ANZAC Class Frigates

Selected in 1989, the ANZAC ship design is based

on the German MEKO 200 frigate. Modular
construction methods are employed with sections
of the ships fabricated in two locations-
Williamstown in Victoria and Whangarei in New
Zealand- prior to final assembly at Williamstown.
Eight ANZAC class frigates are being constructed
as part of the overall plan to upgrade the Royal
Australian Navy. A further two ships of the class
have been built for the Royal New Zealand Navy.
The first of class, HMAS ANZAC, was launched on
16 September 1994 and commissioned on 18 May
1996. ANZACs are long-range escorts with roles
including air defence, anti submarine warfare,
surveillance, reconnaissance and interdiction. The
ships are capable of countering simultaneous
threats from the air, surface and sub-surface.
BALLARAT is different to previous ANZACs as
some modifications were made as a result of
lessons learnt. For example, her Junior Sailors
cafe, is different to that on HMAS ANZAC. The
new galley sees a better 'flow-through' design from
the serving line. Her hangars are also slightly
different, with better fans and a RAST system for
the Seasprites already fitted.
I I LIIIL' .
We dfJOI/
118 meters
4.4 meters
> 27 knots
164
Ships Characteristics
Beam:
Full Load Displacement:
Maximum Range:
1 GE LM 2500 Gas Turbine producing 30,000hp
2 MTU 12V1163 Diesels producing 8,500hp
Twin Shaft Controllable Pitch Propellers
4 x MTU 650kw Diesel Generators
14.8 meters
3,600 tonnes
6,000nm at 18 knots
L!lltlll.tiDnln ystem: Celsius Tech 9L V 453 Mk 3
RIM-7P NATO Sea Sparrow 1
1
olltll >1 I! Il L Missile System:
I 11 ~ o l t l l o l y tem:
( 11111 '
f\',W ' ,y, lcm:
I ( tly
I II II ,() f I
I t , 11 Ll t , , a I a r:
Mk 41 Mod 5, 8 Cell Vertical Launch System
Mk 73 Mod 1 CWI Transmitter
9L V 453- Band Tracker
9LV 453 - Optronic Director
FMC 5"/54 Mk 45 Mod 2 Gun Mount
Triple Torpedo Tubes Mk 32 Mod 5
SRBOC Mk 36 Mod 1 Chaff Launcher
AN/SPS-49V (8) Long Range Air Warning
Celsius Tech OIV 453 TIR Air/Surface
Krupp Atlas 9600M Navigation
Cossor Electrics IFF Mk XII
HMAS BALlARAT
Commissioning fJ3ool(
June 2 '4 - f})ecember 004
Foreword
r.By Commander rJJ.J. :J{unter, CSC, 2(.9!9{
When a Ship and her Ship's Company hav <h n so llltt h, .< \ II 'lnd in uch a short period of time, the challenge for anyone ai1ning to capture
those 1noments is not in what to include, it is wlwt : 111 ti ll' ni'I (Hd to I ave out.
The following pages Qf information, arti I s, i11d i 1 l ~ t : t l o1111 il utions, and photographs not only accurately record the events they preserve the
1noods and tone of the Ship. The spirit of n w \ :tr. lttp 1. ' c: tptttr d in print; forever to re1nind us of the year 2004.
It has been the beginning of a new life. In rutur : 11 ,; Ill '\ Ships' ' n1panies will join and be welcomed, however HMAS BALLARAT will
always carry the character that has been cr at d :tttd l' tiii H ddl d h thos whom have served in her until now.
I applaud the work of the members of the 11l111 ill " It ' I t:t \ L' s i rt d through the countless items of material that this journey has produced. The
results they have asse1nbled encapsulate all tlwt \ lt :t\ do11 , ;t hicved and mis-achieved- everything we would wish to re1nen1ber while we
have served in BALLARAT.
October 2005
Introduction
This book has been published to record and celebrate the commissioning and first 6 months of HM/\ I /\1 1/\1 1\T II , the sixth ANZAC
class frigate to enter service in the Royal Australian Navy. We aim to create a first-hand historical 8C Hllll of til significant events in
BALLARAT's life until the end of 2004, to highlight the importance the City of Ballarat and the ori ginrl ll /\I II\ I) 1\ r has to us, and
provide a memento to be shared with friends, family and valued supporters of BALLARAT and her cr w. M > lor II , we have aspired
to capture the essence of the people who are the crew of HMAS BALLARAT and who sail with her a h 11linu s her journey into
the future.
Please enjoy.
The BALLARAT Editorial Team
December 2005
4
Passing the Baton
13y Cdr. C. 1Jona[tf tJJyf(es, 2(1J,
As the only surviving wartime Cornman lin,' (!/fleer of the Corvette Ballarat, I am honoured to provide a brief Foreword for
the Commissioning of the Frigate Ball Trot. I do this on behalf of the many sailors who served in the former during her busy
World War II career.
Ballarat I was a workhor .for those .fi)/11' _l'l'tl!s, serving in the Singapore and Dutch East Indies area - keeping one step
ahead of the Japanese .fore , r s ' II in.' lil es ol sea, f errying troops along the New Guinea Coast, escorting numerous
convoys and surviving many J rpo11 Jsc' hotnher attacks. Early in 1945 Ballarat became Flotilla Leader of the 21st
Minesweeping Flotilla and worA ed vt ill1 1/Jc' Nrilish Pacific Fleet until the surrender of Japan. She was in Tokyo Bay for the
Signing of Surrender on 2 Septemb r I <J I .
It is interesting for those who hav Sill'\ h'c d In look back over the sixty-three years between these two Commissionings,
particularly for those who were pre nl ollllc' firs/ on 30 August 1941 and are here today.
We of the first Ballarat are honoured lo /uo!t l llll' hat on to the ship's company of the new Bal!a1 rt and wi h all who sail in
her safe voyages and safe returns.
April2004
5
HMASB
Type:
Displacement:
Australian Minesweeper (Bathurst Class)
650 tonnes
Length: 186 feet
Beam: 31 feet
Draught: 8 feet 6 inches
Builder:
Laid Down:
Melbourne Harbour Trust, Willi amstown
19 April 1940
Launched: 10 December 1940
Launched By:
Machinery:
Mrs Dunstan, wi fe of Vi ctoria's Premier
Triple expansion, 2 shafts
Horsepower:
Speed:
Armament:
Complement
1,750
15 knots
1 x 4- inch gun
3 x Oerli kons (later 2)
1 Bofor
Machine Guns
Depth Charges and throwers
85
HMAS BALLARAT (1) was one of 60 Australi an
Minesweepers (commonly known as corvettes)
built during World War II in Australian shipyards
as part of the Commonwealth Government's
wartime shipbuilding program. Twenty
(including BALLARAT) were built on Admiralty
orders, but manned and commissioned by the
Royal Australian Navy. Thirty-six were built for
the Royal Australian Navy and four for the
Royal Indian Navy. Eight shipyards throughout
Australia were utilised for the building of the
Corvettes. At the height of production, corvettes
were being commissioned at a rate of one
every 26 days. Each corvette cost 250,000
pounds to buil d and fit out. This figure is doubl e
that of th original estimate of 110,000 pounds.
BALLI\ AT w s commissioned in Melbourne
on 30 Au u t 1941, under the command of
LCDR Alfr rl ing, RANR. BALLARAT was
known ff ti n t ly to her crew as either 'The
Rat' or'G II- r'.
After co mi i nin , BALLARAT joined the
20th Min w pin lotill a based in Sydney.
Her first duty, rt of the floti ll a, was to sail to
Jervi s Bay to provide anti-submarine protection
6
TI
lo lh , 111111 p rl shi p, Queen Mary, whom along
with 11 1 i ter ship Queen Elizabeth
trr-111 po1l I /\u tralian troops to the Middle
l. Il L th ships had left Jervis Bay,
B/\11 /\I J/\ I r turned to Sydney.
Durinq N v rn er she left Sydney towing Oil
i 111 1 N 1; her destination was Darwin, vi a
Bri I clll , wnsville and Thursday Isl and.
Ur 11 11 r rrival in Darwin during Decemb r
1 ~ 1, I 1\LLARA T commenced escort duti ~
b tw n Darwin , Timor and Ami> 11
BALLI\ / AT spent her fi rst Chri stmas as n
commissioned vessel at a buoy in Darwin
Harbour.
In early 1942, BALLARAT saw action during her
arrival at Batavia. She then proceeded to
Singapore and from here she patrolled the
Banka Strait, (also known as Bomb Alley during
the war) . During this patrol, BALLARAT was
employed in rescuing shipwrecked crews and
carrying out work.
On 12 February 1942, BALLARAT left
Palembang for escort duties. Visibility was poor
due to a severe tropical storm, and BALLARAT
was ordered to anchor. It was found in the
morning that BALLARAT had in fact anchored
in the middle of a minefield. The order was
given to raise the anchor, and with all eyes
watching over the side and everyone remaining
very quiet, they sailed out of the minefield.
On 14 February 1942, BALLARAT carried out
one of the largest rescue operations of the
campaign. She picked up 215 survivors from
the MV Derrymore, which had been sunk by a
Japanese Submarine, about 60 miles north
west of Batavia. At 1300, the lookout spotted an
empty liferaft, and at 1405, wreckage and
survivors waving were spotted. The captain
ordered the motor boat and the whaler to the
water. They were both used to pick up survivors
and ferry them back to the ship. By 1700, the
operation was completed. Among those
rescued was Flying Officer JG Gorton, RAAF,
who was later to become Prime Minister of
Australia. It is interesting to note that Mr Gorton
also held the position of the Mi nister to the
Navy prior to his Prime Ministerial Appoi ntment.
Between February and November 1942,
BALLARAT was used to land parties for
demolition work at Oosthaven. Al ong with her
sister ships, BALLARAT took a prominent part
in the evacuation of Sumatra. BALLARAT was
the last Royal Australian Navy ship to leave the
area, remaining behind to sink an unseaworthy
minesweeper. Upon return to Australia, she
was employed in convoy escort work mainly to
New Guinea. In November 1942, Japanese
dive- bombers heavily attacked BALLARAT and
her si ster ship HMA KA TOOMBA.
In Decemb r 1 BALLARAT and her sister
ships HMI\ flip OLAC and BROOME were
used to lrc 11 p )II t nd land troops in the Buna
r . /\rt ,I lrtiHiing l Cape Sudest, near Oro
'lY, 111 ' lllp, w r faced with threat from
llltid ,lllili <I .til ,1c1ll. After the initial landing, in
wlli cll o11ly ollh 762 men were landed, the
hip, 1 111 t1l1 d, only to return to a different
I 11 li11q c111 c1 lllat night . All men were
1c, ,,!lilly l<lnded under the cover of
r11 1111 ''
I tlliiHJ 1 BALLARA T was ordered to
p 1 r1 l1 oil llw east-coast of Australia to
t111l1 1 Lqmn se submarines. During 1944,
/31\ I I 1\ /' 1\ I was employed yet again as an
, coli 111 Ill , New Guinea area and between
I and Darwin.
111 I<)
1
, 131\LLARA T was minesweeping off
y IIH y, prior to departing for the Leyte Gulf.
)It c111 iv.1l in the Leyte Gulf, she took part in the
op 1,llic 11 for the capture of Okinawa, this battle
I ) )I pl11c between March and May.
BALLARAT also took part in the surrender of
the Japanese in Tokyo, where she was
engaged in minesweeping with the 20th and
21st Minesweeping Flotillas. BALLARAT was
the first Australian corvette to enter Tokyo Bay,
and the first to land her crew on Japanese soil.
BALLARAT was damaged at Amoy on 6
November and returned to Melbourne on 13
November. Upon her arrival in Melbourne, the
crew were given long leave.
On completion of hostilities, BALLARAT had
steamed an amazing 138,000 miles (86,250
km) , had spent 14,544.9 hours (606.3 days)
underway, at an average speed of 9.5 knots.
BALLARAT averaged a distance of 2,621 miles
per month. BALLARAT was paid off into the
Reserve at Sydney on 27 September 1946 and
later sold to a Hong Kong shipping company.
However, she did not leave Australian waters,
as she was sold again, prior to her final owner
purchasing her in 1953. BALLARAT was finally
sold to John Manners and Co (Aust) Pty Ltd
and broken up at Iron Cove, Sydney.
Construction
Construction of BALLARAT comn1enced on
4 November 1988, when steel was cut ready
for assembly at the TENIX dockyard in
Williamstown, Melbourne. Construction
continued throughout the next two year a
the various units and tnodules con1pri ing
this warship were built and a cmbl d.
Several of these modules were built 'lnd
shipped over frotn New Zealand.
BALLARAT's hull co1nprised of six n1odulcs
- Ml, M2, M3, M4, M5 and M6. The upp 'r
compartments also COI11 pri cd 0 r S i
modules - AI, A2, A3, A4, AS and /\6.
Each of these lTIOdules con i ' ted or
individually built units.
A significant stage of constructi n 1s
marked by the 'Keel Laying', which
occurred on 04 August 2000.
