen said Walmer, like Thankdokhulu, had never
received any help before, and was overwhelmed by the sight of
the Anzac workers.
“Thank you to the sailors from Australia,” he said.
“The kids here really appreciate what you are doing – please remember
us next time you visit and perhaps one day we might be of assistance
to you.”
Anecdotes
Well
it’s almost here – the last port of our deployment is just around
the corner and we are all thinking of home. It has been another
busy few weeks as we sailed down the west coast of Africa and
explored the best of South Africa, diving with sharks, painting
schools, and meeting the local wildlife.
The trip down the coast from Gibraltar to South Africa, via Cape
Verde, was a trip full of mini adventures and a series of ‘never
going to make its’.
Not long after our refueling stop at the tropical islands of Cape
Verde (our new favourite holiday destination), we were sent off
course, heading due south to possibly rendezvous with a merchant
vessel with a sailor on board experiencing abdominal pain.
Plans were put in place but unfortunately for the merchant ship
they were too far from our position and they received alternative
help.
Back on course for us. We crossed the equator in style, King Neptune
visiting the ship in his usual tradition and welcoming the Pollywogs
into his Kingdom. A great afternoon was had by all, culminating
in the ‘marriage’ of ‘Mr and Mrs Anzac’. Later, with a BBQ sizzling
away, the final of Anzac Idol was held on the flight deck.
The final two contestants were ABCIS Paul Salmeri and LSCSO Jared
Gowen, who both performed extremely well. Jared was declared the
winner by the audience.
Marike the weather girl sang a lovely rendition of Stand by your
man with the Commanding Officer, but the night belonged to ‘Aussie
Steve’.
A Belgian native, Aussie Steve transferred to the RAN but failed
to learn the words to the second Australian anthem, Jimmy Barnes’s
Working Class Man, much to the disappointment of the XO.
Steve was subsequently set a challenge to learn the words and
perform at Idol and what a performance it was, complete with mullet
(business on top part at the back), blue Bond’s singlet and XXXX
double pluggers – well worth the standing ovation.
Not long after we crossed the equator we passed a French yacht
and just 24 hours later we were making north – the yacht disabled
in the water with rudder problems and our plans of making South
Africa in time for the Wallabies/ Springbok match out the scuttle.
Panic spread throughout Anzac as our dreams of meeting our idols
and making the game looked like disappearing. Then, a lifeline
was thrown as another ship in the area was found to be closer
to the yacht and was sent to help instead. Second time lucky.
We eventually made it to South Africa of course and had a memorable
few days. We watched the rugby from Newlands Stadium and some
attended the actual game at Ellis Park.
Two nights later we hosted the Wallabies on board for a BBQ (I
have never seen so many jumpers, balls, hats and even five-inch
cartridges come out for signing), while our stays were filled
with safaris, shark diving, band performances for underprivileged
children and painting classrooms in local schools.
And now our thoughts are turning to home and to the families we
will soon see.
One more stop and we are there. See you soon.
– LEUT Rachel Irving
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