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HMAS Melbourne docks in Melbourne        Saturday 31 October 2009       Bigpond news

Navy Open Day Garden Island Sydney 2009          Friday 16 October 2009     Bill Krause

 

Date     Sunday 25 October 2009  Time  10:00am - 4:00pm  Where  Garden Island, Sydney

 

Address  Main Gate, corner of Cowper Wharf Road and Wylde Street, Potts Point, Sydney

 

The following ships will be open for public tours:

• Guided Missile Frigate HMAS Melbourne
• Guided Missile Frigate HMAS Newcastle
• Landing Platform Amphibious Class HMAS Manoora

There will be helicopter winching displays on Sydney Harbour by the Navy's Squirrel and Seahawk helicopters at 12:00 midday and 2:00pm.

The Navy Band will perform and Navy's Clearance Divers will give a demonstration.

The Navy Heritage Centre will be open, where visitors can view the conning tower of a Japanese submarine that attacked Sydney in 1942, see rock

 carvings etched by the First Fleet sailors in 1788 and spy on Sydney Harbour through an attack submarine periscope

Scuttling of ex HMAS Canberra.   Sunday 4 October 2009     Bill Krause & Lee Webster

Videos on YouTube

The ex HMAS Canberra was scuttled off the shores east of Barwon Heads  on Sunday 4 October 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8Mc3s6l9M0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gQnxkHmhlI

 Photo of Model of HMAS Voyager  Monday 21 September 2009  Bill Krause 

ANZAC Day March 2009 Videos on YouTube.

You can see some short videos of the ANZAC Day march by clicking on the links below.

Click on Video  of HMAS Melbourne Association March ( 40 seconds)

Click on Video  of HMAS Melbourne 3  March (29 seconds)

for more pictures see Photos of People

Sailor of the Year Award  25 April 2009

Commander Allison Norris and Association President Bob Burchill present Leading Seaman Electronic Technician Brooke Anne Knoblock with the 2009 Sailor of the Year Award.

SAILOR OF THE YEAR

Leading Seaman Electronic Technician

Brooke Anne Knoblock

Her professionalism and attention to detail when performing her technical duties is of the highest order, having surpassed that expected of a Leading Seaman and has made her a valuable asset to command and MELBOURNE.

Leading Seaman Knoblock, repeatedly displayed great determination during 2008, especially in the latter half of the year when she was required to shoulder the workload of two maintainers for an extended period. This was done under traumatic circumstances, but performed to an excellent level, which maintained the ships level of capability despite the personnel shortfall.

She actively participates in the management and improvement of Sailors welfare as shown by her leadership as a Welfare Committee Representative and as the leading hand of 2FWD Mess. In both of these roles she has made a significant contribution to the ship through her professionalism and enthusiasm. Her enthusiastic and cheerful approach to her core and ancillary duties is an inspiration to others and is reflected by the high esteem that she is held in. Her approach in all circumstances actively supports the interests of command by inspiring her colleagues to help achieve MELBOURNE’s goals

Commander Norris RAN                    Robert Burchill MELBOURNE Assn

Navy News Archive     2 March 2009     Phil Thompson

NAVY NEWS archive in PDF format now online - years 1958 to 1973 with more to come later:

http://www.navy.gov.au/Publication:Navy_News 

Former sailor's memories poisoned with asbestos     24 January 2009     The Age

Mr Fisher encountered asbestos in the navy. As a 17-year-old recruit he joined up seeking adventure, and signed on to be an aircraft handler.

Later, he would serve on HMAS Melbourne, which, like most ships of that day, had many of its pipes lagged with asbestos.

Asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma, typically emerge between 10 and 40 years after exposure. Mr Fisher, who left the navy after seven years in 1963, is lucky to have had as long as he has.

But the navy's problem with asbestos is not historical. It is current. This month it was revealed the navy still has nearly 250,000 asbestos parts in its storerooms and in use on ships and bases, despite a nationwide ban on asbestos being in place nearly five years

HMAS Melbourne on the way back to Sydney          2 December 2008           On board report.

