The stirring sounds of the bagpipes are not something usually heard floating across Sydney Harbour. 

But as HMAS Stuart sailed through the Heads for the Kakadu Fleet Review, a lone naval piper played on her bow, the rousing sound cutting through rain and jet noise all the way under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 

For Sub-Lieutenant Madeline Clegg, piping Stuart into Sydney Harbour at the head of a division of warships was the culmination of a lifetime of music, naval service and tradition. 

The weapons electrical engineer is also Stuart’s bagpiper – a role that connects the modern Navy to generations of maritime and Scottish heritage. 

Born and raised in the Adelaide Hills, Sub-Lieutenant Clegg joined Navy seeking a challenge, travel and a career like no other. 

“I saw it as a really unique opportunity to get qualifications, travel, explore and do something that not many people get to do,” she said. 

“With Scottish heritage and curiosity about an instrument few people play, learning the bagpipes felt like a natural step. 

“I’ve always had a strong musical background. I play a number of woodwind instruments and attended Seymour College in Adelaide where we had a pipe band.” 

That decision placed her on the forecastle of Stuart as the ship entered Sydney Harbour for the Kakadu Fleet Review, playing through heavy rain as aircraft roared overhead. 

“It was surreal,” she said. 

As the ship made its entry, Sub-Lieutenant Clegg played a mix of military marches and distinctly Australian tunes, including I Am Australian and Waltzing Matilda. 

“I love bringing out the Australian tunes when I can,” she said. 

Named after the Scottish royal House of Stuart (also Stewart), the ship's crew proudly calls Stuart the ‘Tartan Terror’. 

Earlier iterations of Stuart even carried a posted ship’s bagpiper. The position does not exist today, but where possible, ships try to keep a bagpiper as part of their ship’s company to carry on the tradition when entering or leaving port. 

“It’s such a long-standing naval tradition,” Sub-Lieutenant Clegg said. 

“To be doing that as the ship’s bagpiper was incredibly special.”