Following this event, consolidation of the
1nodules occurred in the Building Berth.
Once the hull and superstructure
consolidations were co1nplete, the ship
cotntnenced outfitting and prepared for
launch.
8
Launch
NUSHIP BALLARAT was launched at T ni I k l l' l ll ' l ' :, Wdli :tmstown dockyard on Saturday, 25 May 2002. Doctor Susanna Herd, natned the
ship in honour ofthe original vessel, which s r t d \\ l i l t d1 111trlion in the Pacific in World War II.
I)
Sea Trials
NUS HIP BALLARAT cotntnenced
contractor sea trials in preparation ~ r
delivery on Friday, 5 March 2004.
BALLARAT took to the water for the fir l
time, for 12 days in Port Phillip Bay and
off the Victorian coast, to test her sy lcms
and perfonnance ahead of fonnal hand v r
proceedings.
Under the co1n1nand of Tenix and laking
about 35 members of Ballarat 's hip 's
company with her, including h r
designated first Commanding Offi cer, lh
ship was put through a rigorous cl 0 r
exercises and trials to ensure she was ready
for acceptance. These trials inc! udcd
testing the cotnbat systems, firing the gun
and testing the engineering and propul si n
syste1n, including a full power trial.
10
Delivery
NUS HIP BALLARAT was delivered t
the Royal Australian Navy in a Ceretnony
at Williamstown Dockyards on 30 Apri I
2004.
Th I I i ry ' rcmony took place on the
rli h i d I and was attended by
IJ , I! , I_. I N. l 'l "s ships company and many
T r1 i. \ ork rs. BALLARAT was formally
h:tr Hitd o r t the RAN by Mr Paul
Snll (' hi r xecutive Officer of the
' l trtr < lr (H l p. /\c cpting delivery on behalf
o I llt l' P 1\ N wa Commodore Keith
< 'ommander Australian Navy
, ' 11rl n ' l < 'ombal'l nl Force Element Group.
< >rt d It \ t' t the hief of Navy approved
I' II I I R 11 T' Initial Operational
P I :1. :111d directed the Marititne
< ' t tlltll :trt dlt to a sume full Command.
l' t urll It t t'. 1/ , /LLARAT entered its Naval
< >p r :llr ott :tl T sl Evaluation
II
This event marked the first day in which a
duty watch was formed and cotnmenced
their routines. Additionally, the ship was
now able to be stored and the crew
comtnenced moving onboard. This resulted
in a steep learning curve for the crew and a
vast amount of stores and personal itetns
were moved onboard.
History of Commissio
g
During the construction and fitting out of a
ship, there are four ceretnonial occasions
that occur_ the keel laying, the launch, ship
delivery and the Cotntnissioning. The
cotntnissioning ceretnony 1narks the
introduction into service of a ship as a unit
of the Royal Australian Navy. The tradition
pre-dates the first European Royal Navies.
Royalty would charter or 'Comn1i ssion'
ships from private owners to search for new
trade routes and riches or to fight
troublesome neighbours. Sin1ilarly ,
privateers could seek Royal approval for
their ventures in the form of a Cotnmission.
This tradition continued after the first
Navies were fanned and marked the official
handing over of the ship from builder to the
Navy.
At the 1noment of breaking the
co1nmissioning pennant, H MAS
BALLARAT, becomes the responsibility of
the Comtnanding Officer, who, together
with the ship's officers and sailors, has duty
of n1aking and keeping her ready for any
service required by our nation in war and
peace. The distinctive tnark of a RAN ship
in comtnission, other than the Australian
White Ensign, is a flag or pennant at the
masthead.
On the appointed day, lh s hip,s
comn1issioning or n1asthcad pcnnHnl is duly
hoisted, the newly joined Captain, Officers
and ship's cotnpany assemble either on the
quarterdeck or on the jetty alongside which
the vessel is lying, usually in the presence of
a congregation composed chiefly of the
partners and fatnilies of the new crew.
The ceretnony begins with the arrival of
fficial guests and inspection of the guard
by the guest of honour who is accotnpani ed
by the Cotnmanding Officer. The
ommanding Officer then reads the
commiss ioning orders. The Nationa l
/\11thcn1 is played, and simultaneously, the
/\ustr'l li an White Ensign and the Australian
Nationn l Flag, are hoisted, and the
commissi ning pennant is broken. The
'uptt1in, Officers and ship's cotnpany then
pro' d onb ard and the ship is now
cons id r d to be part of Her Majesty's
Roy;tl /\uslntli'l n Navy. The Officer of the
Di.ly l:1k s sl;1tio11 n the Bridge and tnakes
th' l'irsl cnlry in the ship's log 'HMAS
B/\LL/\1' AT ol'rici lly Cotnmissioned into
the Ro :II /\11slmli m Navy'.
In thL' <1:1 ,' or r lti airy, knights rated a small
poiniL'd 11:1)' or p '1111 n. The tnark of a
' quirL' \ :1. :1 lu111' p nnant very sitnilar to
the "cone! I\ lttp pt'llll:llll' of n1odem men-of-
war. B:tiOIH'I. ' tHIII:tllkLd lhc I night but took
pr 'CL'(kl tt't' h low n I uron. hey carried a
I ni d1l ' s p 1111011 with a sp lit in the end. It
12
W(IS ctl. ' lo11wry create barons on the
ld h the king or general cutting off
p11rl or lit p nnon. This square flag was a
s 111 hoI or in reased rank. After battle,
I: d, :11 d ( k no n as The Black Prince) tore
thl' l:til or I he p ' 11non of Lord John Channos
s;1 'Sir .lohn behold, here is banned;
( lod SL' IHI ou much joy with it'. One may
lrnrL' di1 II frotn these custotns, the
"ro: trltv hip ' on1n1issioning pennant, the
hrond JH' IIII illtl w rn by Comtnodores, and
I Ill' ,' qtl :ll'l' ll :1 'S f Admirals of our own and
olltv1 N:l\
TIH 111odvrn Royal Australian Navy
ott lltli. '. ' lollill' pennant is the red cross of
Sl < :11 lh h ist with a white fly. In
liL'll ol n n )JJIItlissi ning pennant, flagships
rl :t < 'oltlltlo lor or Admiral's personal
l'l:q' , ltl' ll th name flagship. The
cottlll ti ., :loltill' p nnant is replaced by the
Ro :tl , ' 1:11td:1rd whenever a metnber of the
Ro :d l' :tlltd is mbarked.
The Australian White Ensign today is a
white flag with the Union Flag in the upper
canton at the hoist with six blue stars
positioned as in the Australian Flag.
Prior to the establishment of the RAN,
Australian colonial Navies flew a Blue
Ensign defaced by the badge of the
individual colony. On 10 July 1911, His
Majesty King George V granted the title of
'Royal Australian Navy' to the
Commonwealth Naval Forces. Thereaft r
RAN ships flew the White Ensign a did '1 11
Dotninion warships.
However, for tnany years Australian
opinion favoured a distinctly Australian
ensign. In January 1966, the Chief of Naval
Staff (today known as Chief of Navy) and
metnbers of the Naval Board and his senior
officers rec 111111 nded to the Govemtnent
that th RAN h uld have its own unique
white n ign.
T h M i n is t r I r t h N '1 v y i n ~ rn1 e d the
Prin Minist r or th Nava l Board's
r < mm nd<tlion ' ll I th r rm1l 'lppr val of
II r Mct.i st Qu en Eli z1 th II was
r Ill st d. Ro al a ent t th n w ensign
w;t s qnnt d < n 7 Nov n1b r I c (c. 1-- nnal
:trtrt ot trt rtt nt of the new en ign w1s n1ade
I tit Prilll Minister on 23 ember
l <)()() .
I .
Australian White Ensign
Commissioning
Ore r ( ~ / ( ' 'r nwny & Service
Ship's Company and Guard march onto
the wharf
Maritime Commander Australia and
Official Party of VIPs arrive
Guest of Honour arrives
Parade inspection
Commanding Offi cer read the
Commissioning Order
Invitation to Prayer
Commander D.J. Hunt er R/\N
(Commanding Officer HMAS Ball arat)
In the course of duty we are set in the n1idst
of exciting, challenging and somet i m s
dangerous tasks. It is therefore fit and
proper that we should humbly ask the
blessing of Almighty God at the beginni ng
of this commission of Her Maj esty'
Australian Ship Ballarat, that He may
sustain us and protect us in the performance
of our duty. Let us then join each other in
prayer that this Ship, and all who serve in
her now and in the future, may always be
under God' s protection, and that we
ourselves may serve in her to the good of
our Sovereign, Queen Eli zabeth, the
advancement of Australi a, and the glory of
God's Holy Na111 . I invite the Chaplains to
ask a blessing on ur Ship.
The Lord' s Prayer
(Said by all) Led by Chaplain G. Lock RAN
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be
Thy N arne, Thy kingdom co1ne, Thy will be
done on Earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us
thi day our daily bread, and forgive us our
tr passes, as we forgive those who trespas
gainst us. And lead us not into temptation
ut deliver us from evil, for Thine is the
I ingd m, the power and the glory, forever
'lnd v r. Atnen.
Psa lm 107
R '' I I y Senior Chaplain M.J. Walbank
R !\ N (With Guests Responding)
V: Som sa il ed the sea in ships, performing
th ir d 1ty n the great waters.
R: Til s1w the deeds of the Lord, His
won lr HIS w rk in the deep.
V: J' or II n 111 anded, and raised the
storlll win I, which lifted up the waves
ol' tlt . : t.
R: rl h tiiOtltll I up to heaven, they went
down lo I It d pth their courage melted
'l w (I i II t II \ i r i I r I i g h t'
V: h ' r I I ~ ~ n I taggered like
drunk:1rds, tt ll d w r 1t th ir wits' end.
14
P: Tit 11 tit ri d to the Lord in their
llotlhll\ :1 11 III delivered the1n from their
dt , ' II '. '. ~
V: II ltt :l< l th torm be still, and the
wn v -. o I' I h s were hushed.
P : ' I It ' II I ll w re glad because they had
qtll t :111 I II brought them to their
d ,' II d lt :t 11 .
V I t I II ' tit tl l'I I I the Lord for His steadfast
In lor II is wonderful works to the
r lltldlt' ll o r !\. I m!
R I I nil tol Ilin1 in the congregation of
lhl p )pi , and praise Him in the
:t. ',' lll tl I ol'th lders.
s,..- ph1n l{,ading: St Matthew 8: 23-27
R nd I < 'll1 r P tty Officer R. Waites
/\ 11d wit ' I I .I s 1 got into the boat, the
dt. 'clpll . loll ow Him. And behold there
:1ro.l n 1' 1 n t st( nn on the sea, so that the
bo:tl \\ n. h i 11 , wamped by the waves; but
I k \ n, n. l p. And they went and woke
111 111 . n 111 , " ave, us Lord; we are
p 11 .' lt111 ' '. /\ n I He said to them, 'Why are
yo11 . o nlmi I, men of little faith?'
Thl' ll .I . ' t J. ' ros nd rebuked the winds and
tit . : t ~ :1 11 I th r was a great calm. And the
nt ' II 111: 11 II d aying "What sort of a man
is llti ., tlt ;1l ven the winds and sea obey
I lim'."
The Naval Prayer
Read by Rear Adtniral R.W. Gates CSM,
RAN
0 Eternal Lord God, who alone spreads out
the heavens and rules the raging of the sea;
who has compassed the waters with bounds
until day and night come to an end: Be
pleased to receive into Your almighty and
most gracious protection, the persons of us
Your servants and the Fleet in which we
serve.
Preserve us from the dangers of the sea, and
from the violence of the enetny th t w
may be a safeguard unto ur v r i ) Jl ,
Queen Elizabeth and h r d n ini ot s, ;111 I 1
security for tho e wh p 1ss 0 11 t h s ; ts 11 po11
their lawful i n that th i11hitl it:tll l. '
of our Comn1 nwe llh n ty in p a n 11<1
quietness serve You ur d ~ \ 1 I tll ;tl l '
may return in safety to enj y the I ss it q, ,
of the land, with the fruits of ur Ia ) trs,
and with a thankful remetnbranc r Your
mercies to praise and glorify Your hoi
name; through Jesus Christ, Our L r I.
Amen.
Blessing of the Ship
Read by Chaplain G. Lock RAN (Protestant
Denominations)
In the name of the Father, and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit, we dedicate and set
apart HMAS Ballarat as a sign of our duty
toward our Queen and our Country in the
si rht of God. Amen.
Read by Senior Chaplain M.J. Walbank
RAN (Anglican)
May God the Father, God the Son and G d
the Holy Spirit bless, direct and pr per thi
ship, and all who sail in her n w and
always. Amen
Read by Principa l h pl ain B. Rayner
OAM, RAN (Cath li )
May th bl ss in , or /\ In i d1ty od, the
Father, th . ) 11 <111 I l h l loly pirit descend
up 1 thi s ship :1 11 d illl who ai l in her, and
r n 'ttn il lt lltl' tlt I(H r. ;\men.
