Our People in NSW
Christopher Waldron - Adventure On The Menu For Bulli Boy
Bulli’s Chris Waldron and his shipmates are on pirate patrol off the Gulf of Aden, and Chris reckons he has one of the most important jobs on the ship.
“I cook for the entire crew aboard HMAS Parramatta and keep everyone’s spirits up during the tough days at sea and away from home,” said Chris, 21.
“Us cooks are responsible for providing 4 meals a day for the whole ship as well as anything else the ship requires “
That’s almost 200 mouths to feed, 24/7. Still, Chris isn’t complaining.
“This deployment definitely is challenging but I still love it and I wouldn’t change a thing. I love my job because I get a lot out of serving my country and actually contributing something which makes me proud.
“It’s also the fun I get out of cooking — making good food for my mates and the crew.”
Chris grew up in Bulli and his family are Illawarra locals. These days, when HMAS Parramattais alongside, Chris lives in Sydney but he gets back to the Illawarra as often as he can.
“It’s a hard balance. I don’t think I have much of a life sometimes as work comes first. I’m on call 24/7 but I still have time to do my own thing and hang out with my mates.”
A chef’s hat is not the only one Chris wears on a daily basis.
“We are also involved in all the ships evolutions during the day such as launching the Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs), practising fire-fighting and of course cleaning. Everyday is different in my job but one thing stays the same — the hard work!
“I’m still so young so there is a lot I still want to achieve. I want to progress through the ranks of course and I want to keep learning and experiencing life wherever the Navy takes me around the world.”
Since departing Sydney on 26 September 2011 Chris and his 180 shipmates have already conducted maritime security operations in the Gulf region and around the Horn of Africa; including counter-piracy and anti-smuggling operations in the Gulf of Aden; and supported counter-terrorism activities.
This is the 27th rotation by a RAN ship to the Middle East since 2001.
More details of HMAS Parramatta and her deployment are available at the below link: http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Parramatta