An ANZAC Day with a difference

28 April 2009

It is not often that Australian and New Zealand ships rendezvous for ANZAC Day, but this year the extraordinary opportunity for the ships’ companies of HMA Ships Success (CMDR Simon Brown) and Pirie (LCDR Matthew Webb) along with Ships Te Mana and Endeavour presented itself in Qingdao, China.

After the busy schedule of the International Fleet Review, the four ships were alongside and had the opportunity to reflect on ANZAC Day together.

The early start did little to deter the companies of all the ships with even a few expats joining the commemorations on the wharf.

Led by Chaplains Peter Olds and Christine Senini, the four ceremonial life rings from the ships held centre stage on the wharf as people pondered on the sacrifices made so many years ago.

The Catafalque Party, consisting of a member from each ship, utilised Success’ flight deck to conduct the half masting of the AWE and , and as the sounds of the last post rung out in the crisp morning air the attention turned towards the group of New Zealand sailors who performed a special haka for the occasion.

On completion of the ceremony, a gunfire breakfast was held in Success and Te Mana with personnel from all ships invited to attend.

The exchange of Australian and New Zealand personnel for breakfast gave the opportunity for new friendships to be forged and the spirit of the ANZAC tradition to be strengthened many miles from home.