Pnay(r for ~ h e Ship
I nd h I tl ' lll 'IWnt tntnander Dryden,
P N (I . l' ' til i < ITic r, HMAS Ballarat)
t: tl ' t ll :tl < lod, h lp u to live in peace and
h:q ptlll '.',' :t. w s rv You, and our country,
:t. ' 11H' tlll wr. ol'thi Ship' s Company. Enable
W ~ lu ll' \ Otlhy f those WhO serve with US,
:t '"I , ' :111 I us a willing spirit to fulfil
wlwl ., dulie rnay be given us . May we
:d I hllp one another in true charity, and
' It tt ottr life's work is done may we all
til l' I npain and find true rest in the eternal
h:tpp11t ss of Your presence. Through Jesus
( 'l11 t. 'l, Our Lord. Amen.
'llu Naval Hymn
(S1111 p hy al l) Led by Able Seaman T. Burke
l: t ' lll ill Father, strong to save,
Whos ann hath bound the restless wave,
Who l idd ' st the mighty ocean deep,
15
Its own appointed limits keep:
0 hear us when we cry to thee,
For those in peril on the sea.
0 Trinity of love and power,
Our brethren shield in danger' s hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe ' er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee,
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.
Prayer on behalf of the people of the City
of Ballarat
Read by Chaplain J. McSweeney RANR
Benediction
Read by Principal Chaplain B. Rayner
OAM, RAN
The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the
love of God and the fellowship of the Holy
Spirit be with you all and those who sail in
HMAS Ballarat, now and forever. Amen.
Commissioning Pennant broken,
Australian White Ensign and Australian
National Flag hoisted
Ship's Company marches onboard
Cheer Ship
Address by Commanding Officer
Address by Guest of Honour
Commanding Officer piped onboard
HMAS Ballarat
Reception Commences
Commissioning
13y .L'/l/
1
Yael( J{orner
Commissioning is a tnotnentous event that
marks the introduction of a ship into servi ce
for the Royal Australian Navy. The
cotnmissioning ceremony took place on the
evening of Saturday 26 June 2004 t
Melbourne's Docklands. For those unfan1ili ar
with Melbourne, this is a recently d v I p I
area on the very edge of the city pr p r, with
the CBD and the Telstra Dotne nl y a short
walk away. The Melbourne skyline pr vid I 'l
stunning backdrop on this cool aututnn ni >ht
as Ballarat hoisted the Australi an Whit
Ensign for the very first time. The exten ivcly
planned commissioning ceren1ony wa .
executed superbly and the subseque nt
reception was enjoyed by all.
Official guests at the event included:
Minister for Defence, Senator Robert Hill
the Vice Chief of Defence Force, Vice
Admiral Shalders
the Chief of Navy, V ADM Ritchie
the Marititne Commander, RADM Gates
FROM:
ACTION:
ORGI ATORS DTG:
HMAS PARRAMATTA
NUSHJP BALLARAT
25 1400Z JUN 04
SUBJ : COMMISSlO I G OF HMAS BALLARAT
Doctor Susanna Herd, Cotnmissioning
Lady and Guest of Honour
Robert Herd, President of the Victorian
IMAS BALLARAT Association
MDR Donald Dykes (Retd), President of
the New South Wales BALLARAT
!\ ciation and only rema1n1n g
mtnanding Officer of BALLARAT 1
vid Vendy, Major of Ballarat.
' I h ' hi f of the Defence Force, General
nt the following message to the
M y the good ship HMAS
nd all those who sail in her
nwl ' a li stingui hed and valiant contribution
to th Ro nl Au tralianNavy'.
[ ur in , ommi ss i ning ceremonies it is usual
r )r on I I h C 'on n nding Officer and platoon
omnw11d rs lo a lute when the National
/\nth 111 is pl :1 ' I t the raising of the Ensign.
But f'or our < 'ommi s i ning the Commanding
Offi r : 111 I l'or til tnembers of the ship' s
FROM:
ACTION:
ORGINATORS DTG:
111 :111 lo . :tlut t gether. This symbolism
XI r ss d lh:tl ry ingle crew member has
an imporl :11ll onlri ution to make and that we
'H' lo nil i1do1t our own sense of
r s1 otl. il ilil low trd BALLARAT.
No\ , 1111<l 1 Ill m ll of 'Defend the Flag', it
is I \;\ I I P T 's turn to establish a reputation
ts h i 11 p : 111 ' lllhusi tic and capable warship.
II is 0111 v1 ., llwl this motto does not pertain
to :111 o11 ll :1 , but to the beliefs associated
with \ 11 :11 v r !1 1 you choose to identify
with. ' llt l. ' 111 :1 l the Australian National
Fl:q'. Ill tr. 1r1li n White Ensign, the
/\hol'll' lll :t I or Torr Straight Islander Flag,
th Hu 111 1' I :tn aroo, the Flag of the
Soul II ' lit < '1 o. '.' or ny other. As we sail into
our 1111 111 II i, not just the tnaterial flags the
r w ol H LL/\ RJ\ T desires to 'defend' but
thL: h or ur families, friends and
CO lJ 1111 Ill ' II .
Ill\ I \ : I l \ I \ IN
111\1\ 11\ 11 I 'I'
1
11 1110 II IN 0 1
I. TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF I-lMAS BALLARAT, WE WI II YOl J I INI \ I 1111 1 UBJ: WELCOMEOT TIII 1 111 I
A DFO DMEMORI E FOR WII AT WILLBE ONEOFTHE 1RI II Sil l \ ,' IN 1111 CONGRATULATI ONS ON , .I t NT MILESTONE. THE RESURGENT
HI STORY OF YOUR FINE IIIP. AV R THE DAY, FOR IT Wll I < i<l I ,' I DARWIN WELCOMI S I I II l 1111 I I NO ESPECIALLY FUTURE TASKING
2. ONGRATULATI ON I II I Nl > IN DEFENDING Till I I <; I N 1111 I II I{ IIALF
000 L K F R Til MA Y DVEt T RE THAT LIE AHEAD I HRONICLES 12 V 1X, I I< >Ill c, I X
3. R MY ( IN
HAWAII )

HMAS BALLARAT's Ships Lady
Dr Susanna Herd grew up in the outer
eastern suburbs of Melbourne where the
Natural History Museum was one of her
favourite childhood haunts. Her moth r
Mrs Dulce Herd, a talented artist, potter
and quilter and her father Mr Robert I-I rd
who served in Ballarat during WWII n
whose interests included archae I y,
physics, astronomy, theology and R 1 i'ln,
together provided the opportuniti s 'In I
experiences that shaped Dr H r I' s In I r
life.
Her interest in nature inspired r II r I lo
attain a Bachelor of Science (Gen ti '111 I
Chemistry) at the University ofMelb urn .
After completing Honours, Dr II r I
commenced PhD research into the b ' I
defect in an inherited metabolic disea r
copper metabolism, Menkes' Disease.
Post-doctoral research at La Trob
University was followed by study for a
Diploma of Education. Dr Herd then
returned to La Tro be to lectur
biochemistry and tnolecular biology. Her
passion for learning has continued as Dr
Herd is currently studying Intellectual
Property Law with particular reference to
the biotechnical industry.
II ' r r1th r, Mr Robert Herd, a Naval
ar hil t < r c n iderable world acclaim is
lh lon, lim President, Secretary and
Tr r f the HMAS Ballarat
Asso i:1li on.
Dr II rd "N 'ltncd', and Launched Ballarat
:tl Tvtti I) r-nce' Williamstown dockyard
011 Mn 2002. Dr Herd is also the
, ' !tip . < '01nmi ioning Lady.
I >1 Il l rd and her husband, Mr David
I >:t\ have four daughters Sophie,
I Ill I. :t h lie and Charlotte. In her spare
ltttll I > 1 II rd enjoys reading, gardening
:1 11 I o1t11 J the hot clock at championship
1 h:d I matches.
17
BALLARAT Crest
Official Badge
Badge Description- On a black background
a red Trident enfiled with a gold Palisado
Crown.
Badge Blazon - Sable (Black); a Trident
palewise; Gules (red) , enfiled with
Palisado Crown, or (gold).
Badge Motto - 'Defend the Flag
' Ballarat or Ballaarat?'
One of the 1nost often asked que tiot s is
'Do you spell Ballarat with four a' , r thr
a's?' It is generally accepted that lh n'lm
ca1ne from two aboriginal word ign ifyin)
a camping or resting place- 'Balla' mean in)
reclining on the elbow and 'Arat' tnean in )
place. The first white settler (1 3 7),
Scots1nan Archibald Yuille, called hi s
property 'Ballarat'. We cannot know how 'l
Scotsman pronounced an aboriginal word
but in 1851 another Scot officially surveyed
the area and recorded the town's na1ne a
Ballaarat. When the first local paper arrived
in 1854 it was called the 'Ballarat Ti1nc '
(perhaps the typesetter ran out of a's).
Official government documents used the
double a spelling and successive loc'l l
councils varied the number of a's according
to the prevailing fashion of the time. Pri r
to arnalgarnation of the councils in 1994, the
municipality of the City of Ballaarat was the
official spelling for the Council, though the
fficial spelling for place name purpo e
(then comprised of several 1nunicipaliti e )
wa Ballarat. When the new single Ballarat
i ty Council was gazetted in 1994 the
ingle a version was adopted for the
rp ration, to align it to the area's place-
nan1e. Thus, both spellings were legiti1nate
'll different times in the city's history and
'a n li II be seen on buildings and in
hi l rica! I iterature.
N ' 1 vy records indicate that HMAS
B A L A RAT has always been spelt with
thr '1 's.
and De ign History
Nit r rd suggest that HMAS
,LARA I had two unofficial badges:
:1) H:tll :tr:tt I badge designed on the City of
H:d l:t:t rn t S '11.
h) A hoot It nt n ) I utched in the centre by a
ltn11d t't tl oiTj tsl above the wrist with a
hIt 1 I :t k 1' ro u n I.
111 I<)(>(> :til ol'l 1 i:tl l t1 lg was approved for
IlMAS H LLARAT. ' I h design focusing
011 I ' Ill ' Ill S or Blllar'll '. Coat of Arms
(;, tw{lr I d in 195() 'l n I ' ily cal. These
18
I ttll' ltl. ' ' r th sicll , garb, miners pick
itlld . It o I. II ow v r, this badge was
ll l'tl lt 1 dt:t\ 11 tq n r manufactured.
A ':ti 1t itt I <> I th subject of BALLARAT's
I :td)'L ' :1.; 1:1 i. I. ll was decided to focus on
B: tll :11 :11 ' , l<l\ n hi lory. The main focus
hLill)' Ill ' l' l t r led miner's revolt at
Put In I :1 I . With this inspiration two
tlttliJ' ' : 1111 to n ind: the Stockade and the
l' ln p. Th tockade was chosen in
1:1 otll nl lit llag. Working on this theme
tltl' II .' . or ' I Palisado Crown, which
r pt :'Ill. ' n 1 IIi ade (stockade), was chosen
ttnd In tl' pr s nl the Navy (sea) the Trident
Wit. ' nd d d. he motto suggested was
"I> ll' 11d til Fl g'.
011 ' I 0 to r 1980 the Chief of Naval
S I :tiT o ITi i 'Illy approved the badge and
m o Ito l'o r HMAS BALLARAT II.
BALLA R A' now wears this badge with
ho11our, 1 ri I nd tradition.