All is going well in HMAS MELBOURNE at the moment although the crew are very much looking forward to the Christmas break.
We are due to arrive back in Sydney on the 10th of December from what has been a hectic six months.
Our visits to Singapore and Phuket were very enjoyable and provided the crew with some well earned rest and respite.

Fremantle Fun Stop for Weary Mariners  13 November 2008               WAtoday

The Sydney and Melbourne are both visiting Fremantle ahead of their participation in "Fleet Concentration Period-West 2008", a combined exercise involving Navy and Air Force elements from Australia and New Zealand.

Fleet Air Arm Association Reunion  25 October 2008   South Coast Register

One of the many visitors who came a long way to attend the anniversary celebrations at Bomaderry RSL was Peter McDonald from Brisbane. Yesterday, he enjoyed a beer and swapped some yarns with some of his old mates. “We are not getting any younger and this might be my last chance to see some of my mates,” he said. When he was not aboard the HMAS Melbourne for his six tours of duty, Mr McDonald was based at HMAS Albatross from 1958 to 1979.“Anything that went bang was what we looked after,” he said.

HMAS Melbourne (III) FFG 05 Sea & Helicopter OPS  26 September 2008     Phil Thompson

Another YouTube Video from Phil Thompson    Click here to see video.

HMAS Melbourne II     10 minute Video on YouTube           25 September 2008     Phil Thompson

 YouTube video "Farewell to a Lady" (HMAS Melbourne II swansong video) 10 minutes with a 'standard' and a 'high quality' option. The .FLV video clip will be in the Internet Explorer cache at the end for keeping as required.  Phil Thompson

 Click here to see video.

HMAS Melbourne in Brisbane 19 September 2008     Brisbane Times

Navy ships HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Leeuwin arrived at Brisbane's Hamilton port 19 September to celebrate south Queensland's "Navy Weekend" .   The ships will be open to the public..

Exotic Partners Sail for Maritime Evolutions  31 July 2008     Aviation Week

A gathering of naval vessels from a number of rather exotic nations has sailed from Darwin, northern Australia, to start Exercise Kakadu IX, a maritime exercise supposed to strengthen ties with Australia’s international counterparts and that seeks to improve maritime interoperability in the region. Exercise Kakadu IX will be held in the Northern Australian Exercise Area, off Darwin through August 8. It is described as the Royal Australian Navy (RAN)'s premier international engagement activity for 2008.  During Kakadu IX the RAN will be represented by many ships including HMAS Melbourne 3     Pictures of some of the ships are shown in the reference   Click here

HMAS Melbourne in Exercise Singaroo      15  July 2008                                  Net News Publisher

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has commenced Exercise Singaroo, a bilateral maritime warfare exercise with the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), in waters north of Darwin.     A number of RAN assets will take part in the exercise including Anzac Class Frigate Toowoomba, Adelaide Class Frigate HMAS Melbourne and Armidale Class Patrol Boat HMAS Pirie.Air support will be provided by Royal Australian Air Force Hawks from 79 Squadron and one Orion from 92 Wing.       In addition PEL-AIR Aviation Australia will provide realistic maritime strike and air combat support.     This year, Singaroo will see RSN ships RSS Vigour and RSS Vengeance, two Victory Class Missile Corvettes take part, with one F50 Fokker maritime patrol aircraft providing support.

Singaroo is an important exercise in the RAN’s calendar, with this year marking the 12th iteration in the series.       It also reaffirms the longstanding relationship between the two navies.     Exercise Singaroo aims to build warfare interoperability between the two navies and this year will include surface and air firings against towed targets, damage control training, Officer of the Watch maneuvers, and anti-submarine and air warfare serials.     Deputy Fleet Commander Commodore Simon Cullen, AM, CSC, RAN said, “Exercising interoperability between the navies of Singapore and Australia is an important element of the bilateral defense relationship between our two countries.”     Exercise Singaroo will take place in the Northern Australian Exercise Area until Friday 18 July, and precedes multi-national exercise Kakadu, which commences next week.

