HMAS Diamantina crew ventures inland
19 June 2010
As the last serving ship’s company of HMAS Diamantina, before the Mine Hunter multi-crewing trial, Mine Hunter Crew (MHC) Four (Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Andy Duff) visited the town of Birdsville, in the Diamantina Shire, Queensland some 2540kms from their home-port of HMAS Waterhen. Freedom of Entry to the Shire was bestowed upon the Commanding Officer and crew in Birdsville on 19 June 2010.
HMAS Diamantina is the second RAN ship to carry the name, taking her name from the river which runs through central Queensland and through the town of Birdsville. Despite being commissioned in 2002 there has been little opportunity to conduct a visit and it has taken over 12 months to finalise the details of the visit and coordinate the ship’s busy schedule with that of the local council.
Lead by the Commanding Officer, the ship’s company marched on parade down the main street of Birdsville, halting before a group of Councillors, where they were greeted and welcomed to the land by Aboriginal Elder Mr Jimmy Crombie. Deputy Mayor Barry Gaffney then read out the charter of the Freedom of Entry. To complete the ceremony, the parade advanced towards the town’s only Police Officer, Senior Constable Neale McIntosh, who gave his final challenge for proof of the right for Freedom of Entry. With a final salute to the Deputy Mayor, the ship’s company were granted Freedom of Entry of the Diamantina Shire.
The march was followed by a luncheon held at the community centre, which provided the Diamantina’s crew with the chance to meet the people of Birdsville. Children of the local school (which only has 5 students) exchanged gifts of hand-painted boomerangs with five Junior Sailors in return for cap-tallies and ship’s patches which further enhanced the fledgling good relationship between the ship’s company and community.
The weekend in Birdsville for MHC Crew Four was a busy one, privileged with a trip out to the Simpson Desert to “Big Red” a popular place to watch the sunset and a barbeque dinner with council members and local business leaders at the Dingo Caves. A sports afternoon at the famous Birdsville racetrack drew a crowd of over 40 locals and tourists (Birdsville has a population of about 100) and saw four RAN teams and one local team compete in novelty relay races. A tour of the local working museum completed the visit.
Of the visit, Deputy Mayor, Barry Gaffney said “On behalf of the Diamantina Shire Council and the communities within the Shire, I was very privileged as the Deputy Mayor to be able to bestow the Freedom of the Shire of Diamantina upon the officers and crew of HMAS Diamantina.
“The march and ceremony led by Commanding Officer, LCDR Andy Duff, was conducted in a very professional manner. We hope as a Shire and Community that this relationship will grow in the future, and perhaps a number of Diamantina Shire Councillors and residents would be able to visit the HMAS Diamantina.
“Likewise we would be honoured to have officers and crew back to march with our community next Anzac day. Thank you again to LCDR Duff, officers and crew of HMAS Diamantina.”
The weekend in the Diamantina Shire was important for both the Birdsville community and the ship’s company of Diamantina, ensuring the continuation of a valuable relationship between the civilian community and the RAN. The visit was a significant community engagement activity and enjoyed by all those in attendance from both Navy and the local community.