Commissioning Crew
1 1)
Commissioning Crew
CMDR D.J. Hunter, CSC RAN
Lieutenant Con11nander S.G. Dryden, RAN
Lieutenant Com1nander D.M Walter, RAN
Lieutenant Cotnmander B.S. Steele RAN
Lieutenant Comtnander L.A. Volz, RAN
Lieutenant A.R.M. Barnes, RAN
Lieutenant Cotn1nander D.J. MacNamara,
RAN
Lieutenant P. Annitage, RAN
Lieutenant P.W. Delany, RAN
Lieutenant K.B. Fairbrother, RAN
Lieutenant L.J. Godwin, RAN
Lieutenant E.J. Gralton, RAN
Lieutenant P. Hay, RAN
Lieutenant B. Horner, RAN
Lieutenant B. Reilly, RAN
Lieutenant C.E. Rhodes, RAN
Lieutenant J.P. Von Stieglitz, RAN
Sub Lieutenant B. Bundy, RAN
Sub Lieutenant C.J. de Bono, RAN
Sub Lieutenant L.K. Kormany, RAN
Sub Lieutenant A.N. Pearson, RAN
Midshipmen A. Breckell, RAN
Warrant Officer A.W. Roach
Chief Petty Officer A.C. Anderson
Chief Petty Officer A.C. Dennis
Chief Petty Officer M.J. Hogan
Chief Petty Officer D.W. Murray
Chief Petty Officer G.A. Pope
Chief Petty Officer M.A. Pugh
Chief Petty Officer D.C. Read
hiefPetty Officer P.D. Rooke
hiefPetty Officer S.J. Shipton
hiefPetty Officer R.J. Waites
P tty Officer G.W. Anderson
P tty Officer A.J. Beales
lly Officer J.W. Blackstone
P lly Officer D. Blattner
P tly Officer B.P. Butler
P 11 fficer B.M. Catnpbell
P lt y fficer F.A. Coe
P ll y fficer J.C. Cook
P II fficer M.J. Cook
P 11 fficer M.J. Coyle
P II ( rfi r T.A. Dack
P II Orli r C.C. Fava
P II Orli r .J. Fisher
P II () rl i r .I .J . itzgerald
P II < l'l i r . , . P. ran cis
P tt rli c r M. . reen
20
---------------------------------
P II < rfi , r S.G. Grenfell
I) II ()rfi r K.G. Lawton
P II < rfi r D.J. Williamson
I, n lin, aman A.D. Bick
I : tdin, . tnan C.D. Bloom
mnan P.J. Boyd
I t: tdill, , man B.G. Brereton
I n I in , , ~ tnan R.A. Brooksaw
aman P.D. Brown
I l' ndin, aman G.P. Clohesy
I l' n lin, atnan M.L. D'Amico
I : 1din ,. eatnan M.J. Dunt
I t :Hiin ,. eaman B.H. Fraser
I : t ling Seaman D.T. Gale
I : t lin eaman D.A. Garrett
I , l :HI in, aman L.R. Hemphill
L n ling eaman D.M. Horton
L n lit g Seatnan M.I. Howarth
I n ling Seaman D.C. Jenkins
L : t ling Seaman K.C. Jordan
L ; t ling Seaman B.W. Knox
::tdin r eatnan M.A. Langevald
L : t ling Seaman A.B. Lovriha
L :1 ling Seaman R.A. Marinas
L ading Seaman S.J. Martin
L n ling Seaman A.W. Maskell
Leading Sean1an C.R. McFarlane
Leading Seaman T.A. McKean
Leading Seaman L.A. McQualter
Leading Seaman C.A. McQueen
Leading Seaman L.B. Mudge
Leading Seaman S. T. N ey Ian
Leading Seaman E.J. Osborn
Leading Seaman J.E. Phair
Leading Seaman A.M. Scarfone
Leading Seaman A.J. Sherburd
Leading Seaman N.G. Stanley
Leading Seaman S.A. Taylor
Leading Seaman A.J. W ensierski
Leading Seaman A.T. Williams
Leading Seaman A.T Yamold
Able Semnan S.P. Alp
Able Seaman T.L. Anthony
Able Semnan C.I. Archibald
Able Seaman J.M. Ashley
Able Seaman B.E. Baird
Able Seaman M.L. Bell
Able Seaman E.B. Bentick
Able Seaman V.L. Best
Able Semnan M.W. Biddell
Able Seaman A.M. Black
Able Seaman A.N. Bradley
Able Seaman D.A. Brown
Able Seaman J.R.J. Carbone
Able Seaman M.B.J. Cavanagh
Al l man D.R. Cocks
I I S 'i l ll W il A . .J . II d e
Able Seaman A. Crawford
Able Seaman J.R Cross
Able Seaman C.J. De Fontaine
Able Seaman K.M. Dennis
Able Seaman S.G. Dunstan
Able Semnan T.S.E. Eastwood
Able Seaman M.J.W. Evans
Able Seaman S.M. Fraser
Able Seaman J.A. Gardner
Able Seaman D.M. Geldard
Able Sea1nan S. Gibson
Able Semnan J.P. Guevara
Able Seaman R.M. Haynes
Able Seaman E.J. Hearsu1n
Able Seaman D.J. Hoens
Able Seaman D.A. Hooper
Able Semnan N. Hutchesson
Able Seaman D.J. Khan
Able Seaman R.H. Kneeves
Able Seaman S.C. Leon Sepulveda
Able Seaman S.J. Lindsay
Able Seaman N.J.A. Martin
Able Semnan A.G. Martinac
Able Seaman N.S. Matthews
Able Seaman O.J. Matthews
Able Seaman M.F. McMullen
Able Seaman A.S. Minney
Able Seaman B.M. Morgan
Able Sea1nan D.M. Nipperess
Able Seaman A. G. Norley
Able Seaman A.J. Pousti e
Able Semnan S.M. R
' I
Able Seaman D.L. Rorke
Abl e Seatnan D. Rusling
Abl e Sean1an J.E.C. Sn1ith
Abl e Seaman T.G.T. Stanners
Able Seatnan S. . Sytnonds
AbleS atnan B.J Th tna
Abl e Seaman A.W. T al
Able Seaman 1. 0. T wn l y
Able Seatnan A.P. Trudgian
Able Seaman M.M. Turn r
Able Semnan D.S. Tynan
Able Semnan S.R. Willi atn
Able Seaman P.D. Willi am n
Able Seaman S. Zeiher
Seaman C. M. Blake
Semnan H. E. Brown
Semnan C.W. De Sain
Semnan D.C. Dredg
Semnan K.J. Dugg n
Seaman C.A. G ih
Seaman S. . Jl"'l lll
Seaman .J. I II
Semnan Hamish M <' IIII H ,
S am a n I. ( ; . 1\!l u 111 1 It II
' 11 1i l1 1 I' r\ I Nt" Ill
'
I II I : II I I \ ' 1' 11111'
s '! 1111 1111 I: I IIIII I
' : 11 11 .I II I Ill II
' : II II " II I I Ill I Ill I I
Commanding Officer
Commander 1J.J. Hunter, CSC, 2(.9L9{.
Commander David J. Hunter joined the Royal
Australian Naval College, HMAS CRESWELL in
1980. Following completion of a Bachelor of
Science degree at the University of New South
Wales majoring in mathematics, Commander
Hunter's initial appointments were in Fremantle
Class patrol boats and Guided Missile Frigates
where he attained his Bridge Watchkeeping
Certificate.
Commander Hunter completed the Short
Navigation Course then rejoined the patrol boat
fleet in 1985 as navigating officer in HMAS
GEELONG and later HMAS GLADSTONE.
In August 1987 he was appointed as Flag
Lieutenant to the Maritime Commander. This
period coincided with Australia's Bicentenni al
year and the Naval Bicentennial Salute.
Commander Hunter returned to frigates in 1989
where he served as navigating officer in HMAS
CANBERRA (FFG 02) for twelve months prior to
commencing the RAN Principal Warfare and
Long N vigation Courses at HMAS WATSON.
He subsequently served in HMA Ships TOBRUK
(LSH 50) nd later PERTH (DOG 38).
In July 1993 he was appointed as the RAN
Bridge Si ul tor Manager at WATSON where he
was respon ible for practical navigation and
shiphandlin tr ining. In November 1995 he was
selected for n exchange posting with the Royal
Navy an join d the staff of Flag Officer Sea
22
Training based in Plymouth, UK. During this two
year appointment, Commander Hunter provided
instruction t sea in ships from NATO countries.
He return to Australia to be appointed
Executiv Officer in HMAS MELBOURNE (FFG
05) . Durin this tenure MELBOURNE completed
oper ti n I loyments to the Arabian Gulf and
E st Tim r.
In J lly 1 Commander Hunter was appointed
to th 1\N S a Training Group, initially as the
I t '1 nship Officer, and then from
N v ml 1 1 99 as the Fleet Executive Officer.
In M'lY ?. 2 he was awarded a Chief of Navy
Comm n I tion and in January 2003 a
C n picu u Service Cross.
C mrnnn I r Hunter's most recent appointment
wrt n mander Operations in Maritime
'l I !WHl r where he served until August
Hi inl 1 l include all codes of football, cricket,
s Ln 11 , If, chess, viticulture and stamp
coli tin . He and his wife Trish have three
chi I II 11 ; ter (July 1994), Jessica (October
1 ) nd Natasha (January 1999).
Executive Officer
Lieutenant Cotnmand r t Jl 11 I 1 d 11 1ultH d lltl I' N ill I <>X7.
Commencing training at th J\.ustr:.lli;tll I> k1H h11t l':td 1ny,
he graduated with a Bache! r )r i11 tl :. tll:tjllt i111' Ill
Economics and Management. Aft r 'r;Hht:llttl)' itt I'>X'J , Ill
completed sea training in a vari ty or It'll I l I til
deploying in HMA Ships SUC ' (tlld I >PI II >Jo' lor
Operation DAMASK I. Following th '' :11d ol lw. HW<' i. IIKI
subsequent endorsement, the newly ron1ol d I tt ttl ' lt :tltl Dryden
served briefly as an Instructor at the RAN< ' h I till 1o i11in, IlMAS
CESSNOCK as the Executive Offic r.
De iring to broaden his experience, Lieutenant Dryden
v lunteered for intelligence training and in 1995 cotntnenced an
app intment as a Marititne Intelligence Watch Officer in the then
M'lr itime Intelligence Centre-Sydney. In 1997 he re utned his
s 1g ing career cotntnencing A/PWO training in f MAS
Mh OURNE. Lieutenant Dryden completed PWO training in
1998. A Surface Warfare and Cotnmunications speciali t, he
omtnenced an appointment as the Signals Communicati n
Officer HMAS BRISBANE in early 1999. Lieutenant Dryden
rcn ained in BRISBANE, assu1ning CTG OPSO duties in late
2 0 and being promoted to Lieutenant Commander in January
2 0 I . After the decotnmissioning of BRISBANE, he was posted
'l a tnember of the Directing Staff at the PWO Faculty HMAS
WATSON. In this appointlnent he was the lead instructor in
urface Warfare, Electronic Warfare, Communications and
lnfonnation Systems and Intelligence. In 2003 Lieutenant
Cotnmander Dryden joined Maritime Headquarters (OPS DIY)
the Deputy Director Maritime Con11nunications and Infonnati n
Systetns (N63). In mid-2003 Lieutenant Commander Dryden W'lS
appointed as the Commissioning Executive Officer of II M !\. .'
BALLARAT, joining her in Decetnber 2003.
Lieutenant Comtnander Dryden is married to Julie and th y hct il
young son, Andrew
Heads of Department
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine T:ngineering Officer
LCDR David Walter joined the RAN in 1991, and gradu:tll'd l1n111 Ill
Australian Defence Force Academy in 1994 with " 1\:tl IH Iol or
Engineering (Mechanical Engineering). He e ntcr d 1111111 111 )' nl
CERBERUS to complete the Marine Engineering Ap1 li nt Hlll < ', 111 ::
before positing to SYDNEY as the Assistant Marine ngittL'l'll ll )' <> lil t l' l
This posting concluded with him obtaining his Mari n Elt)'llll 1 < H l1 1 ' I
Certificate of Competency in 1996. He was then posted as tht <>I< ' ul Ill
Marine Engineering Application Course, a course he ils :1 1111 11tl1 ' I u11
only 18 months earlier. LCDR Walter in 1998 return d to , :r " l l ll'
Deputy Marine Engineering Officer of DARWIN. How 1 1111' ]Ill .111 1)'
was cut short due to an unfmiunate sporting accident, and IlL ' ,, 1 ], ' 11 cl
to a shore posting at FIMA Perth, until 1999. Thi s time h JLIIIIII c1 111 1"
as the Deputy Marine Engineer Officer of the latest ANZA< ' <'It , ' l11p
HMAS ARUNTA. In 2001 LCDR Wa lter pa ed th M(ll'lll l I 11 11111 1
Officer Qualification Board, whi ch qualifi I him l ngin r hi. 11 11 lltp
n expenen h got fi da s lat r \ ll n It ' :ts post d lo II dtn 1 tplllt
Ships LEEUWIN and MEVILLE in Red Crew. After completing two years
as the Engineering Officer, he was selected to be the Marine Engineering
Officer to bring BALLARAT into Naval Service.
Weapons Tiectrica{ tngineering Officer
LCDR Broughton Steele commenced his career at the Australian Defence
orce Academy on its opening in 1986. Graduating in 1990 with a
Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical), this was followed by a series of
training courses preceding his first sea-posting in HMAS SWAN for
nsolidation. For two years, LCDR Steele then experienced a series of
h rt duration shore postings, ranging from Project Management in Navy
ffice through to being a Divisional Officer in the Technical Training
ar a.
From 1995 to mid-1996 LCDR Steele was posted to HOBART as the
y l 1 n ineer Officer, followed by a shore posting as an 0 r tions
Research Officer in the DSTO Organisation. This posting was concluded
in late-1998 with a recall to sea in HMAS PERTH as her last Deputy
Weapons Electrical Engineer Officer. LCDR Steele was then placed in
Charge of the C01nbat System Maintenance School until 2001, which
brought a promotion to LCDR and a posting to the Maritime Com1nand
engineering division and sea-training group. From mid-2002 to mid-2003,
LCDR Steele then studied for his Master degree, which included a period
of in-country university study in China.
Following successful completion of his Master degree, LCDR Steele
joined BALLARAT as the Weapons Electrical Engineer Officer in January
2004.
