HMAS Huon Gets Top Fleet Award

HMAS Huon was this week presented with the Royal Australian Navy’s most prestigious award for outstanding performance by His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd), Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.

The time-honoured and highly esteemed Gloucester Cup was presented to the 49 men and women of Huon for excelling above all others throughout 2013 in operations, safety, seamanship, reliability and training.

Acting Commander Australian Fleet, Commodore Jonathan Mead, congratulated Huon for espousing the values of today’s working Navy.

“Throughout 2013 Huon conducted a successful deployment to South East Asia, supported Operation RESOLUTE with gusto and produced the highest standard of work on exercises,” CDRE Mead said.

“Huon worked tirelessly to develop or improve the way Navy does business and excelled when it came to managing and proactively training people.

“The criteria for the Gloucester Cup has a broad scope which demands consistency across the board. As such, every department and each individual in Huon has had critical role to play in achieving the level of excellence recognised in this award.

“There is always keen competition between Navy ships and units for the Gloucester Cup, so achieving this award is a reflection of Huon’s persistent pursuit of excellence.

“It is also to be noted that Huon is the first minor war vessel to ever receive the Gloucester Cup in the 68 year history of the award.”

The Commanding Officer of Huon, Lieutenant Commander Jace Hutchison, said it was a great honour to receive the award and to have worked with such a devoted crew.

“I am very pleased to see recognition of such a proud, highly skilled crew who are completely committed to enabling ongoing success for Navy,” LCDR Hutchison said.

“I would like to also acknowledge the important role our supporting agencies ashore played in keeping the platform operating at its full potential and to thank our families for their ongoing support.”

As the holder of the annual Gloucester Cup, Huon will now attach a gold five-point star on each side of the ship’s Bridge structure.

The Gloucester Cup was initiated by Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester in 1946 and was first presented in 1947.

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Press Release, May 5, 2014; Image: Australian Navy