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Albatross celebrates birthday
By Keeli Cambourne
Volume 50, No. 17, September 20, 2007 |
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59 YEARS: From left, CDRE Tim Barrett, Commander Australian Navy Aviation Group, AB Robert Swift, CAPT Robert Morrison, Thomas Dazwell, former Commanding Officer and Rear Admiral Neil Ralph (retired).
Photo: AB Brenton Freind |
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He could have been forgiven for thinking the celebration was in his honour.
After all, just two days beforehand AB Robert Swift had received his first promotion. But the 18-year-old was fulfilling a different kind of duty when he took up his sword and stood beside the commanding officer of HMAS Albatross, CAPT Bob Morrison, in front of a rather large cake.
As tradition dictates, AB Swift, as the youngest officer on base, helped cut the cake to celebrate the 59th birthday of the Nowra base on August 31.
HMAS Albatross was commissioned on a clear sunny day on August 31, 1948 with the White Ensign flag flying proudly from the control of the Nowra Aerodrome.
In the years since, 50,000 defence force personnel, mainly Navy, have served at the base. More than 24 aircraft types have operated from it, starting with the Sea Furies and Fireflies and culminating today with the rotary force.
The men and women who have served onboard Albatross have been involved in many of Australia’s greatest historical moments, including Cyclone Tracy in 1974 and the tragic Sydney to Hobart yacht race of 1998.
And now AB Swift has become part of the base’s history. He joined the Navy just a month after his 17th birthday following a family tradition, and said he has never regretted his decision.
“I have travelled all over Australia already and have just been posted to HMAS Manoora,” AB Swift said.
As well as celebrating the base’s birthday, the cake was also a farewell feast for CHAP Alan Asplin whose last day coincided with the party.
Later there was a break from tradition to launch Legacy Week in Nowra on September 3. Instead of just sending out the school kids armed with pins and pens, six officers from the Australian Army’s Parachute Training School based at Albatross jumped from a plane to land on the oval of a local high school. This year HMAS Albatross personnel handed over nearly $2400 to Legacy. |
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