HMAS Darwin Celebrates Her 25th Birthday in Good Company
8 July 2009
There are two very striking features that sets apart the Wardroom bar of HMAS Darwin from those of her sister ships in the Royal Australian Navy.
The first is the elegantly carved ship’s motto "Resurgent" that graces the wood panelling of the bar itself.
The second is a John Collier portrait of a rather distinguished looking Victorian era gentleman that hangs quietly and soberly near the lashed glasses. It was presented at Darwin’s commissioning on 21 July 1984 by the then Australian Ambassador to the USA, Sir Robert Cotton.
The artworks not only link Darwin to the city after which she is named, they also capture something of the spirit and character they both share.
The city of Darwin has been almost destroyed three times yet from the ruins it has re–emerged stronger than ever. The first attempt came in 1897 with a devastating storm, the second in February 1942 by Japanese bombers and most recently, by Cyclone Tracey on Christmas Eve 1974. Like its namesake, the original hull of the fourth Australian Adelaide Class Guided Missile Frigate was completely destroyed by a fire at the San Diego shipyard during construction. Another hull originally designated USN FFG-44 was subsequently redesignated as Australian hull FFG-04.
Not surprisingly perhaps, when HMAS Darwin was commissioned, the ship adopted as its motto "Resurgent" with the emblem of the Phoenix, the beautiful mythological bird that rises from its own ashes.
And the man in the portrait, staring somewhat severely at the uniformed visitors who enter his domain, is the 19th century naturalist Charles Darwin. If the year 2009 marks the silver jubilee of FFG-04’s commissioning, then the man who turned his world upside down with the publication of "Origin of the Species" is also marking some milestones of his own.
This year marks the 200th anniversary of his birth in 1809 and the 150th anniversary of "Origin of the Species" published 50 years later.
The book was a culmination of research undertaken by Darwin whilst on board the survey barque HMS Beagle (commanded by Captain Robert Fitzroy) on its 1831-1836 voyage to South America.
Darwin, who was only 22 years of age and considering a future career as a rural clergyman, shared the poop deck cabin with a 19 year old lieutenant named John Lort Stokes. The two young men became good friends over the duration of the voyage.
Stokes embarked in the Beagle for its third voyage in 1837 to chart the coast of Australia. While in the Top End, he noticed a specific rock type in one area and, reminded of his old shipmate’s passion for the natural world, named the place "Port Darwin" in his honour.
A full scale replica of HMS Beagle is currently being built as part of the celebrations for the bicentennial of the birth of Charles Darwin. The project is principally funded by David Lort Philips, a Pembrokeshire farmer and descendant of John Lort Stokes (who finished the third voyage of the Beagle as its Commander), and the author and yacht master Peter McGrath.
The reconstructed Beagle will sail with 30 young scientists and mariners on a circumnavigation of the world in the wake of that famous voyage. With the benefits of modern science and seamanship, the young crew aboard will continue the work first undertaken by Darwin and Fitzroy 170 years earlier.
For the equally young men and women of HMAS Darwin, the chance to celebrate their own anniversary will have to wait until later in the year.
The actual date of the commissioning falls on Tuesday 21st of July during the combined Australian and United States Exercise TALSIMAN SABER 09 when Darwin will be taking part in a series of maritime operations and combat scenarios.
However the hard work will be rewarded with a 17 week goodwill tour of South East Asia with port visits scheduled for Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam and Cambodia.
And discussions are underway to organise cross decking opportunities between the young crews of Darwin and HMS Beagle during the latter’s Australian leg of their circumnavigation.
Perhaps, when the former Commanding Officers of HMAS Darwin come together at the anniversary cocktail party later in the year in Sydney, many will raise a glass or two in tribute to the city and naturalist who brought them together. And no doubt the gentleman in the picture frame would thoroughly approve.
