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LOOK
OUT: AB Louise Butcher peers out through a scuttle during HMAS Westralia’s
passage to the South Island of New Zealand. The fleet oiler is on her last voyage
before decommissioning later this year.
Photo: ABPH Joanne Edwards |
Photo:
ABPH Joanne Edwards |
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Volume
49, No. 4, March 23, 2006
AB
Louise Butcher has literally enjoyed a “birds-eye view” of HMAS Westralia’s
last voyage.
The fleet oiler will return home to Fleet Base West on April
6 and decommission in September.
AB Butcher, Bosun’s Mate, has harboured
mixed emotions watching Westralia’s participation in Exercise Ocean Protector,
Tasmanex and a port call to the South Island of New Zealand.
AB Butcher
and the ship’s company have experienced sadness in the countdown to saying
goodbye to Westralia when she decommissions at FBW on September 16.
But sadness
will quickly give way to new feelings later in the day when Sirius is commissioned
into service in a gala ceremony.
Originally leased by the RAN in 1989,
Westralia is the second RAN ship to carry this name, with the original being a
passenger liner requisitioned for naval service during World War II.
There
are big plans to farewell HMAS Westralia in fine style.
A decomissioning
ball will be held at the Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle on May 12.
RSVPs
for this event need to be sent to 29e@a195.navy.gov.au or 18b@a195.navy.gov.au.
In
addition, a decommissioning port crock has been made available, featuring a logo
of the ship.
Anyone interested in obtaining one of these port crocks need
to contact 29e@a195.navy.gov.au or 30e@a195.navy.gov.au.
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