Our People in NSW
Jessica Sullivan - Jessica Sullivan shares in Bathurst's Balinese Birthday
ALBURY’S Jessica Sullivan has celebrated her 25th birthday in sunny, exotic, tropical destinations and all as part of her daily job with the Navy.
As one of the Navy’s youngest Maritime Warfare Officers, she got to share her birthday aboard ship she serves and calls her home for much of the year.
Jessica, a Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Navy, is currently serving as the Executive Officer in patrol boat crew Attack Five commanded by CMDR Melanie Verho and embarked in Armidale Class Patrol Boat, HMAS Bathurst.
Jessica and Bathurstcelebrated their 25th and seventh birthdays respectively during a port visit to Bali for the ship’s replenishment on Sunday, 10 February 2013.
Jessica said it was a birthday to remember and it was an honour to share it with the ship she serves in.
“It’s a Navy tradition that the most senior and the most junior members cut the cake to celebrate their ship’s birthday,” she said.
“Commander Verho declared Command State Oscar which effectively put me in charge of the whole boat, so I was able to cut the cake myself, while keeping with Navy tradition.”
HMAS Bathurst, from Darwin, stopped in Bali for replenishment during northern patrols as part of Operation RESOLUTE, Australia’s whole-of-government maritime border security operation.
At any one time, up to seven of the Navy’s 14 Armidale Class Patrol Boats conduct maritime border security patrols as directed by the Joint Task Force 639, based at Headquarters Northern Command in Darwin.
Commander Verho said the visit to Bali and the two birthdays made for a serendipitous occasion.
“Although these visits are somewhat routine, we were welcomed by traditional Balinese dancers and alongside we prepared a feast of Peking duck, sweet and sour pork and honey chicken to celebrate the Chinese New Year as well as the birthdays,” she said.
HMAS Bathurst has served in Operations ANODE in the Solomon Islands and RELEX II and RESOLUTE in support of Australia’s maritime border security.
She has steamed over 200,000 nautical miles since commissioning in Darwin on 10 Feb 2006.