Arunta welcomes Arrernte delegation

29 November 2007

HMAS Arunta (CMDR Timothy Brown, RAN) was honoured to host several members from the Arrernte nation onboard for a tour and lunch on Friday, 9 November 2007.

Among the guests were the Chairman of the Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation, Mr Brian Stirling, and CEO Darryl Pearce. For all, it was the first opportunity to visit the ship that proudly bears their name. During lunch, CMDR Brown took the opportunity to restate the strength of the bond between the ship and the Arrernte nation.

The delegation also took the opportunity to take in the sights around Perth and Kings Park, before returning to attend Arunta's departure for the Middle East Area of Operations on 12 November. During the ceremony they performed a traditional smoking ceremony, meant to keep the ship's company safe and ward off evil spirits during the deployment.

The traditional Arrernte tribal lands cover a vast swathe of central Australia, centred on Arunta's adopted home port of Alice Springs. Arunta is the second ship to bear the name, after Arunta (I), a Tribal Class destroyer which was commissioned in 1942.

The Perrente lizard - an important symbol in Arrernte Dreamtime (or Altyerre) culture - is an image that Arunta and her crew display proudly. It is prominently displayed on the ship's flag bins, ball caps and most recently on the ship's embarked Seahawk, Tiger 77.

Arunta will relieve HMAS Anzac (CAPT Ian Middleton) on station in the Middle East Area of Operations in late November.