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Sirius goes back to the future at Norfolk Island
By LEUT Sean Aitken

Volume 50, No.4, March 22, 2007
 
WELCOME: Personnel from HMAS Sirius in a freedom of entry march through the main street of Norfolk Island.
Photo: ABPH Jarrad Oliffe
 
HMAS Sirius explored some historic links when she visited Norfolk Island earlier this month.

HMAS Sirius (CMDR Tim Crawford) came to anchor in Sydney Bay on the south-west side of the island about 1km from where her namesake, the first fleet supply vessel HMS Sirius, sank on March 19, 1790. It is because of this historic link that the community of Norfolk Island granted Sirius freedom of entry to Norfolk on March 3.

The ship’s company, guard, colour party and a detachment of the RAN band formed up in front of a large crowd to await the VIPs on parade.

The first to arrive was the Commanding Officer, followed by Deputy Commander Australian Fleet CDRE Ray Griggs, the Administrator of Norfolk Island (the Hon Grant Tambling) and the Chief Minister of Norfolk Island, David Buffett.

The Chief Minister gave a speech welcoming HMAS Sirius and her crew and presented the CO with the key to Norfolk Island and a scroll granting the ship permission to march through the streets with “swords drawn, drums beating, band playing and colours flying”.

In response CMDR Crawford said, “The ship’s company of HMAS Sirius is honoured by the opportunity to further develop a close and abiding friendship with the Norfolk Island community to whom the name Sirius already means so much.”

The ship’s company stepped off to a two by three beat drum roll and marched through the community of Norfolk Island with the crowd cheering. It’s believed that almost the entire population of the island (about 1800 residents) turned up to watch. Locals later invited members of the ship’s company into their homes.