Adelaide celebrates final birthday

28 November 2007

As sprightly as ever, HMAS Adelaide (II) celebrated her 27th birthday on the 15th November 2007, her final as a commissioned warship.

True to form, Adelaide's birthday was spent at sea doing what she does best, 'out-in-front' as the lead ship in a major exercise. Adelaide took part in the Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise 2007 (ASWEX), in waters off Western Australia, from 5th to 17th November. ASWEX was Adelaide's last exercise before she decommissions in January 2008.

Adelaide's Commanding Officer, CMDR Robert Slaven, RAN, was assisted in cutting the cake by the ship's youngest crew member SMN Kerri-Anne Cornell, and the oldest, CPO Hugh Tomlinson.

Adelaide also celebrated her 27th birthday with two other members of the ship's company, PO Paul Livermore and AB Neale Merrick, who both have recently celebrated their own birthdays.

There will be no run down period in the lead-up to Adelaide's decommissioning, with the ship remaining fully operational up to the day she pays off.

In the coming weeks Adelaide will be conducting a final port visit to the City of Adelaide during the South Australian Navy week, 27 November to 3 December. Whilst in town Adelaide's ships company will conduct a Freedom of Entry ceremony on the 29th November.