Ballarat's Anzac Day at Sea

25 April 2009

On their passage to Cochin, the first international port for Operation Northern Trident 2009, the ship’s company of HMAS Ballarat took time to mark ANZAC Day in the traditional manner.

At dawn, the ship’s company gathered on the quarterdeck in the receding darkness to commemorate the legend of the ANZAC’s. In the early morning there was a solemn mood as the bugle rang out across the waves, but by later that day, the quarterdeck rang with a very different sound – that of the cheers and groans associated with a spirited session around a two-up ring.

As the sun rose over the assembled personnel, the ship's chaplain, Chaplain Russell Smith, lead the ship’s company through a remembrance service that focused all present on the great legacy established by Australia's young men on the beaches of Gallipoli 94 years ago.

Commanding Officer of HMAS Ballarat, CMDR Kevin Turner, then asked the ship’s company to reflect on the sacrifice and bravery of the ANZAC's. “I ask you to remember your responsibility, as modern service men and women, to carry on the traditions of the ANZAC's throughout your own service careers,” he said.

MIDN Theresa Wells read the Psalm and Ship's Warrant Officer, WO Gary Fuss, read the Ode before Chaplain Smith concluded the service with a prayer. Executive Officer, LCDR Michael Devine, then dismissed the ship’s company for a less traditional element of the morning’s activities, breakfast cooked for the ship’s company by the Officers of the Wardroom.

Later in the day, a gold coin donation to HMAS Ballarat’s welfare fund brought entry to the two-up ring. The traditional rules were in play, no throws resulted from non-spinning coins and those rolling from the ring. However, the hanger location also called for a certain amount of inventiveness when it came to the rules.

No fortunes were made or lost on the day, but the enthusiasm for the once a year competition was noticeably high and brought a fitting end to a day celebrated in the ANZAC tradition.