Navy People: Belair’s Battleship Man

29 April 2010

People always said Belair’s Chris Welling, 20, would go far and they were right — but now he’s coming back again.

Chris and his 170 shipmates aboard HMAS Arunta are heading home from New Zealand and will be docking in Adelaide on 22 April.

It will be a great chance for Chris to catch up with his Mum Deirdre and his brother Michael.

“After Sacred Heart I joined the Navy in 2007,” said Chris. “First stop was HMAS Cerberus, a shore establishment near Melbourne, where we did all our basic training.

“I decided to become an electronics technician, and I specialised in sonar and navigational equipment.

“Now I have my Certificate 4 in electronic technology, I’ve been promoted to Able Seaman and, after three years, I’ve got mates in every big town in Australia!

“For the future I’d like to see more cities of the world and I want to further my professional knowledge.

“But for now I’m just looking forward to catching up with my Mum and my brother.”

Chris and his shipmates will be heading off for their home-port at Rockingham near Perth on 27 April.