Tamworth isn’t just famous for country music. It’s also known as the birthplace of highly skilled specialist sailors.

This includes Electronics Technician Petty Officer Joshua Guy, who is at the vanguard of driving innovation and implementing emerging technology at sea. 

He’s currently serving on board HMAS Toowoomba, which is on a regional presence deployment through East and South-East Asia.

“I didn’t think I would be doing this type of work as an electronic technician. Yet when I was given the opportunity at Fleet Support Unit, I really took the bull by the horns,” he said.

Petty Officer Guy was previously posted to the 3D printing and graphics department at Fleet Support Unit, developing the knowledge and skills to reduce Australia’s reliance on international supply chains and increase the endurance of its ships.

“As we continually improve our skills, we’ll be able to build a lot more items for day-to-day use, increasing our manufacturing at sea,” Petty Officer Guy said.

Over the past four months, Toowoomba has visited six of Australia’s regional partners and engaged in multiple multilateral and bilateral exercises, activities and operations with allied nations. 

'You can’t sail with everything. Managing small parts is a more significant problem than you think.'

Thousands of kilometres from home, small issues can become major problems. Petty Officer Guy said a minor plumbing fault almost shut down an entire galley.

Yet, thanks to the skills he developed at Fleet Support Unit, he was able to create a new part from scratch in the middle of the South China Sea, keeping the kitchen open and the crew operational. 

“You can’t sail with everything. Managing small parts is a more significant problem than you think,” Petty Officer Guy said.

“This particular part couldn’t have been purchased overseas. If we needed to ship it from Australia, it would have cost upwards of $10,000. Instead, I was able to spend 30 cents’ worth of plastic filament to create something that does the same job.”

It is a small start, but shows the unlimited potential of becoming fully self-sufficient at sea.

“The technology a decade ago wouldn’t have held up at sea. To see how far it’s come in 10 years makes me think [about] what we will be capable of in the future,” Petty Officer Guy said.

A multi-generational Tamworth local, Petty Officer Guy’s father, sister and uncle have all served, or are still serving, as electronics technicians in Navy. He has another sister who is an electronics warfare sailor. 

He has a message for anyone in north-east NSW looking for a challenge with meaning.

“If you love adventure and you have a good work ethic, I would go for it. Every posting brings on a new adventure. Put your hand up for it, see where it takes you,” Petty Officer Guy said.