Maitland Woman at Frigate Helm  8 July 2008       Maitland Mercury

A former Maitland woman has sailed into military history as the first female in the Royal Australian Navy to captain a guided missile frigate.    Commander Allison Norris was at sea "somewhere in Northern Territory waters" yesterday on the bridge of the FFG frigate HMAS Melbourne.   She had been captain of the sophisticated warship for four days when the Maitland Mercury learned of her achievement.     "Allison was officially welcomed on board the Melbourne as captain on Thursday at a special ceremony," her father Col Horder said.

Guided missile frigates resurrected after electronic problems   1 July 2008           Herald Sun

The last of the electronic hurdles is about to be overcome at Garden Island in Sydney and a fully operational HMAS Sydney returned to the navy.

The other three vessels - HMAS Darwin, Melbourne and Newcastle - are due back in navy hands by March next year with all four in service by late 2009.

Chief executive of Thales Australia Chris Jenkins said the renewed government focus had pushed the project forward.  Mr Jenkins said the quartet were already the most capable ships in the navy, and when upgraded with new missiles and systems, they would be the most lethal warships Australia has had.

Death of US Commander who presided over Frank E Evans inquiry.    26 June 2008     Extract from The Age

The US Navy commander Jerome King who presided over a contentious inquiry into the collision between Frank E Evans and Melbourne, has died at 88.    King's conduct led to accusations of bias. A finding of shared guilt between the commanders of the two ships , led to further ill-feeling.     A mutinous situation on HMAS Melbourne was averted when rumours proved unfounded and its skipper, Captain John Stevenson, was not removed from command before the damaged carrier sailed from Singapore to Sydney. His crew made it clear they would not countenance such a move. Captain Stevenson had made a point of having the captains of the five destroyers protecting Melbourne to dinner on the carrier before the exercise began to verbally and in writing detail to them the manoeuvres they had to conduct to stay out of the way of the much larger ship         The captain of the Frank E. Evans was asleep in his bunk at the time of the collision and the officers-in-charge were lieutenants Ronald Ramsey and James Hopson.         Ramsey had earlier failed a qualification test to stand watch, while Hopson was on his first sea voyage

Reception aboard HMAS Melbourne     5 June 2008

Seven HMAS Melbourne Association people were among the guests  It was a most enjoyable evening with excellent savories and drinks. Commander Hughes gave an illustrated presentation and Association President Bob Burchill presented him with a photograph memento taken on ANZAC Day.    The sailor of the year was named and presented with a cup.  See pictures in the Photos of People section of this website.

ANZAC Day March 2008 Videos on Youtube.

You can see some short videos of the ANZAC Day march by clicking on the links below.

Click on Video 1 of HMAS Melbourne Association March ( 30 seconds)

Click on Video 2 of HMAS Melbourne Association March (26 seconds)

Click on Video 3 of Royal Australian Navy Band March  (35 seconds)

Latest Report - HMAS Sydney II   Search Press Room 

Click on Latest Report from Finding Sydney Foundation

Melbourne shines during Navy Week    24 October 2007               Navy

Navy Week proved to be an extremely busy time for HMAS Melbourne's ship company hosting three different major events over three days.

Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Nigel Coates, AM RAN, hosted the Navy Week Reception onboard Melbourne on Thursday 4th October. The evening was a complete success, followed by a hasty clean up for the next function.

"Melbourne's crew were excellent hosts for the evening; professional and friendly, despite their busy schedule", Rear Admiral Coates said.

Melbourne played host again very early the next morning, to the Channel Nine Today Show, acting as the set for the show's live weather crosses.

Melbourne's busy period concluded with Fleet Base East's Navy Week Open Day, on Saturday 6th October. Alongside at Garden Island, Melbourne was one of the star attractions.

Over 3,200 people took up the opportunity to tour the warship, experiencing a glimpse of Naval life.

