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Distressed mother helped by sailors
 By ABBM Mike Gosper

Edition 5008, 17 May, 2007
 
AWARD: CO of HMAS Penguin CMDR Roger Dobson and Medics Alex Rutherford and Jeremy Walsh.
 
Whether in uniform or in civilian attire, a sailor is never really off-duty. This truism proved itself again recently when three HMAS Penguin sailors, who were off duty and walking close by, came to the aid of distressed mother Kathryn Ogawa.

In an interview, Mrs Ogawa, said that her eight-year-old son had run off to chase after the family dog, Rosie, which had escaped.

“I had just discovered that he was missing when three navy personnel [not in uniform] walking past noticed that I appeared distraught.”

With her four-year-old child with her, it was almost impossible for Mrs Ogawa to pursue the runaway pair. “In charge of my four year old, I was at a loss as to how I could give chase … I didn’t know exactly how long he [her eight-year-old son] had been missing or where he could be.”

The three sailors, LSMED Alex Rutherford, ABMED Jeremy Walsh and ABMED Daniel Freshwater, exchanged mobile phone numbers and with a description of the boy and his dog, set out to find them.

Splitting up, they searched the area around the oval and surrounding roads near Balmoral Beach until after twenty five minutes of searching, AB Jeremy Walsh found the boy and the dog, and returned both to the grateful mother.

“I would like to pass on a big thank you to Alex, Jeremy and Daniel,” Mrs Ogawa said.

“This was a potentially dangerous situation and my relief was enormous.”

At the annual Ceremonial Divisions held at HMAS Penguin on March 23, the Commanding Officer, CMDR Roger Dobson, ADC, RAN presented the sailors with a HMAS Penguin excellence award in recognition of their chivalrous act, stating “these three individuals showed great initiative in assisting Mrs Ogawa”.

Unfortunately, only AB Freshwater was present at divisions to receive his award in front of the assembled ship’s company.

When asked to comment, LS Alex Rutherford said, “It feels good to have done something for the community. It was a pity I couldn’t be there [at CO’s Divisions], but duty called.”

In a letter to Navy, Mrs Ogawa praised the sailors. “My husband and I are grateful that they were able to identify the potential seriousness of the situation, and that they could spare the time to give chase.”