Suppfy Officer
Lieutenant Commander Andrew (Andy) Ross McGregor Barnes was
raised and educated in Ballarat, Victoria. He joined the RAN,
commencing studies at the Australian :Qefence Force Acadetny in
January 1991 as an Instructor Officer, changing primary
qualification to Supply Officer and graduating with a Bachelor of
Science degree (Mathematics) in 1994. Whilst waiting to begin .
'upply Application Course (SUAC) Midshipman Barnes worked in
II 1\S HARMAN and Campbell Park Offices in Manager
< 1111ftp uration Certification and Allowances (MCCA).
.,
On completion of SUAC in 1996 Sub Lieutenant Barnes returned to
MCCA for 1997, working extensively on RAN usage data and
developing cost estimates -[! r the purchase of spares support for the
MHC Project.
In 1998 Sub Lieutenant Barne wa po ted as DSO HMAS
HOBART, and then on promoti n t Lieutenant joined DNSDC
Moorebank as the OIC High Priority Den1 nd ell. Thi involved
managing all URDEF and signal den1and tr ffi ~ r the RAN and
the initial demands for INTERFET. In 19 h underwent the
Supply Charge Qualifying Course and j in d HMA YON Y a
DSO in January 2000. In June 2001 Lieutenant Barn tran G tT d
to HMAS MANOORA to complete the DSO 0111peten y g and
successfully completed the Supply Charge Board in Oct ber 2 I.
Lieutenant Barnes then posted ashore to HMAS W AT Rll N t)
manage the financial purchase of spares support for the M D M ,
predotninantly sparing the MHC squadron. He then p t d t
HQJLC in Victoria Barracks Melbourne in October 2002 an I
worked within the J3 (Operations) and J5 (Plans) direct rat ){
HQJLC, fanning part of the logistic planning for the upply hain
into, and later the withdrawal from, Iraq. Lieutenant Barne j in I
NUSHIP BALLARAT as its comn1issioning Supply Offi r in
Decetnber 2003, and was promoted to Lieutenant Com1nand ron I
January 2005.
Commissioning Crew
================================================================
Lieutenant Commander Dominic
MacNamara, RAN
Principle Warfare Officer
Lieutenant Kerry Fairbrother, RAN
Signals Communication Officer
Sub Lieutenant Chris de Bono, RAN
Officer of the Watch
Operations 'lJepartment - Officers
~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
Lieutenant Phillipa Hay, RAN
Principle Warfare Officer
Li ul n nl Jason Von Stieglitz, RAN
/\ir Intercept Controller
Sub Li ulenant Annalise Pearson, RAN
Assistant Officer of the Watch
26
Li
I I ul nant Ben Horner, RAN
1\ isl nt Officer of the Watch
Midshipmen Aaron Breckell, RAN
Assistant Officer of the Watch
Marine fngineering fJJepartment
Petty Officer Gordon Anderson
1/C MEO 2 - Environmental Services
Lieutenant Edmund Gr llon, RAN
Deputy Marine Engin rin Offic r
Chief Petty Officer Gl n P p
1/C Platform Sysl rn
Petty Officer Stephen Fish r
1/C MEO 1 -Propulsion
28
Marine fngineering rJJepartment
Sub Lieutenant Ben Bundy, RAN
Assistant Engineering Officer
Chief Petty Officer Darren Read
1/C Propulsion Systems
Petty Officer Patrick Franci s
1/C ME04- Hull
Petty Officer Martin Green
1/C MEO 3- High Power
J
J1
Leading Seaman Peter Boyd
MEO 4- Hull
Leading Seaman Sam Martin
MEO 2 - Environmental Services
Able Seaman Edward Bentick
DC Yeoman
Leading Seaman Peter Brown
MEO 4 - Hull
I 1 t ~ d 11q
1
1 1111.111 .1.1 1 Mel tlll ll ll
Ml : 111vlln11111t 11LII
1
1 IVIc
Able Seam n Michael Biddell
MEO 2 - Environmental Services
29
Marine f11Jineeri111 tiJepartment
ding Seaman Ben Fraser
MEO 3- High Power
Leading Seaman Shaun Taylor
MEO 4- Hull
Able Seaman Andr w Bl ck
MEO 3 - High Power
Leading Seaman Adam Lovriha
MEO 1 - Propulsion
Able Seaman James Ashley
MEO 1 - Propulsion
Able Seaman Jason Carbone
MEO 3- High Power
Able Seaman Murray Cavanagh
MEO 1 -Propulsion
Able Seaman Jeremy Smith
Tanky
Abl e Seaman Nathani el Martin
MEO 3- Hi gh Power
Able Seam( 11 /\ncl 1 w I I
MEO 2 - Environm ,nlnl
Seaman ian Moncri ff
MEO 2- Environmental S rvices
30
Marine fngineering tJJepartment
Able Seaman Stephen Dunst n
MEO 3- Hi gh Power
Able Seaman Paul Will iamson
MEO 1 - Propul sion
Able Seaman Bradley Thomas
MEO 4- Hull
Able Seaman Ryan Haynes
MEO 4- Hull
Able Seaman Jimmy Cross
MEO 4- Hull
Seaman Daniel Thomson
MEO 3- Hi gh Power
Operations f})epartment- Communications & Injonnation Systems
Leading Seaman Craig Bloom
Able Seaman ian Townley
Chief Petty Officer Andrew Dennis
CIS Manager
Abl S 'llll:IIIAIIItilllll .u llt y
Seaman Carlos Ga il
P lly ffr c 1 I 1111 n Williamson
y 01111111
Allie S man Christina Archibald
Seaman Daniel Kelly
31
Leading Seaman Carol McQueen
Able Seaman Sarah Fraser
S ' 11111111 r ndan Philp
Abl S m n David Rusling
Able Seaman Sheree Symonds
Leading Seaman Lee McQualter
Petty Officer Bruc C mpbell
Combat Syst ms Sup rvi sor
Leading Seaman Ash I y i k
Leading Seaman Alee Scarfone
ASAC
Operations tJJepartment - Com6at Systems Operators
Chief Petty Officer Scott Shipton
Combat Systems Manager
Leading Seaman Ben Brereton
EWL
Lead in< S lllllt 11 Anthony Sherburd
32
Petty Offi c r Mi ch I Coyle
Combat Syst rns Supervisor
Leading S rn n D vid Jenkins
Leading So m n N il Stanley
ASJ\C
Leading Seaman Edward Osborn
Operations 'lJepartment - Com6at Systems Operators
Able Seaman Brenton B ir I /\ble Seaman Dwayne Cocks
Able Seaman Duncan Tynan
/\Ill(
1
1( tllllolll i)( olll NIPIH I(' s Able Seaman Aaron Norley
Seaman Stuart Grant Seaman Kiel Duggen
Seam n ll ayley Brown Seam n li t mi 11 M Inn s
Seaman Christian Blake
33
Leadi ng Seaman Ben Knox
Chief Petty Officer Roderick Wail s
Chi ef Bosun
Leading Seaman Rudsyn Millil trt,
Able Seaman Stu 1! tliiHl
Operations rJJepartment -13osun)s Mates
~ - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~
Petty Officer Ken Lawton
Bosun
/\l11t ',t t1111rm Sl ven Reig
Leading Seaman /\d rn Y'ml ld
Bosun's Mate (S f ty I qui1 m nl)
Able Seaman /\nth ny M rtinac
Able Seaman Morg' Hl I urn r
Able Seaman Jean-Paul Guevara
Navigators Yeoman
ABLE SEAMAN Steve Nolan
Chief Petty Officer Mi chael Pugh
Chief Naval Police Coxsw in
I
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I
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35
Operations 1Jepartment - Misce[[aneous
Leading Seaman Dean Garrett
Clearance Diver
Leading Seaman Thomas McKean
Naval Police Coxswain
Supp{y 1Jepartment
16
Petty Officer John Blackstone
Medic
l11 J' < ~ 1 m a n Malcome D'Amico
Cook
Lieutenant Catherine Rhodes, RAN
Deputy Supply Officer
I II y II Lt 1 I t I L I y Cot
', It Wdld
Leading Seaman Linden II n1pl1ill
Steward
Chief P lly lfl ..c 1 I .tllllll
1
ool 1
l
1
t lly (HI let 1 Jimmy Fitzgerald
Chef
Leading Seaman Andrew Maskell
Pay & Accounts Writer
Supp[y Vepartment
Petty Officer Andrew Beales
Writer
Leading Seaman Rachael Brooksaw
Naval Stores
11 lin S man Luke Mudge
Steward
Leading Seaman Guy Clohesy
Cook
Leading Seaman Sean Neylan
Naval Stores
Able Seaman Daniel Geldard
Cook
Able Seaman Melissa McMull en
Steward
Able Seaman Teri Anthony
Cook
Able Seaman David Hoens
Cook
Able Seaman Alex Minney
Cook
Able Seaman Vicky Best
Steward
Able Seaman Dennis Khan
Naval Stores
Abl e Seam n Adam Poustie
Cook
38
Supp[y 1Jepartment
Able Seaman Meli ssa Bell
Medic
Able Seaman S nyn I on Sepulveda
Sl We rd
Able Seaman Suz nnah Zeiher
Writer
Able Seaman Kate Dennis
Steward
Able Seaman Owen Matthews
Naval Stores
Weapons Tlectrica[ f})epartment
39
Petty Officer Charli I v
WE04 - Armament
hi r PII Ollll' l' l 111111,11 )
I\( I ' I ' ' Il l I
1/' ' o1llrol 11 1HI 111111111111
I,, lly ( II ILt I ', 1111111 (Ill 1111 II
WI()' Al llllllllll l. llltll '
Lieutenant Peter Armitage, RAN
Systems Engineering Officer
Petty Officer Brett Butler
WE01 -Sensors
I 1 mlln< S rl lllWll (lVi Horton
WE03 - C2 & CS
40
Weapons f.fectrica[ rJJepartment
Sub Lieutenant Lee Kormany, RAN
Assi stant Weapons Electrical
Engineering Officer
Petty Offlc r Ml ,h, I Cook
WE03 C/ & I CS
Leading Seaman Kasey Jordan
WE02 - Communi cations
Petty Officer Troy Dack
WE01 - Sensors
Leading Seaman Mick Langevald
WE02 - Communications
Leading Seaman Jim Phair
WE04 - Armament
Able Seaman Stuart Gibson
WE02- Communications
Able Seaman Sarah Lindsay
WE04 - Armament
Leadin S f11lHll1/\lliiHlllY
lllllq dll
WI 0 ~ 1\lllldllH 111
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1
11 11111111 dw Uti llr II' IIIII
Willi '1111111'
Able Se 1111111 Ill .tdlt y Morgan
w 01
1
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Weapons Tlectrica[ 1Jepartment
I n lin Seaman Anita
W nsierski
W 03 - C2 & FCS
Able Seaman Daniel Hooper
WE01 -Sensors
Able Seaman Scott Williams
WE03- C2 & FCS
Able Seaman Simon Alp
WE04 - Armament
Able Seaman Rohan Kneeves
WE02 - Communications
Seaman Crai g De S in
WE03 - C2 & FCS
June 2004
June saw the Cotnmissioning preparations
go into overdrive with a wide range of
objectives having to be completed prior to
the ceremony. Mr Mick Malthouse, the
coach of Collingwood Football Team, and a
Ballarat boy himself, visited the ship on 8
June to itnpart his expertise in effecti vc
leadership and creating a cohesive temn. II is
words were inspirational and provided a
welcome lift to the pressure ol
Commissioning and preparations for goin )
to sea.
I I( r th metnory of the famous AFL
'0(1 h s' w rd faded the pressure was back
on nnd tl hip's company were working
llil rd tow1rd being ready for the Marititne
'ornnwnd r inspection followed by the
( 'ornrno I re of Flotillas inspection. Even
ilh nil th ton, BALLARAT was still able
I o 1' ' I s tne of her crew qualified in
dv111oliti( n and host an Official Reception
lor p ' OI I who had provided significant
. 11pporl t( hip the ship fro1n the Ballarat
P l'1' roll , T nix and Williamstown.
42
After being successful in meeting the
Maritime Commanders and Commodore
Flotillas' inspection standards, BALLARAT
had a few days to complete the post refit
afety udit and to prepare for the Light
Off xa1 in'lti n ( ). The LOE was the
fi r t u b t n t i a I 1 r 'l t i a I s men t of the
hip inc d livery. hi
20 June and its purpo e w t d t rmine if
the ship's machinery, emergen y pr dures
and personnel ship knowledge wer t the
required level to proceed to sea.
At the conclusion of the LOE, BALLARAT
conducted a fast cruise - which is where the
ship simulates going to sea to prove the
watch and station bill. On completion of the
fast cruise BALLARAT proceeded to the
dynamic environment of the sea for the next
major practical assessment, the Sea Safety
Training Period (SSTP). The purpose of the
SSTP was to allow ship's company t
demonstrate to the Sea Training Group that
we were able to take the ship to ,"l r l
a nd that if an etnergency o urr d
BALLARAT would be a I to lwn II th
ituation. BALLARA su d d und was
deemed ready t tc s ' l an I ontit u' h r
training t wards b oming 'l rir t la
warf: r platG rm. II w ver b :D re that, was
the p g to Docklands for the
commissioning ceretnony and the passage
under the Bolte Bridge.
