Royal Australian Navy Celebrates Maritime Day 2011

Warm, sunny weather was the order of the day for Fremantle Celebrate Maritime Day 2011 on 27 August.

Sailors from HMAS Stirling (CAPT Brett Wolski), supported by Defence Force Recruiting Perth and Australian Naval Cadet units, created a Navy-themed maritime exhibition at Fremantle Port.

HMAS Newcastle (CMDR Anthony Campbell) and HMAS Farncomb (CMDR Glen Miles) berthed at Fremantle Port to showcase Navy Fleet units to the general public as part of the Fremantle Celebrate Maritime Day.

A strong focus of the event was promoting the RAN as an exciting opportunity for a maritime career and displaying an extensive range of career options available through Navy service.

Newcastle opened her gangway to an enthusiastic line of visitors in the morning and throughout the day 3,385 members of the local community took full advantage of the beautiful weather and the hospitality of the crew.

Feedback from the visitors was very positive with many commenting on their favourite aspects.

Highlights included the dynamic Guided Missile Launcher display and being able to discuss ship handling and Bridge operations with some of the Officers of the Watch.

The damage control display provided many smiles for the youngsters who took the opportunity to don fire fighting helmets and partake in the hands-on activation of a charged fire hose.

On the wharf, members of the public immersed themselves in all things Navy, by perusing Navy equipment and being able to speak to Navy members from many categories and experience levels.

The drawcards for families included ‘pirate’ face-painting, a raffle for a VIP submarine tour, knot tying, paper ship models and Navy giveaways.

Senior Naval Officer WA, CAPT Brett Wolski said that Fremantle Celebrate Maritime Day was particularly successful this year.

“This event has been a huge success for the West Australian maritime community and particularly for Navy as the primary attraction of the event,” he said.

“Navy looks forward to building on the positive relationship already established with the West Australian maritime community by continuing our involvement in this event in the coming years.”

The collaboration between Navy and the WA maritime community continued over the weekend, with the Company of Master Mariners Australia holding their monthly branch meeting in the Wardroom onboard Newcastle.

This engagement with the civil maritime industry allowed the Master Mariners to see the similarities, and the differences, between the commercial and the military sea going professions.

Overall the weekend’s activities ensured a very successful maritime engagement with the Fremantle community.

Navy involvement in Fremantle Celebrate Maritime Day acknowledged and reinforced the deep and historic ties between the Fremantle and all things maritime.

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Source: navy, September 5, 2011;