11 November 2020
One of HMAS Arunta's Indigenous crew members is relishing his time on a busy regional deployment throughout east Asia.
Able Seaman Boatswains Mate Jordan Davis, who is on board the ship, joined the Navy two years ago.
“My cultural background is Ydinji, which is from the Atherton area in Queensland,” Able Seaman Davis said.
“But going back, my family originated on Murray Island on the eastern side of the Torres Strait, where my grandmother stills lives.”
Able Seaman Davis forms an integral part of the ship’s company and performs a number of duties.
“We are the seamanship sailors and our roles include everything from steering the ship as the helmsman to maintaining and operating the small arms weapons on board,” he said.
Able Seaman Davis said he recommended a career in the ADF to other young people.
“It’s a very rewarding job,” he said.
“It gives you the chance to develop skills that you may not get chance to develop in other jobs, and you meet a lot of people and make life-long friendships. You also get to travel around the world.”
Arunta’s Executive Officer Lieutenant Commander David Mason said Able Seaman Davis was an asset to the ship.
“Every now and then you get someone who can lift their shipmates’ spirits and put a smile on their face just by being around. Jordan is one of those people in Arunta,” Lieutenant Commander Mason said.
Arunta is deployed on Operation Argos to support the enforcement of United Nations Security Council sanctions on North Korea.
The ship has participated in Regional Presence Deployment 2020 across South-East Asia and the Pacific and will return to her home port of Fleet Base West, Western Australia later this year after an absence of 164 days.
