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| Witch flies home for the last time By Graham Davis Edition 5007, 03 May, 2007 |
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Also leaving centre stage is Ipswich’s alter ego, HMAS Hammersley. The Ipswich was transformed into Hammersley for three months for the yet to be screened TV series Sea Patrol, starring Lisa McCune. On Monday April 23, LCDR Darren Grogan and his 24 officers and sailors took their 211 tonne Fremantle Class patrol boat down the Queensland coast and into the Brisbane River for the last time. She had clocked up 644,780 miles since she was built by the North Queensland Engineers and Agents Ltd, launched by Mrs Dallas Hayden on September 25 and commissioned on November 13, 1982. Her arrival in Brisbane heralded two weeks of activity for her ship’s company, including leading the Anzac Day march in Ipswich, and – for the last time – seeking Freedom of Entry to the City of Ipswich. Completion of the activities in Ipswich will see LCDR Grogan and his team return to their ship for a voyage back up the Queensland coast to their home base, HMAS Cairns. In Cairns the Witch will be given a final spruce up before on the night of May 11, along with sister patrol boat, HMAS Townsville, (LCDR Andrew Hawke), she will be decommissioned. The Fremantles are being replaced by Armidale Class patrol boats. The Australian Government has gifted Townsville to the City of Townsville for use in the local maritime museum. No decision has been announced on what will happen to Ipswich. Ipswich’s final voyage to Brisbane was filled with nostalgia and some significant “lasts”. Off Caloundra she was met by two civilian craft who transferred 27 cadets and their officers from new cadet training ship Ipswich, some relatives and a media contingent, to the warship. Ipswich headed out to sea to provide a group of evolutions, demonstrating to the ANC cadets what occurs on an Australian warship. The ship’s company used its 1944 vintage Bofors 40/60 deck gun and its pair of .50 calibre machine guns as part of the demonstrations. It is believed the 40/60 firings by Ipswich were the last at sea by any RAN ship and indeed by any ADF unit. Once in the river the sleek grey warship attracted much attention with onlookers lining the shore and cheering. Around 60 family members, friends, ADF personnel and more media waited on Naval Headquarters South Queensland’s Bulimba wharf for Ipswich to arrive. The ship’s company in gleaming whites and the Ipswich cadets in their blues, lined the rail as the Witch did a pass-by and salute then turned to secure bow to sea. |
