Our People in QLD
Tim Naumann - Doing Toowoomba Proud
Toowoomba’s Tim Naumann hasn’t had much time to celebrate the arrival of 2012. He and his 180 shipmates are aboard HMAS Parramatta and on pirate patrol off the Horn of Africa.
As a member of the frigate’s boarding party, it’s Tim’s job to help stop and search suspect vessels or come to the aid of boats in distress. It’s a tough job, and sometimes a potentially dangerous one.
“This trip allows me to be part of what’s making news,” Tim said, “Whether that’s piracy, drug smuggling or simply making the sea lanes safe for civilian shipping.”
Tim and his shipmates were in the headlines when HMAS Parramatta came to the rescue of a vessel in distress on Christmas Eve. The Iranian vessel had been adrift for five days. The Australians supplied the crew with food, water and fuel so they could get to port.
Tim joined the RAN in 2007 and after training at Recruit School at HMAS Cerberus he has been away from family and friends many times. Life at sea is routine now.
“I have done a couple of basic deployments which included New Zealand several times, and Noumea,” Tim said. “There wasn’t much time to rest in 2011. At the start I did a major deployment includingd Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia — and now this.”
Tim has several roles on board. He is a communications information systems specialist and an expert in radios, flags and even Morse code. He also fixes computers and manages the internet access, controlling the flow of information to and from the ship.
Tim’s thoughts this holiday season have been with his partner Carly and his parents who still live in Toowoomba. “Recently the ship has had WIFI installed and since then it has been a massive morale booster. I can keep in contact with home via Facebook and Skype,” Tim said.
Since departing Sydney on 26 September 2011 Tim and his shipmates have alreadyconducted 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 MEAO since 2001.
As for what comes next, Tim is upbeat. “Most importantly, I will be taking a lot of leave so I can spend the time with my partner Carly.”
Further details of HMAS Parramatta and her deployment are available at the below link: http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Parramatta