The Royal Australian Navy joined other members of Western Australia’s maritime community and more than eleven thousand members of the public on Saturday to celebrate the state’s seafaring industries.
Officers and Sailors from HMAS Stirling gave the public a glimpse into their professional lives at the Celebrate Maritime Day event held at the Port of Fremantle, which showcased maritime industries, organisations and companies, and promoted safety at sea.
Navy’s exhibits included a Naval Police Coxswain’s ‘Police van’, maritime fire fighting demonstrations, mine clearance diving equipment, survival equipment, life-raft demonstrations, interactive first-aid demonstrations, and a careers information stand manned by DFR and the Submarine Recruiting Team.
Navy PTIs put children through their paces and Port Services personnel taught knot tying, while other sailors got to work at the face painting stand. An LR5 Rescue Submersible display manned by Stirling ’s Submarine Escape Rescue Centre and James Fisher Defence was a crowd favourite.
RHIB (Rigid hull inflatable boat) demonstrations in the harbour delighted spectators, and unexploded ordinance disposal robots caught the attention of fascinated onlookers. Navy chef’s participated in sea-food cook-off competition while the RAN Band were a hit on stage.
The Commanding Officer of HMAS Stirling , CAPT Brett Wolski , said the day was a tremendous success and a great way for Navy to strengthen the bond shared with the wider maritime community.
“There has always been a great fellowship between civilian seafarers and members of the Royal Australian Navy, and this event proved the relationship is particularly strong here in Western Australia, which benefits all of us.”
“Celebrate Maritime Day was also a great opportunity for my crew to interact with the public, who have always been incredibly supportive of us in this State.” said Captain Wolski.
Celebrate Maritime Day is an annual event aimed at enticing newcomers into the maritime industries. Stirling is a major stakeholder in the event, which consequently acts as a window to Navy for Western Australians.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, September 10, 2012; Image: Royal Australian Navy