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THANKS: HMAS Stirling’s CO CMDR Paul Bartlett presents a commendation to the base’s resident postman Wayne Brittain.
Photo: ABPH Lincoln Commane |
By Vic Jeffery
Volume 49, No. 18 , October 05, 2006
There are many people, service and civilian, that contribute to the smooth running of a vibrant major Fleet Base such as HMAS Stirling in Western Australia.
An excellent example of one of these quiet achievers is the Fleet Base West postman, Wayne Brittain, who has provided a commendable and highly professional level of service to the RAN on Garden Island over the past 10 years.
This has been a period of major expansion in the west, with increasing numbers of personnel, civilians and contractors, and half of the Australian Fleet now based at HMAS Stirling.
Wayne Brittain’s vast experience and intimate knowledge of the base, the home-ported ships and submarines has seen him and his small team regularly meet challenges to ensure that the mail must get through.
All members of the ADF and their families are very much aware of the importance of timely and regular mail deliveries, whether serving in Australia or overseas, and the impact it can have on morale.
Employed with Australia Post for 22 years, Wayne commenced working in the warship mail section at the Perth Mail Exchange in 1988. After eight years in this area, Wayne put a proposal to Australia Post and the Navy that this section should co-locate with the mailroom at HMAS Stirling. Both parties agreed.
“I have enjoyed the autonomy that Australia Post have given me and they have been very supportive of my role here at HMAS Stirling,” Wayne said.
“Whilst the mailroom and internal mail deliveries around the base fell under my supervision, my main task was to ensure warships based here would receive the best possible service that I could give them.
“I get a great deal of pleasure knowing that the ships receive their mail in a timely manner, no matter what port in the world they may be deployed to.”
Today some 78 ball caps and a Turkish fez, adorn a wall in the mailroom, looking much like trophies, all presented to him by grateful RAN ships and units of visiting Allied navies.
But after 10 years, Wayne is sorry to be leaving.
“I have built-up a strong rapport with various personnel of all ranks from the ships and submarines,” he said.
“Quite often they will get on the phone or email from whatever port they’re in seeking advice about mail. I am also proud of the fact that East Coast based ships have been envious of the service provided locally.
“The most challenging task I’ve had was clearly HMAS Anzac’s deployment last year. First despatches were to Albany, then various ports in Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Malta, France, Spain, Germany, Scotland, Ireland, England, Gibraltar, South Africa and finally Reunion Island.”
HMAS Stirling’s CO CMDR Paul Bartlett presented a commendation to Wayne and said: “Your extensive knowledge of the intricacies of the base, as well as the challenges in dealing with mail that must be sent all around the world to the various theatres our ships are serving in, has been absolutely invaluable and will be almost impossible to replicate.”
