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The Naval Association

of Australia

NAVY WEEK QUEENSLAND - SEPTEMBER 2008.

HMA Ships Melbourne and Leeuwin were welcomed into Brisbane when the ships' companies performed the "Ceremonial Sunset and Beat to Quarters" in the front of the city's Deputy Mayor, Councillor Graham Quirk; the Commanding Officer of Navy Headquarters South Queensland, CMDR Forbes Peters, the Commanding Officer of HMAS Melbourne, CMDR Allison Norris, and the Commanding Officer of HMAS Leeuwin , CMDR Fiona Smith.

Held in Brisbane Square, the parade was watched by enthusiastic and supportive spectators including members of the Naval Association and ships associations. Afterwards the ships' companies were warmly received and were invited to a civic reception at City Hall in their honour.

Earlier in the day Melbourne and Leeuwin had sailed in company up the Brisbane River, with Navy Cadets from TS Southport embarked. Local interest in the visit was keen, with CMDR Norris and several members of Melbourne ship's company giving interviews to local radio. Among them were PO Sue Hollis, the ship's senior medic, who was eager to discuss and promote her role onboard, maintaining the health and efficiency of the ship's company. PO Hollis also expressed that she was looking forward to meeting her family in Ipswich.

Interest in the ships' visit remained high throughout their stay. Both ships were open to visitors held over the weekend which proved a resounding success. Over 1000 people made the trip to Hamilton Wharf to look over the vessels and briefly savour life onboard. Cookery displays, damage control exercises and diving demonstrations were all on show for visitors to see. In fact, queues had begun to form an hour before the official opening time and the streams of people did not stop for the entire day.

A Navy Week Commemorative Service was held at Bundamba, sponsored by the Bundamba Sub Section, who also hosted all participants at a luncheon at the old Goodna RSL club. congratualtions to Vivienne Stanbury who was standing in for Ron Baker who was in the USA. During the ceremony a plaque commemorating HMAS SYDNEY II was also unveiled.

A particular pleasure was to meet up with Wing Commander Kate Carlisle - one of the very first female RAN apprentices who spent over a dozen years in the Navy and then transferred to the RAAF. Congratulations on your great success Kate, we look forward to you joining the Naval Association - as a full member! and we also look forward to publishing your inspiratinal story in Australian Warship / White Ensign Magazine.

The visit culminated with the Chief of Navy, VADM Russ Crane, AM, CSM, RAN, conducting an enlistment ceremony for new recruits into the Navy. The group of new recruits included Luke Adams who is the fourth brother of his family to join the Navy and is a former member of TS Tyalgum, the training ship that VADM Crane attended. The ceremony concluded with the Navy's newest sailors wishing their families and friends a fond farewell before departing for HMAS Cerberus.

Some of the photos taken are under:-

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