Melbourne turned on some of its best winter
w ather on the 23 June with wind speeds f
up to 35kts. This provided to be a probletn
wit h the planned arrival of the ship
:1l ong ide Victoria wharf, Docklands in th
:1 rt r noon. As fate would have it
1 ~ ; \ LARAT was unable to attempt the
p1l otage due to the winds, which proved to
<H I in our favour because an accident
111 re d on the Bolte Bridge and
I I ;\ RAT would not have been able to
1 1 111yway.
However the taste of di app inltn nt wa
soon forgotten when th a I lr p f
Melbourne's light w r first n ti I ' l S w
passed underne th th .. I It Bri I ) . h
spectacle of a W'lrshil nt rin ) lh Vi et n a
Harbour d I lnnd s wns som ll in g
beh ld.
ll ;tlo11 1
1
,' id ' tit ' l'o ' li S turned t the
olllllli ,'. iolllll 1' r ' III OII Y 1n I th n1yriad of
:1rr:11 l1
1
L' IIll' ll l. ' :t. sor iil t d with thi event.
H LL P ' I \ :t. mo r Iii c a Broadway
produ tion tlt:tll :t Wil rs hip. All of Ships
1
(Hl11 f. lll r h : trs I lo r 2 days and it
rc til I in ~ I l l tra 'lga nt ceremony
highlighted y th it y o r Me lbourne at
dusk. An ffici1l r 1 li )n G !lowed where
the family and gu sls f hip ' s Cotnpany
were entertained by 'l ceremonial sunset
performed by RAN band members.
Sunday saw BALLARAT open her
gangway to the general public. 1641 people
braved the cold, sotne waiting up to 3 hours,
t tour ship enjoying insights to the
( perations room, living quarters, boarding
1 'lrty and small ann displays and the crowd
ra urite the Kaman Super Sea prit
h I i pter.
4.
BALLARAT departed Victoria wharf on 28
June and berthed at Station pier Port
M !bourne in preparation for a family sea
day n the 29 June before making her first
voyage up the coast to make her home at
Fleet Base East, Sydney.
Commissioning Ball
The Ship's Ball Committee was formed
shortly before the formal delivery of the
ship fro1n Tenix. In early March 2004 under
the charge of Lieutenant Kerry Fairbrother
and supported by Lieutenant Catherine
Rhodes, POET Shane Grenfell, POCIS
'Bungy' Williamson, LSWTR Andy
Maskell, LSCIS Carol McQueen, ABMED
Melissa Bell, ABSTD Kate Dennis, and Mrs
Julie Dryden, we were off and running.
During the first meeting venues, dates, fund
raising ideas and themes were actively
discussed. The fundraising commenced with
a fundraising BBQ and 100 Club, hosted by
POCIS Williams and LSCIS McQueen.
With limited funds available to subsidise the
cost to the metnber, fundraising and
sponsorship were given a high priority.
Both Lieutenants ventured into 'Andy
Barnes' territory to source support.
Delivery of the ship provided an excellent
fundraising idea - fast 'fat' food to the
masses at standeasy! Di1n sims, potato
cakes (or scallops), chiko rolls, spring rolls,
pies and sausage rolls were sold at
reasonable prices. Such sales were always
supported by the PT who was never far
away to offer fitness advice (and assist with
13y LSWI!i{YLndy9vfask!-ff
the d m I ilion of n1any din1 si1ns and other tnain of either 'Pri1ne fillet of Beef on
vari u ' h l itetns!). Potato Rosti and Red wine jus and Bernaise
Frid'lY July 2004 was set as the date for
lh '111 nd the venue would be Dockside.
urth r, the Ball would take on a formal
s tti1 g with the evening being tagged as the
' '( rnmi ioning Ball' - a night for the
' r w. After 1nuch campaigning by LSWTR
/\n ly Ma kell, the theme 'A Touch of
1 o I I, w chosen to add a touch of
I , ' In and encompass the spirit of the
>o l IIi I Is, and that of Eureka.
On (Ill ning with weather 1nore typical of
a M ll o urn etting, pre-dinner drinks and
'illl <lp s w re served from 1830 on the
l a I o11 ( v rlooking Cockle Bay and
D<1rlin' llarb ur. As the wind and rain
o nl i 1111 I, th ballroom was unveiled for
Ill. .l :t k Is shi lding partners from the
I 11' 11 I. ' r re1noved and the ballroom
qui k I l'i II I. ue ts were greeted with a
sli I .' It o\ or ass rted photographs of the
ship'.' t'0111pi 111 rr 111 the very early days to
th r \. ' Ill ,' II 'SS or the Cotmnissioning.
'lit < 'oltlltt :llt li11' fficer, Commander
D: 1 i I 1111111 ' I lolltt :dl w lco1ned the ship's
onli WII : 111 I lit ir 111 sts. On conclusion,
linn r was s ' r I. L inn r )11 i ted of a
44
Sauce ' or 'Roast breast of Chicken filled
with Mushroom Ragout on a Vegetable
Friltata' . For dessert the options were
' II z I nut Charlotte with Coffee Cream' or
Litne Tart with King Island
"I h , nd played, and was supported by the
r si I nl DJ who kept the dance floor alive
with n rgy as the evening quickly passed.
Th r w r o1ne itnpressive and some not
so im1 r ss ive movers and shakers on the
ltt n llo r, nd orne who didn't care if the
musi w: ts pi ying or not! After almost four
'l<tst sort 'S, th band finished their last set
and tit nin r adly dr w to a close.
/\11 lllt oiTi r i:d ;tl't rparty ~ II wed for those
still :tl It to 1 nrl . F r n1ost the evening
pro d too 11111 h tnd rnany went their own
s p: tr: tl t ' n s h1ving, from all accounts,
nj o d lit 1 i ng immensely.
11 d ' IW rl i ng the look of hope (and
w :1r i11 ss! uld be clearly seen in the eye
or lit >u ts as they carried their
b lon ' ill' S, door prizes, and their rnini gold
p1ns itll were hoping forth ir wn touch
f >o l I i1 th future
July 2004
As Melbourne became a haze on the horizon
and the cotnmissioning now just a memory
BALLARAT and her crew set their sights
for their new hon1e, berth number 5 Fleet
Base East Sydney and getting prepared for
their Sea Qualification Trials. BALLARAT
pulled into scenic Eden for amtnuniti ning
and ~ r the first time in quite a whil the
wannth of the NSW sun shined upon Ollt
backs. Unfortunately work had to hL' do11
and the weather could n t b 'njo L'd to rl .'
full extent. After being load d 11p wrllt
amtnunition BALLARAT ct S(ti I lor I II
final leg to Sydney, along the w" :1 k\\
exercises were conducted to raUl I h :q'
and get the focus in the right direction.
, ydney provided a perfect wint r's d:t :1 .'
the backdrop as BALLARJ\. rourakd I Ill'
heads and entered Sydney on a tu rd:t \ '"
.July 04. Family and friends were lh rL' to
!'reel us alongside as BALLARAT do ked
lor the first time in Sydney. Once alongsid
it was ti1ne clean up so leave would b
l' ranted.
I\ LLARAT stayed alongside Sydney for
I Ii \VL'e k so as to finish the administrative
j\111 ments for the upcotning sea trials and
1 II 1 I he Ship's Cotnmissioning Ball. A
r 11 h Channels 7 Breakfast show
'Sunris , :tlso vcntuated to tnake stars of
m r w m mbers. The Cotntnissioning
Btll w:ts held on Friday the 9th July. The
Ball cornrnitt ,'s tireless efforts paid off on
tilL' ni dtt ' ith an extravagant ball being
hosiLd :11 Dockside Cockle Bay Wharf
1>:1111111' ll:trhour. A good time was had by
:til :11HI ' ith the elegant dresses being worn
h lhL Indies and the dapper suits by the
)'l'ltls it could have been tnistaken for an
rrll:llll 1:1shion launch. Ships co1npany and
tlwrr l'IIL'sts partied well into the night and it
\\ ' :1 11 t t i ng end to the Con11nissioning
ph:r. L' .
1\ I n11d:r morning saw reality arrive and
HAL I !\ R J\ T sailed for week one of Sea
< >11:tl111ca tion Trials. BALLARAT
i' lll I' IlL' L'd down to the Eastern Austral ian
I l ' l l ' I ~ L ' !\rca off the South coast of NSW
:trul : l:t11l'd putting the crew and the ship
IIII<HI)'It lheir paces.
W 11 II the weather turning foul and a big ea
IH 1111' L' perienced the crews sea legs wer
ll'.-ll'd L':trly on and the sick bay was d ing il
hr i:l lr:tde in seasick tablets. How r
pl'opk worked through it and the first w ck
'IHILd up being very successful with 111:111
l'trises cotnpleted and out o m s
"rlti cd. S01ne of the exercises in lud d
ditched helicopter procedures, anti
subtnarine warfare, firing of the 5-inch gun
in anti air warfare and air warfare defence
tested by RAAF Hornets and F 111 jets,
which was quite a spectacle. BALLARAT
also spent a day within Jervis Bay to
conduct an emitter trial and practice a
tninefield transit, which tests the skills of
even the tnost adept Navigators.
The week was spent in defence watches,
which 1neant Ships Company worked 6
hours on 6 hours off the entire week. So
combined with the poor weather all of the
ships company were getting tired and
looking forward to the weekend and when
leave was piped on Friday there was no
procra ti nati ng because all knew that the
econd week would be just as busy.
W eel 2 began n the 19th with a dash up to
Coolangatta to rendezvous with HMAS
WESTRJ\.LIA for a day practicing
r 'plcnishmcnt at sea procedures. The
w ather had not itnproved and if anything
lwd becon1e worse. WESTRALIA sent
son1c photo's showing BALLARAT's bow
subn1erged into a wave. The day spent with
W ESTRALIA began early and finished late
and every person onboard was entitled to
say they worked hard. Unfortunately due to
some technical difficulties with
WESTRALIA's rig only one hook up was
successful, though overall the day achieved
n1any objectives.
Due to the strenuous nature of the work
done with WESTRALIA Wednesday was
conducted as a half-day, Saturday sea
routine, to allow ships co1npany to get sotne
rest whilst transiting back to the exerci e
areas off Jervis Bay. As the sun set and the
weather began to clear Ships Company w r
treated to a BBQ on the flight deck co I d
by the officers and the hangar wa '
temporarily converted to a cinen1a ~ r 'l
movie night.
It was back to work on Thursday with many
objectives yet to be achieved. Th day
began with BALLARAT practicing h r
Naval Gun Support (NGS), however the 5-
inch was not fired only drill runs wer
conducted. The NGS was followed by an
Air Warfare exercise in company with so111
RAAF Hornets. During this serial
BALLARAT fired Super Rapid Blooming
Offboard Chaff (SRBOC). SRBOC is
missile a defence system which fires 1netal
particles into the air to disrupt the missiles
targeting radar and hence not hit the ship.
The day was co1npleted with BALLARAT
undergoing her Aviation Sea Safety
Assess1nent (ASSA) which qualified her to
conduct helicopter operations. A variety of
evolutions were te ted uch a launching
and recovering, transfer ~ rward and aft
and vertical replenish1nent which i imply
stores delivered by the helicopter. On
co1npletion of the ASSA the Fleet training
personnel were transferred to HMAS
CRESWELL and BALLARAT began
heading for home for a well deserved
weekend.
Two weeks down of Sea trials and only one
t go as BALLARAT sailed for the now
fan1iliar territory of the exercise areas off
Jervis Bay. The trip down was spent
c nducting an IFF trial. IFF is a radio
fr quency that Identifies Friend or Foe
(IFF). The planned Surface shoot was
c ncelled so BALLARAT went to anchor
within Jervis Bay in preparation for a full
day f sound ranging on Tuesday. Once the
sc und ranging was completed BALLARAT
pr eded out of the bay to do some more
wnr re exercises. The departure wa
on I u ted as a simulated mine transit
t h u r h th i ti1ne BALLARAT was not a
lu I y '1' the first mine transit and hit a 1nine
< ~ n I th hip was sent to action stations
tr in' to save the ship. The ship was saved
<In I 1 ro I d into the exercise areas for an
anti sulnwrin xerc1se.
W dn sdn saw BALLARAT undertake a
in ult1t I W<lr ) ing up against a simulated
tn iss il "lp<d I fast patrol boat.
BA LA RAT s ' ( r d a victory over their
advers<l r I u t su fT red so1ne collateral
damage, whi h t st I th Ships Co1npany
being abl to d ;tl with multiple scenarios.
The day was I 111 I 'I su c s and the 3
weeks r s 'l tri 1 have d finitely ilnproved
the ship llective skill .
