Navy People: From Engineer to Doctor
5 November 2010
For the last four months, Surrey Hills’ Dr Richard Loizou has been getting a different take on general practice, sitting in the middle of the South China Sea on a Royal Australian Navy warship.
Also a Navy Lieutenant, Richard Loizou has been the ship’s doctor aboard Navy frigate HMAS Warramunga during bilateral exercises and port visits in South Korea and China, and participating in a re-enactment of the Inchon landings which turned the tide during the Korean War.
“The re-enactment was extraordinary, with underwater charges simulating the naval gun fire — and the number of ships and participants was amazing,” Richard said.
Richard joined the crew of HMAS Warramunga in Darwin but it was not the first time he had been to sea. Richard was already an engineering officer before the Navy offered to sponsor him to become a doctor.
This year has been his busiest yet. Earlier this year he was in the Middle East aboard [[HMAS Stuart|HMAS Stuart, and he’s also been at sea on Armidale Class patrol boats based in Darwin on border protection duties.
Richard and his 150 shipmates also exercised with the Chinese Navy, including search and rescue, and live-firing. It was the first time any western warship had been invited to participate in live-firing in company with the Chinese Navy.
But for Richard the highlight so far has definitely been South Korea.
“It’s an amazing mix of cultures ; great food, and an amazing experience in visiting the Demilitarised Zone,” he said.
Richard is now heading back via HMAS Warramunga’s home-base in Western Australia — and will soon be enjoying some well-earned leave.
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