It’s always a proud moment for Queensland’s brave sons and daughters when they serve on the ship named after their home town.

For Chief Petty Officers Matthew Lyons and Rhys Clark, sharing this honour together was 17 years in the making. 

Despite growing up in Toowoomba, the pair only met for the first time on the bus to Royal Australian Navy Recruit School in 2009. 

Chief Petty Officer Lyons said the local connection helped him settle into military life.

“There were a few of us from Toowoomba, so you had something in common and were able to discuss home,” Chief Petty Officer Lyons said. 

Forging a friendship, the two young sailors were sent to opposite sides of the country after graduation. 

“Rhys went to the west straight away and I spent four years in the east first. We’ve always been aware of each other, but haven’t served together until now,” Chief Petty Officer Lyons said.

Chief Petty Officer Clark said both men had served on board HMAS Toowoomba previously, but never together.

“After leaving recruit school it was the first ship I was posted to. I have served in Toowoomba in every rank so far, and in July I will have spent 3000 days posted to the ship,” Chief Petty Officer Clark said.

After 17 long years, the mates were finally reunited on the ship known affectionately in the fleet as the ‘Purple Pony’.

Recently returned from a regional presence deployment conducted between January and May, Toowoomba travelled more than 28,500 nautical miles (52,782km) throughout East and South-East Asia, visiting six of Australia’s regional partners. 

' Every ship becomes your home when you’re on a deployment, but having that connection to Toowoomba does make this one more personal.'

During this time, Toowoomba completed an operational deployment enforcing United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea and engaged in multiple multilateral and bilateral exercises, activities and operations with allied nations.

“It’s a real reminder of just how long we have both been serving,” Chief Petty Officer Clark said. 

“During the quiet periods of the deployment, we have spent some time reminiscing about some of the characters and incidents that happened during our time at recruit school and category training at HMAS Cerberus.” 

Also proud to be serving on the ship was Leading Seaman Liam Heness, who grew up not far from the chief petty officers. 

“It’s pretty cool to serve on a ship that’s named after your home town. Every ship becomes your home when you’re on a deployment, but having that connection to Toowoomba does make this one more personal,” Leading Seaman Heness said. 

Leading Seaman Dominic Turkalj, embarked as part of the Anzac-class frigate’s flight team, was also aware of the honour. 

“I am proud and very lucky to serve on a HMAS Toowoomba, because it’s named from a place I was born and used to call home, and understand that most sailors won’t get this opportunity,” Leading Seaman Turkalj said. 

He said he was always proud to meet other Queenslanders in the ADF.

“It shows that Queenslanders not only love their state, but love their country and are willing to stand up and protect Australia’s interests,” Leading Seaman Turkalj said.