46
Wednesday saw the 1najority of the
bjectives co1npleted and BALLARAT
pr ded to anchor in Jervis bay for a
' I rt day to be held at HMAS
R
4
W LL against the Naval College.
h I y wa a welcome opportunity to
str t h lh leg and have a run in the sun.
, port s in lu d were touch football, soccer,
l <I s k t l <Ill , v II ey ball and softball. When
Ships 'om1 'tny were finished displaying
t h i r il t hI t i I iII or lack their of, the
1111 h >r w<ls w igh d and BALLARAT was
ho111 w:1r I und.
August 2004
August was another exciting month for the
new kid on the wharf. The first two weeks
were spent alongside Fleet Base East (FBE
- Garden island) with tnany of the crew
taking a few days leave as this would b
their last opportunity for the next G w
m nth . This time was spent storing ~ r s ' il ,
Ia t minute training and makin sur llt :ll
1ne1nbers were individually r <I I l'ot . :1
with many a morning p 1 t with tit P'J'I lu1
annual fitness te t . !\ LL/\ R T . t ll '
wasn't the only 1 in lr:tininp :1,' ' pi n td
host to th lat st our. o l' . llrp ,: dt v r:: ' hn
u d AL /\R/\'1' 1'01 Ill ' II ll11ll t. ll t lt
training.
August brought for th li rst 1 nl lt :r 11 l I n1
111any of Ships Cotnpany to lin I tit ttt , I
a home in their new I 'llity or , ' I til '
Though many found great n w 1 l:t ~ : I<
li ve, t ime was short as we set "lil l'o1 otrt
shal edown.
II wa an exciting pilotage for BAL !\ R !\I'
:ts we passed USS RUSSELL (an Arl i 'It
Burke Class Destroyer visiting frotn tl
lln i ted States) whilst rounding Gard 1
I I 111 d. But the excitement was short liv d
'Vl rounded South Head many of th
1 1 :tgain began to remember the joys of
1 1 I ness. Once again, the first day out
aw 1 'lny m ml rs trying to find their sea
s ' ll d th ir s <tsi I n tablets.
on t h r il rt r, t h xecutive Officer was
n to p t 011 with th how. Shakedown is
th p ' I iod us 11 ri r t work up for the ship
to 11111 tllrou d1 h r drill and get the crew
' o1l i11 ' :11 1 al p rfonnance before Sea
'1' 1:11111 11)' (;r<HIJ ( the practical trainers)
:1111 ~ . lo I s t our lin1it even furth er. Our
, ' lt :d vdown in lu I d many arnag ntr I
l' , l' ll' l. 'l S :t ryin > fr 11 Sll 'lll S nari S to
wlrull- . lt ip oluti ons.
'l' l w l' ll 1' ill 'l' rinp d p:111111 nl onlinu I with
llll ll ll:llllilt )' prop r:llll , :tlld \ orki ll ) lh r ur
11 1' p1111 o t . ' illlt :111 o llt r. thro ugh the
t' lllllllll)
1
o1dl' 1.: n11d pro d ur s n the
l1t te ll' , fli H.:t It :11 11: ' ' r to, th r working
\ l II I) I li t l "" () I lit . \ . I .
II ,, "' I :d I 1! :11 d \ ork a August was the
Itt I "PI'' lllt llll l I or Bi\ LARA T to visit a
1 t ~ t l t 1I IH 1 lit 11 It r hon1 e. Brisbane gave a
".11 111 t I < uttt lo BALLARAT with many
nl Ill ll' \ lapping up the deserved four-
In ' l' l l ltd. Many used this time to take
It j p,: In\ 11 to the renowned Dreamworld for
l tt w lttll in the un and enjoyed the vibrant
111 I' It lit I lint Brisbane has to offer. The
Lo rd Mayor of Brisbane and Her
H II ncy, The Governor, welcomed
BALLARAT by officially receiving the
47
Co1nn1anding Officer at Town Hall and
Government House respectively. All
weekend felt like an open day onboard as
crew brought friends and fatnily to show off
their shiny new home. Our time in Brisbane
was much appreciated and tnany were sad to
be leaving so soon, but duty called and we
sailed south.
BALLARAT' s shakedown was to be partly
c nduct d in cotnpany with the New
Z a l a nd fleet tanker , HMNZS
NDEA YOUR, circumstances prevented
thi opportunity until late in the second
week. We enjoyed our brief time with her,
testing with a few hours of close quarter
tnanoeuvres and tactical exercises. Later
that evening BALLARAT conducted her
first replenishtnent - receiving 265 tonnes
from ENDEA YOUR.
BALLARAT detached frotn ENDEA YOUR
and sailed outh for Fleet Base East where
the la t few day of the week were used to
bu i ly n1al e final preparations for the
appr aching w rk up.
Th h s t Monday in August saw our
in it'1bl day as BALLARAT again sailed
fr c m ydney, this time in cotnpany with
II M A DARWIN, signifying the
ommencement of our first work up.
September 2004
The purpose of a work-up is to achieve the Level
of Capability directed by the Chief of Defence
Force through Chief of Navy and Maritime
Commander (MCAUST). The Level of Capability
in which a ship is required to achieve is
dependent on the operations that she will be
undertaking.
A Unit Readiness Work-up prepares a ship for a
Minimum Level Of Capability (MLOC) to conduct
operations, including deployments and exercises
off the Australian station. The standard 'Major
Fleet Unit' Unit Readiness Work-up is five weeks
in duration. It features an 8-16 hour Work-Up
Progress Evaluation (WUPE) at the end of week
2 and 24-36 hour Unit Readiness Evaluation
(URE) at the end of week 5. The WUPE and the
URE involve a complete assessment of all
disciplines across all departments and is
monitored and assessed by the Australian Fleet
Sea Training Group (AUSFL TSTG).
AUSFL TSTG are the subject matter experts in all
departments and procedures on HMA Ships and
give the ship the necessary guidance to conduct
all evolutions to the level required. The
attainment of MLOC involves all departments
demonstrating proficiency in their operational
roles as well as in the areas of mariner skills.
Units are assessed to be ready for national
tasking on successful completion of a URE.
HMAS BALLARAT conducted her Unit
Readiness Work-up and Evaluation throughout
September in company with HMAS DARWIN as
part of her work-up. For five challenging weeks
BALLARAT practised everything from daily fire
and standing sea exercises, force protection
exercises, machinery breakdown drills, simulated
warfare serials and whole ship damage control
exercises. All departments were pushed to their
limits as the members of AUSFL TSTG drill ed
ships company for all their knowledge and
experi ence.
The Work-up was a period in which our famous
tr il of the 'BALLARAT -titude' came out in full
brilli nee. Ships company proved on a daily
b is their abil ity to have a go at anything, with
s m n officers repairing holes in machinery
sp c s, ngineeri ng sailors providing first aid to
c u lili s, stewards in Standing Sea Fire
Brig l . here were no limits to what a member
of hir company was willing to do help out their
sllipmnl . BALLARATs crew banded together
clll l 11 ,II l ch other get through the long days
cHlcl ni Jill of Action Stations and fighting wars.
Ov t HHI ov 1 ri als were practised and each
li m otn clll inq n w was learnt and
itnpl ov Ill 111 w r 1 de so by week five
B/\ /\I 1\ r was performing like a well-oiled
machine. The Work-up could not have been
48
conducted so successfully operating alone and
BALLARAT owes many thanks to HMAS
DARWIN, HMAS RANKIN and HMNZS
CANTERBURY for the assistance and support
they provided throughout the Work-up.
Assessment plays a major part of the Work up
process and provides the units with a benchmark
lo achieve and constant updates of capability
I vel throughout the work-up. The AUSFL TSTG
u a standard assessment criteria (Below
Sl ndard , Standard Achieved Minus, Standard
1\ hi v , Standard Achieved Plus and Above
lc 111 I, r I) r r II individual evolutions and
x 1 ci I til in lhe URE. Depending on the
tyr c ol wo1 k u being conducted, a ship will be
, ,cd v rail as being 'Standard Achieved
ror ll lf ll i11 1 ki ll s' and safe to conduct activities
on lll c /\u lralian station, 'Unit Ready' and
avr1i lnbl f r MLOC-Ievel tasking, or 'Mission
R r1 cly' tllld ready for assignment to specific
aclivili .
So 'lll r five long and exhilarating weeks HMAS
BAll /\1 AT was declared 'Unit Ready' and took
h r pl c1C as capable ~ m d ready member of the
Au ln I i n Fleet.
October 2004
After the rush and excitement of the W rl
up October see1ned slow to start. The Bank
Hoi iday long weekend saw an Open <l l'or
Fleet Base East with BALLARA nnd lll' t
ister ships STUART and PARRAM ' I T
pen for inspection. Th d1.1 :1. " till
2714 personnel toLIIin ) B/\ 1.1 1 ' I , 'l' lll
re t of the we I alonl'.' idt I HI "
tn aintenan , r 1uir ' llH' tl l. ' llll ' l :tl llt I Ill
gru II in w ls or lit e Wnrl ttp nt1d I Ill
crew took n nlu llnt d d tl". l \\ti lt
many proceeding n I a
Though it wasn't all rei x 1ti o11 il. ' \ Wl 1
only alongside a week b [! re 13 /\ LLA I, 'I'
again sailed for the Eastern Auslr:tlt ntl
Exercise Area (EAXA) . Th i tim tit
tra ining was for not only us but l'ot
Squ:Hitntl. ' XI <, , XI / I \ l'rolll IlMAS
I H TP<>SS ;tt Nowr;t. Tit ;\ iat i n
'l't :lllllll l' \ ' I W' IS sp Ill illl W: lll'h af'ter
\ ;li cit ol I' L'l' O rin) 1. 111 I l(lt lll llill l' or th
\: tt '''I' diiT r nt lyp s ol': tir r:dl 111 :tr in)
\ :tllt L' I' ' OIHJi lions. ' I h ' ' L' l pt o d
h tt It i:d to 'lll , with th ship h i11' :thiL lo
q11 :tltl more memb rs ill :1\ t:tltott
upt t:tli ons md al th qu1dron.' i11 p
ll wtr .' I:IIT.
lint Hi\ LLARAT it was aga in b1 I lo I' BI :
lot :tnother week alon g ' i I o l I : t ,
111:11111 twncc and preparati on l'ot ottr
tllnlllll d pi ytnent. BALLAR/\ '1 lwd :1 isit
lru ttt th fOXTEL Crunch t am, lilt11ing
Pll :tk 's i. tnd aerobics classe in thr 11:111 , r
:tttd Oil the night deck with I ' lll h ' I' S 01'
49
ships company strutting their stuff and
showing viewers how we exercise onboard.
The week alongside was short-lived as we
aid goodbye to Sydney again, this time we
w u ld not be returning for 4-months but
were enthusiastic for the months that lay
ahead. BALLARAT's first stop was a port
vi it to Melbourne for the opening of
Victorian Navy Week (which also tied in
nic ly with Spring Carnival). Our weekend
alongs ide was busy with the official
pening cocktail party, open days and
remembrance services to attend, not
fo rgetting the visits to Flemington
Racecourse.
November 2004
BALLARAT sailed frotn Melbourne
bound for Fleet Base West, where we look
forward to tneeting tnany other fleet units
for the exercises that lay ahead over the
upcotning weeks. BALLARA Ts visit to
Melbourne was a huge success with the
cocktail party and open days going off
without a hitch and all personnel who
attended enjoyed thetnselves. But it's not
all about cocktail parties and open days
and again we were retninded that we're not
fro111 P&O cruises but in fact a warship and
hence headed for Fleet Base West to tneet
our consorts for the next few weeks of war
games
November saw BALLARAT participating
in warfare exercises, along with taking
well earned breaks in new ports. The
PWOSA W (Principle Warfare Officer Sea
Assessment Week) saw BALLARAT
spend an exhilarating week in company
with HMAS NEWCASTLE, HMNZS TE
KAHA, HMNZS ENDEAVOUR battling
it out against air, surface and sub surface
threats. The six tnonth PWO course all
comes down to one week, a week spent a
sea etnbarked in vari u hip doing the
job l'or r <ll and it's the 1nake or break of
lh ours '.
It's :1 I on> week for the PWO students,
th , r no I nger in a simulator, the gun
wi II lr r :tn I they can't control the weather,
b ll t ro r l h e fortunate enough to be
crnh: trk din BALLARAT the support they
r TL' i d l'rom the Ship's Company was
Sl' o11d to none.
II r: 111 h h st utntnarised with a phrase
lr o111 lltL lltttnl you note the Co111n1anding
011 i v r Jl' i cd from the PWO students
'tllh:11l l'd , the graduation of all four
PW< > I lttdl' Jtl s mbarked in BALLARAT
is :t ll' . l:trttl'lll t the dedication and
lllll:tll. ' lll , which characterises the
RAN I llllll)'l'SI ll et unit'. BALLARAT
spc111 till \\t'l'kl nd alongside Fleet Base
W .111d \\ :1. itble to celebrate this
1<111 1' in!( the early hours of
aturd:t ' Jlttlllllltp .
