A happy 21st on HMAS Anzac

27 November 2007

Not all 21 year olds get to steer a 3600-tonne warship through the Persian Gulf, but for Kira-Lee Holland, it's just part of the job.

The former Esperance school student is an AB aboard the Royal Australian Navy's HMAS Anzac.

The frigate is just finishing a six-month deployment to the Persian Gulf where it has conducted security patrols for two Iraqi oil platforms.

"We'll take turns on the bridge, talking to local traffic, letting them know if we're going to board them, finding out their details and making sure they're not dodgy," AB Holland said.

"If they're coming into the oil terminals, then we'll go and board them and do security sweeps."

Although her main role is in communications, AB Holland also participates in boarding parties and takes turn at the Anzac's helm. She had her 21st birthday during her deployment and said her friends on board helped her to celebrate.

"I was still on watch at midnight so some of my friends came up to the bridge and sang me Happy Birthday and one of the girls gave me a crown," she said.

"The next morning I got to the communications centre and they had balloons, a happy 21st sign and a cake they made for me. A week later we pulled into port so we had a pretty big party then."