Volume 49, No. 19 ,October 19, 2006
Commemoration of Australian Fleet Unit’s arrival
NO. 93

 

SOLEMN OCCASION: ABBM Mark Crispin during the annual commemoration service at the National Naval Memorial, Anzac Parade, Canberra.

Photo: LSPH Neil Richards

ON PARADE: Australia’s Federation Guard at the National Naval Memorial.

Photo: LSPH Neil Richards

Fleet Unit commemorations

By Barry Rollings

The Navy celebrated the 93rd anniversary of the arrival of the Australian Fleet Unit in style in Canberra on October 4.
News of the find in Christmas Island (see story above) added a certain resonance to Navy’s annual commemoration service, set against the brilliant bronze backdrop that is the National RAN Memorial in Anzac Parade, Canberra.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Senator Sandy Macdonald, who represented Prime Minister John Howard, said he took a keen interest in Navy personnel and operational aspects.
As one who had seen off and welcomed home many deployments, he was both keen and delighted to be part of the celebrations.

In his address, the DCN RADM Russ Crane, representing the Chief of Defence Force and Chief of Navy, said the situation in 1913 was somewhat different than it is today.
The RAN had served with distinction since its inception and its current fleet had performed superbly in all recent engagements.
“We are very proud of the RAN’s contribution to all of these activities,” RADM Crane said. “We punch well above our weight in everything we do and we have a well-deserved international reputation as a highly proficient and professional Navy.

“This is of course in no small part due to the dedication of our men and women, past and present, who have helped shaped the Navy into the magnificent organisation it is today.”
The day’s service included hymns, prayers, an ode and the laying of wreaths by Defence personnel, representatives of service-related organisations and Federal and ACT politicians.

.