Record crowd in South Australia

COMMS: ABCIS Jessica Barr shows Taylor, of Taperoo how to use a radio.

TWILIGHT ZONE: HMAS Success’s lights begin to blaze over the water as night falls over Adelaide during Navy Week celebrations in South Australia. Photos: POPH Steve Coates

Volume 49, No. 20, November 02, 2006

By CMDR Steve Dunning

Despite Navy’s small presence in South Australia, the public turned out in record numbers for October’s Navy Week celebrations.
The event was held in ideal conditions at a number of key locations in and around Adelaide and Port Adelaide.

One of the major attractions – a Navy Expo in the hub of Port Adelaide’s vibrant Inner Harbour – drew an estimated 4,000 visitors who witnessed a diverse array of dynamic and static demonstrations involving personnel from NHQ-SA, HMAS Success and Naval Cadet units.

CO NHQ-SA CMDR Andrew Jackman said there was unprecedented interest from the public of South Australia who welcomed the opportunity to see their Navy in action.
“The dynamic displays were very popular, particularly the boarding party demonstration by a RHIB off HMAS Success, CMDR Jackman said.

“The target vessel, our own work boat Seahorse Platypus, was manned by a motley crew from NHQ-SA.

“Adding to the excitement for the viewing public was the embarked Sea King (817 SQN) off HMAS Success which flew in support of the boarding and later performed an aerobatics display over the Port River.

“At the same time there were a number of displays including a dive tank demonstration by members of DT9 and a Naval Cadet challenge.”

A ship’s Open Day also saw some 3,875 visitors file through the 18,000 tonne Fleet Oiler HMAS Success while she was alongside at Port Adelaide’s Outer Harbour.

“Port Adelaide was an ideal location for Navy Week activities with the historic lighthouse and marketplace there was great atmosphere where the public had the opportunity to get involved and mingle with Navy personnel,” CMDR Jackman said.

Other ceremonial activities included a garden service at the Naval Memorial, North Adelaide to remember Navy personnel lost in war and a commemorative Church Service at the Christ Church, North Adelaide. A ceremonial sunset on board HMAS Success was also a central part of the ceremonial occasion associated with ships’ visits.

CMDR Jackman was effusive in his praise of the hard work of his small team of PN and NR members who contributed to the success of Navy Week.

“It was an absolute stirling effort by all involved. It was a good example of the benefits of Navy’s community engagement strategy where despite Navy’s small presence in SA we were still able to achieve so much through our interactions with the community,” he said.

“This was well demonstrated by the SA detachment of the RAN Band which conducted more than a dozen performances over the week.”

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