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Celebrating 106 years
By Michael Brooke

Volume 50, No.3, March 8, 2007
 
TIME FOR CAKE: The Navy’s birthday was celebrated around Australia and abroad. A BBQ breakfast was held at Club Cerberus. Commanding Officer HMAS Cerberus Captain David Garnock RAN, along with Commodore Brian Gibbs, AM, RAN Rtd (ex Commanding Officer HMAS Cerberus) and HMAS Cerberus’s youngest member Seaman Alan Browning got into the spirit of things.
Photo: ABPH Quentin Mushins
 
RAN personnel nationwide and ships deployed around the globe paused on March 1 to celebrate the Navy’s 106th birthday and the 40th anniversary of the Australian White Ensign.

Officers and sailors posted to shore establishments or ships celebrated the two historical events with great fanfare.

Navy celebrations were beamed to the Australian public by the Today Show which broadcast its weather reports from the RAN Heritage Centre at HMAS Kuttabul (CMDR Mark Todd) in Sydney.

Celebrations began with the Colours morning ritual, followed by a cake cutting ceremony and a BBQ breakfast.

The public saw officers and sailors alike cheer the 106th anniversary of the foundation of the RAN on March 1 1901, when the Navy was created under Section 51 of the Constitution with the States transferring their naval forces and personnel to the Federal Government.

Today also broadcast images of RAN personnel celebrating the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the Australian White Ensign in 1967, which was symbolic of the completion of the process of growth, development and maturation which had been continuous since Federation.

In Canberra, Chief of Navy VADM Russ Shalders AO, CSC, RAN, led the nationwide celebrations. In a birthday address, CN said we had come a long way since 1901.

“Over the intervening years the RAN has earned a reputation for excellence which is being upheld by all who serve today, be it in Australia, overseas, at sea or ashore,” he said.

“In a time of very high operational tempo the Navy team, which includes our many civilian and commercial partners, continues to achieve and maintain the high standards set by those who went before us ... we should take great pride in Navy’s successes over the past 106 years.”

Today highlighted the Colours ceremony, artefacts from the Heritage Centre, the cutting of a giant cake decorated with the White Ensign by CMDR Mark Todd and SMN Troy Page, a fly-past by a Sea King from 817 SQN and an interview with the past and present COs of HMAS Stuart (CMDR N.A.S Woodley) which recently won the prestigious Gloucester Cup for excellence.

More than 500 sailors attended the BBQ breakfast which featured fried eggs, bacon, toast and juice as well as tea and coffee.

Celebrations were held in similar style at all shore establishments around the country, including Albatross, Cairns, Cerberus, Coonawarra, Creswell, Watson and Waterhen.

There will be more about the birthday celebrations in the next edition of Navy News.