As <lh\:1 ,. II \\.1 1: lillll' ror BALLARAT to
sail :q:t lll morning.
N WC!\ . II I' I KAHA and
ENDE/\ V< >l II' l'llrwd II.' :1 >ain for another
w e I o I \\ .11 1' .II Ill . lltr. I i n1 e also in
compn11 "rllt \ ,' \ I' STRALIA and
HMAS P Nl IN l111 \ ,' WI: 04 (Anti
SubmarillW;lii:IIL'I , l'llll 001) .
()
BALLARAT did her best ducking and
weaving, dodging the subtnarine trying to
protect ourselves and tanker WESTRALIA
while RANKIN tried to stop us in our
tracks . At the end of the day both sides
won as the lessons learnt by both surface
and sub-surface vessels was invaluable.
With the war gatnes over BALLARAT got
to do thing she also does best and that is
visit ports for more relaxation and parties.
This tin1e Albany, Portland and Geelong
were n the agenda. All three visits saw
functi n nb ard and ashore, open days
a nd n1any g i fl exchanged as tnore
Au tral ian cities were introduced to the
shiny n w n1en1ber of the Australian Fleet.
The P rtland visit saw the first Annual
Ward r m and Senior Sailors Mess
Dinner. ll was a fitting date for the Mess
Dinn r a a toast was given to a
predece or of BALLARAT I.
As alw y the month grew quickly to an
end and BALLARAT berthed at the
Cunningham Pier, Geelong in preparation
for the upcotning festivities in the City of
Ballarat.
December 2004
At the start of December BALLARAT was
alongside Geelong to conduct a Freedom of
_. ntry in the City of Ballarat to coincide
wit h the 150th anniversary of the Eureka
sto I ad . The first night alongside Geelong
how v r, ALLARAT hosted a c cl tail
pnrty 0 1 the flight deck for dignilar i s ol
H <I ll a r 'll, Gee 1 on g 0 I I (Ill d.,
Willi1m town and Melb un
rt r lh cia l ntn p H I I I' 1\ I
lo:t<IL I llJ a t us nnd (I r '\ ' I :II :t It) ' "'"
It n I d I< H:tll:tr:tl to p:trli ip:lll' 111 I >.t ' ,() I
( ';trill, " \ Ill It 'OII ,' I,' kd ol l' UIIIIIIIIIlll
' orl >r '<lilt S I h till H I I P ' I .
:t so i1ted chHily nitin' Wt lind t >
tHtdu t ch ol vi it . he crew p1rli i1 'l l d
111 :t ariety of comtnunity project and
i ill'd r ur schools with the company of a
l :tlt:twk llelicopter from 816 Squadron.
l it . !tool s visited were Mt Clear,
h:t. lopol , l Patrick's and Ballarat
tt.tlllllt: tr. The visit teams were botnbarded
till q u slion of interest but the Seahawk
<kl'inilely the main attraction with
I 1 I 111 crowding around for the chance to
I 11 1 h ockpit. Not even the rain could
1 lit i r enthusiasn1.
1111' d'' the r w headed back to
I tit. l' r ' dom or A few
f}Jy S13L'I .JLaron
practice in lh d:1 s I ndi 11 p up llild th
crew b I in sl ' I :111<l I'L':HI to '0. II w 1s a
hi t ri '<II o n. ioll l'o1 it \ :t. ' lit l'irsl lim
lh ' il ol' Hnll :11:tl w:t. '' i11 p l'r lon r
nl r I o : t " ti I i I: 11 tltll l. T It T w 111'1 rc h d
1 :t. 'l tit lo\ 11 lt :tll :111d ILTL' i d th .. d m
o I I : 1111 ' 1-' l 1 u II It o 111 t h M '1 y r 0 a v i d
1ul , :11ul H I L RAT pr senled The City
ul H:lllnt:tl ' tlh th While nsign. As
H \I I I' T lllllr hed ff Inspector Ti1n
llr rll ltnlt I th 1 rc ce i n with an official
l lt :tll ' ll 1'L' . 11 <1 in r be n atisfied that the
l ll'dl' lllr :ll s w r c rrect the Inspector
:tllo\\ l'd H LL/\R/\ l pass. An official
ll'l 'l'pll< II\ itS h ld an rwards at the Craig
llol I' lt r th Ship' Con1pany enjoyed
I h hos pi lit I i! pro i led by the City of
1 11 1 nl.
A few n1en1ber lay d in Ballarat on 3rd
Decetnber to attend lh Dawn service but
the tnaj ority proceeded back to Geelong l
enjoy some time off. On 4th Decetnb r lh
ship was open to visitors and the cr wds
turned out once again to view the shi . 0 .,
1200 people toured the ship with lit
weapon and damage control di ph s :q,: d"
being the favourites.
BALLARAT departed G lo111' 011 , ' 1111d:t
and cmntnenced her p S' l 'l' I : H' l :H 1 u. . II tL'
ir 'll /\uslr'lliln ile l leet Base West for
'l I g i l i c v i i t n d m bark an Ann y
ntingent a b arding upport before
c ntinuing onto Christn1a I land to relieve
HMAS PARRAMATTA for OP RELEX II
duties on the 13th December.
The passage was greeted with fair weather
and the crew was soon feeling the heat of
the tropics, which tnade it interesting for the
ship' Badn1inton Cotnpetition. A nutnber
of tean1 balll d it ul [i r the inaugural title.
Petty ffi r r n fell and Petty Officer
uti r we 1 lh title in a thrilling final. Even
the u >I <.1 I' w >'lllleS were being played the
hi1 W<ls still worl ing and on patrol near
/\shmor ' ls htnd I J\ LARAT conducted
l op r:tlion s on three suspected
ill p: tl l'or ip 11 li shin, ssel re ulting in 2
:HIIllini .- lr :lli s iz tres. This entails
' <)JIIi nl i111' lit ir l'i shing gear and issuing
llH' Ilt \\ rllt :t' :trning.
Nul lo It-t worl gel in the way of son1e n1ore
11111 H LL/\ R/\ T cotntnenced its flight deck
rrl k t ompctition. Boardings aside the
lt' iltlls turned up to play and tnesses were
dr ided in rivalry. After few gatnes the
l am tarted to understand the custotnised
ru le and how to bowl with a ball on a string
'l nd then some champagne cricket
entertained the fans. "Curdled Milk" the
Petty Officer's teatn claitned the title.
BALLARAT returned to Christn1as Island
on Christmas Eve and 1noored off Flying
Fish Cove so the Ship's Cotnpany could
participate in the festivities. The Wardroom
played waiters on Christlnas Eve serving the
beer issue and canapes for the crew as a
preli1ninary for the Ship's Concert.
Australian Idol judges would have been
envious of the talent that was dislayed on
the flight deck. The cooks prepared a
traditional lunch and a seafood buffet for
dinner on Christlnas day and it was a fea t
to behold. Most people onboard suffered the
usual Christlnas co1nplaint of overeating.
BALLARAT departed on Boxing Day and
proceeded to Broome. Though the visit W'ls
program1ned as an operational and logi tic
visit, the crew was able celebrate the end or
2004 and welcotne in 2005 ashore.
52
Freedom of Entry
The ceremony of Freedom of Entry dates
back to when nationality and chains of
cotnmand were rather more flexible than
th y are now. When military units stopped
b i ng 'who-ever had grabbed their sword
<I nd h wed up' and started b in )
prof s ' i nal assigned to a unit a n ss :111
mpire, towns started givin) th 111otl
well- behaved unit Fr dom ol l11l1 111
build better ti with "l1n 1111 Itt
f'eel that they W r' i11 il lOll 1)'11 l Ullllll
1
,
This was both to ltt :d l' tln111 k I IIHll :11
hom , illld In ltop ltd I tlll'i ttl thnt th y
wou ll sl:1 :tltd d I ' tid tit pl:.t in a time
of war (I erhq s even with ut any raping
:.1nd pillaging).
These days the risks of the city of Ballarat
he i ng invaded are fairly sinall, but the
r r m ny still states that we of HMAS
HA ARAT can 1narch a band down the
main street without the local militia (or
poli ') being turned out against us. Instead
tt is m re about giving the city of Ballarat
omething to take pride in outside their city
llllllts, and to give us an excuse to get all
dr , d up and show the flag.
1111 H't ua l procedure for granting a
I I I Ill or ntry has also becoine more
'11111'1 While the Ballarat city council
had vot d to )i liM , ' H I I I, I' tit
fr e d Ill () r ' lilt l'; II It I tl \\ ' I ' I I \\ Ill k
b ro r \ l' I () I till I l Ill ' Ill : d I I Ill : II " Ill l
thro111'h : 1 11 ' ll t:ll 1 IOOitll tttl :ltHII:tl -. :1
lil(!v 111 Ill llfl' 1111 1111111 jl !ll(lllll.lll ' il. ' :1
Hllll lll.ltllt I tlllllllllll' IlLII It l' llttl ill
ll I lHllll (llt.lltllllll V). I Ill' ' 11111 :11 pl!lll
nl\ Jl, 11 !1\ lli11
1
h I hlf 1 o ill,( '! fd !flfd llllJ)
111111111 '1' liP Ull :1 I ld .' It 'll 1111 I l.lltl
( l ' ll I I ,I : II HI ll' lll i II " : I hI . ()I d Ill() I 111111' ()II
tl w I h rt' lllh ' I .001 wi tlt !Itt N:l\ H.11td
I wh ti l ' L' oul I pro id th 11 :11'.' lot tIt
ltr : th:dl'olth rplywh n lwll "1'l'd \\l
n d d th b<IIH.i t pr vid th lw:tllll '
drum to fill out the[! rmula.
We had arrived in Geel ng two d:t ,
earlier, and after doing son1e xt nsi
up and back on the Geelong whtrl' lt:1d ol
enough practice to avoid falling o ' I :ll h
other. The key practice point alo11' "' till
s rting out who was going wh r ' :1. to
lc1rn how to stop to a drutn b <tl. Thi : ts
Iii the starting on the drum, hut t:lllttt
harder, especially when inititll tl ' :1s
50/50 which foot people til
sto1 p d n. By the time we -,til d .' l11111ps,
most or us at least under tood vvh:11 w
w r trying to do, even th u d1 ' t' h:tdn 't
a tually tried to do it with :1 dttltll . The
pn.1 ti cc catne to an tgnomlntott s 'tH.l in
53
'By LSTfT tJJavid J{orton
h (I y ra ill , but rortunately on the day we
only got a li ght sprinl le and enough cold to
I eep even the pr r ss i nal atnong us from
hinting.
' he n1arch took as down the tnain street,
with a stop for us to actually receive the
s roll giving us our right to go marching
down the main street, and a second stop
wh n we were challenged by the local
!lief' or police with "Halt, who goes there
to prove that we still had it. To this the
< 'ommanding Officer responded "HMAS
H:tll<trat, exercising its right and privilege
to pass through the City of Ballarat with
SV\ ords drawn, bayonets fixed, drun1s
heating, bands playing and Colours
llying." And we did. In return we also
pre ented the City with the white ensign
flown on the day of cotntnissioning.
With the Freedom of Entry 1narch over and
a quick duck around the corner to march
offthe Ensign and fall out, we adjourned to
Craig's Royal Hotel for lunch nibbles and a
socialise before those of us so inclined
1noved on to experience the hospitality of
the city that had just invited us in. One of
us enjoyed it so tnuch he n1issed all the
busses and the train and had to get a
1 OOkm taxi ride in the wee hours of the
n1oming to get back to Geelong.
I
For the future, the Ballarat has an inland
h n1c and tho e whose job it is to progrmn
our 111 v tnents can add to the schedule
r gular vi it for the ship's company to
54
exercise our new rights to the Freedo1n of
the City of Ballarat and to maintain new
and ongoing friendships .
Acknowledgments
Editors
LEUT Kerry Fairbrother
LEUT Ben Homer
LSET David Horton
ABMT Andrew Black
Photography
/\BMT Andrew Bla
!\ PIIOTNinaNilolin
S < n I 'l vi I , n 1111
LEl T l'l'll l .ttlllltlllt I
/\llMT M:ttlttt
%ankyou to tfie jo[[owing personne[
Thos n ml '1. ' ol . ll1p ,' ' <I IIII :1t1 "lt11 lt.t 1 1111111 1 """'' d lit 11 p t t:tlplt!llo)t :tplll c llll' tlloric
S1Jccial Thanks
To lhos wh tnade a very generous donation, and wish lo 1 ttt :till ""'''' '"''"' 1111 It HI\ who you are, a very special thank you.
T o ;til :trl i I c ntributors.
lltL' r w r IlMAS BALLARAT for providing the Storie n 'It ri ;d :tlld llt l II ,, ,, L. I:llll l' Ill thi s production.
55
56
Ship's
Christtnas
Party
.9Lncfwrea off firist1nas 1 [ana
Pictures speal( [ouaer than wo ref .
Whife the crew were missing their
fovea ones
1
the 1ami{y) they were with
for this Christmas he[pea a[[ to
cefebrate the true spirit of Christmas.