Navy People: Ceduna Sailor Enjoys Big Ocean Sailing

9 July 2008

They say you join the Navy to sea the world and Ceduna-born Shane Spry is doing just that.

Shane, 28, is now a Leading Seaman aboard HMAS Melbourne, where he is a specialist as a Marine Technician. But it was travel not technical qualifications or promotion that first made him sign on.

“What I like most about the job is going to different ports all over the world and going out with my mates – I have mates all over Australia now, so it’s good to be able to catch up with them when I pull into an Australian port.”

So far Shane’s most memorable moment was in Dubai in the Persian Gulf. He and his shipmates had just completed a six week patrol and really enjoyed letting off steam in the Wild Wadis aqua park.

Earlier this year during ANZAC Day Shane was impressed how many people responded to his uniform. “It was nice to see how much some people appreciate the work we do — and how they are always keen to ask how I got my medals!”

Shane and his shipmates have a busy overseas programme for the rest of the year including visits to South East Asia and, closer to home Brisbane, Cairns and Perth.

“My wife and I find it hardest when I first leave for a long deployment. I think they have been a bit worried at some of the places I have been or what I might get up to, but they always look forward to me returning home.”