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Senators find sea legs
By SBLT Will Hartridge
Volume 50, No. 18, October 04, 2007 |
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SHINING LIGHT: ABCIS Suzanne Clarkson on the signal lamp as Senator John Macdonald looks on.
Photo: LSPH Helen Frank |
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MASKED MAN: Senator Nigel Scullion tries an open circuit compressed air breathing apparatus for size with a helping hand from ABBM Jordan Rowlands.
Photo: LSPH Helen Frank |
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Five senators spent two days aboard Armidale class patrol boat HMAS Larrakia (Attack Three, LCDR N.C. Zillman) as part of the ADF Parliamentary Program.
The seariders were senators John Macdonald (Nationals, NSW), Nigel Scullion (CLP, Northern Territory, Annette Hurley (Labor, SA), Marise Payne (Lib, NSW) and Mitch Fifield (Lib, Victoria).
Their visit was aimed at gaining a wider appreciation of the RAN’s day-to-day work with a particular focus on patrol boat life and Operation Resolute, the ADF’s contribution to border protection.
The senators were exposed to officer of the watch manoeuvres, a man overboard exercise in which they were given the opportunity to take the con, a boarding exercise, toxic hazard and main machinery room fire drills, and seaboat familiarisation.
In the seaboat familiarisation the senators participated in high-speed ship handling manoeuvres, at first by ABBM Jordan Rowlands and then by Senator Scullion. The NT senator, a former fisherman, relished the opportunity to show his boat skills.
Attack Three demonstrated her boarding prowess by conducting a self boarding during which the senators saw gun grabs and search and cuffing techniques.
The senators were also able to interact with Attack Three’s crew through participation in some of the crew’s work and also during crew member’s down time. The senators competed alongside the crew during one of Attack Three’s popular quizzes in which the ‘Oldies’ (seven years or more of Naval or Senate experience) were pitted against the ‘Youngies’ (less than seven years).
LSMT Ashley Stoll conducted a tour of HMAS Larrakia’s engineering spaces to show the technological advances of an Armidale Class Patrol Boat. |
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