Newcastle’s gift from The Gulf

 

By LEUT Sam Fairall-Lee

WELCOME: Members of HMAS Newcastle’s crew visited the Hunter Orthopaedic School, to present a cheque for $10,000 raised during the ship’s deployment to The Gulf. Photo: LEUT Sam Fairall-Lee

HMAS Newcastle has presented the Hunter Orthopaedic School with a cheque for $10,000 raised by her crew during her recent deployment to The Gulf.

December 7 proved to be a special day for HMAS Newcastle, as the outgoing and incoming Commanding Officers, CDRE Trevor Jones and CAPT David Johnston, led 20 members of the ship’s company to Newcastle to take part in the annual graduation ceremony for students of the school.

The Hunter Orthopaedic School provides learning and life assistance to children and young adults suffering from a variety of physical and learning disabilities. It is the primary sponsored charity of HMAS Newcastle.
Members of the ship’s company were called upon to present awards to the graduating students in front of the gathered audience of family and friends.

“Seeing these kids so happy and smiling gave me a really warm feeling,” LSWTR Sean Labouchardiere said.
CDRE Jones and CAPT Johnston jointly presented the school principal, Ms Jan Butcher, with a cheque for $10,000.
CDRE Jones explained how the ship’s company had set the goal of $10,000 as the ship departed Sydney for duties in The Gulf.

“Everyone was just so keen to do something, and everyone onboard really got behind the goal,” he said.
Fundraising was led by the dedicated and hard-working morale and fundraising committee, whose members came up with some inventive fundraising ideas.

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