Executives answer call of the sea – for a moment

3 June 2010 By Graham Davis

GOOD INSIGHT: 20 business executives spent a weekend learning all things Navy at HMAS Cairns in mid-May as part of Exercise Executive Stretch.

Twenty businessmen and women tasted life in the RAN at HMAS Cairns (Commander Bob Heffey) in mid-May while participating in Exercise Executive Stretch 2010.

Executive Stretch is aimed at acquainting those in the business community with what the Navy does and to thank those who allow their employees time off to carry out Reserve duties with the Service.

Cairns administers 452 Reserve personnel and, in the past year, 6505 Reserve days were completed, including 1650 in ships.

The 20 executives boarded Cairns at 5pm on May 14, were kitted up in Proban overalls, allocated racks at TS Endeavour and given a safety brief by Russ Power, the command OH&S officer and security brief by CPONPC Ray Rosendale.

Cairns’ CO, CMDR Heffey, welcomed the group, explained the history of Cairns, briefed New Generation Navy and extolled the value of Reservists to the RAN before hosting dinner.

“Wakey wakey” at 5am the next day saw CMDR Heffey and his XO, LCDR Terry Garside, join the businessmen and women in a punishing boxercise activity. CPOB Dean Faunt supervised a Steyr shoot at the Wangetti Rifle Range before the team returned to Cairns for use of force training.

“They all enjoyed these activities very much,” LCDR Garside said.

Lifejacket and liferaft demonstrations – supervised by LSBM Mark Rix in the base pool – followed.

That night CPOPT June Cunningham conducted some challenging team building exercises.

Sunday again saw the businessmen called at 5am for PT. After breakfast the group joined LCDR Mal Parsons on the Navy’s high speed launch Malu Baizam and headed to sea.

The executives simulated illegal fishermen and Malu Baizam simulated a foreign fishing vessel.

A boarding party from HMAS Wollongong (ARDENT ONE crew, LCDR Andy Dobb) to intercept and board. The executives then transferred to Wollongong where they toured the ship and watched man-overboard and damage control exercises.

The day ended with a restow of kit, final washup and the presentation of certificates. “We had trouble getting them to leave Cairns because they loved the place so much,” CMDR Heffey said.