HMAS Bundaberg Hometown Visit
28 June 2010
On a rare trip to southern waters HMAS Bundaberg took time out to pay a visit to its namesake city. Berthing at Bundaberg Marina Saturday 19 June the crew embarked Navy cadets from Training Ship Bundaberg. The seaday opportunity was a highlight for local cadets and gave them first hand experience of life on a Patrol Boat. Taking time to show them all aspects of Naval service TS Bundaberg cadets inspected weapons, toured the ship, tried their hand at manoeuvres from the conning position and put to sea in Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats. The action packed seaday impressed each cadet and provided unique insights.
Sunday 20 June saw the Ardent Four crew formally Open Ship to locals. The attending Bundaberg locals provided extremely positive feedback to the crew in addition to making them welcome in their namesake city. “It was great to be back in Bundaberg and hosting the locals onboard Bundaberg” LCDR Brett Westcott said. The previous Open Day opportunity in Bundaberg was more than two years ago. In the interviewing period the ship has undertaken boarder protection duties and fisheries patrols across Australia’s northern waters.
The strong relationship between the city and the ship was most evident on Monday 21 June when Bundaberg Regional Council hosted a function to welcome the Bundaberg crew. To mark the occasion the Mayor of Bundaberg Regional Council, Ms Lorraine Pyefinch, was presented with a framed photo of HMAS Bundaberg at sea. AB Bosuns Mate Brett Switzer, a Bundaberg local, took the spotlight providing his hometown media with his personal recollections and impressions of life on a Patrol Boat.
Image Gallery
Navy Cadets Sea Day aboard HMAS Bundaberg
HMAS Bundaberg Open Day