During the Open Day, Melbourne's Commanding Officer, Commander Stephen Hughes, RAN, was presented with a painting from Mr John Downton, a member of the Australian Society of Marine Artists.

Mr Downton was in East Timor during Operation Celeste, recording Fleet and onshore activities. The painting "HMAS Melbourne on Duty", was no doubt inspired by the time Mr Downton spent onboard the frigate.

Secret's out, so ship in for a barrel of Navy scuttlebutt    29 September 2007  smh

A WORLD WAR II defence poster depicts a chatty sailor with his head nestled close to his blonde sweetheart and the message: "Tell Nobody, not even her - careless talk costs lives."

Sebastian Spencer says that since September 11, 2001, most military manuals have started with a similar secrecy warning.

But he and HMAS Kuttabul's commanding officer, Commodore Bryan Parker, are about to let the public in on one of the Royal Australian Navy's best-kept secrets - its Heritage Centre at Sydney's historic Garden Island Naval Base.

The museum houses artefacts, memorabilia and documents that are not only a history of the creation of the navy, but reveal aspects of Australian life since the First Fleet - even the origins of words such as "grog" and "scuttlebutt".

Mr Spencer, the curator of the museum, which opened two years ago, points to a wooden keg from 1865 bearing polished metal letters that declare: "The Queen - God bless her." He says the barrel was called a "Scuttlebutt" in Queen Victoria's time and was used to dispense the "grog" ration to sailors who would swap gossip as they waited.

"The word 'grog' comes from the nickname 'Groggy' that sailors gave to an admiral who first issued the rum ration to his grateful crew. They called him 'groggy' because he always wore a grogmore coat," Mr Spencer said.

Garden Island is home to the first known European graffiti in Australia, says Mr Spencer, who has been preparing the heritage centre for Navy Week open day next weekend, when the public will be able to access it for the first time via the main gate at Woolloomooloo.

Visitors will also be able to inspect a number of naval vessels, including the Frigate HMAS Melbourne, and see displays such as the navy's elite bomb disposal clearance divers in action.

It is an opportunity to tour the shady fig-lined picnic grounds of Garden Island, atop which sits Australia's oldest lawn tennis court (circa 1888) and where one can see the European graffiti.

Mr Spencer says navy legend has it that before governor Arthur Phillip set foot on Sydney Cove, a group of sailors from his flagship, the Sirius, climbed to the highest point and on a sandstone rock they carved their initials: "FP" for Frederick Meredith and "WB 1788" for Lieutenant William Bradley.

Two other sets of initials, "IR" and "FP", have never been traced.

The collection includes a binnacle (compass) souvenired from the German cruiser Emden, which was sunk off the Cocos Islands during World War I, a 700-year-old samurai sword that Japanese Admiral Sato Ijn presented to Australian forces when his troops surrendered at Wewak, New Guinea, in 1945, and a silver trophy bowl presented by "Mrs Douglas Macarthur" to the crew of HMAS Bataan for helping she and her husband, general Douglas MacArthur, escape the Philippines to Australia during World War II.  *

* The Sydney Morning Herald got this last bit wrong .... see below note from Vince Fazio

Free DVD  : HMAS Melbourne Middle East 03/04 Ship's DVD - mainly pictures of ship's company - If you want a copy, contact President Bob Burchill on (02) 9636 2207 or email rburchill@bigpond.com

The Naval Historical Society of Australia operates guided group tours which are open to the public and the minimum group size is 30. Normal fees and charges apply. The tours are tremendously popular and are often booked out several months in advance.  (02) 9359 2372 Email: secretary@navyhistory.org.au

Maritime Interception Operations This badge was designed by personnel in the Australian Task Force Command Team, MIO (Maritime Interception Operations) following a complaint from Iraq to the United Nations in mid 2001 that the Coalition navies' actions in boarding every ship entering or leaving Iraqi waters constituted piracy.  Sailors on HMAS Melbourne promptly nicknamed themselves the 'Pirates of the NAG' (North Arabian Gulf). The badge was apparently also produced in a low-contrast 'desert cam' colour scheme.