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TIC TACK TOE: From his water tank, Clearance Dive Team 4’s ABCD Sean Ferguson challenges Perth Show visitors for a game of underwater noughts and crosses. Photo: ABPH Nadia Monteith |
By Barry Rollings
Volume 49, No. 20 ,Novmeber 02, 2006
By Gary Booth
Navy was the star at the 2006 Perth Royal Show thanks to an extensive Defence exhibition manned by personnel from all three services and Defence Force Recruiting.
A highlight for the many visitors to the Defence exhibition was the Clearance Divers of AUSCDT4 strutting their stuff in a water tank.
The divers demonstrated their capability to locate mines underwater, while others tested their mental dexterity by playing underwater noughts and crosses with children outside the tank.
AUSCDT4’s ‘Cyclops’, the team’s EOD/IED disposal robot was another popular attraction for the visitors.
While also at the show, the Federation Guard’s Precision Drill Team showcased their skills in the main arena.
A combined band drawn from the Royal Australian Navy Band – Western Australia Detachment and the Australian Army Band – Perth also displayed their skills at the show.
The Navy’s efforts, under the overall direction of LCDR Graham Spencer MPAO-West, all contributed to the show theme of ‘the Fleet at Sea’. Contributors included displays from the submarine FEG, TUASSC, HMAS Stirling’s dental department with their mobile van, a safety equipment display and AUSCDT4.
Naval Imagery Unit – West complemented the presentation with an extensive photographic display of Navy life.
The Navy’s recruiting trade van was also a welcome addition to the Defence display.
There were more than 400,000 visitors to the Royal Show with many of those visiting the Defence display.
There were a steady and consistent number of inquiries about careers in the Defence Force, with DFRC-Perth to follow these up in the coming weeks.
For LCDR Spencer and his small team, the large effort that went into setting up the Navy display, which comprised some 80 per cent of the Defence exhibition, was well worthwhile.
The display impressed organisers of the Royal Show who presented the ADF exhibition with a highly commended certificate – for design and presentation of a commercial stand.
“This year’s Perth 2006 Royal Show display has gone a long way to providing the people of Western Australia, the opportunity to learn more about the ADF and in particular the Navy,” LCDR Spencer said.
“It was truly a combined tri-service effort in putting the display together.”
