Navy People: Grafton Girl’s Gulf Adventure
26 March 2008
Grafton’s Amy Ryan and her 184 shipmates are now getting pretty focused. They are aboard HMAS Stuart and heading for a six-month tour of duty in the Persian Gulf.
One of their key jobs will be guarding Iraq’s two giant oil terminals which provide over 80% of the country’s income, and they will also be hunting down contraband runners. It’s all very different from Amy’s schooldays not so long ago.
“I went to Coutts Crossing Primary and then South Grafton High but I also joined the Navy Cadets then joined the Navy in 2000. I specialized in communications and information systems, and I’ve now been promoted to Leading Seaman.
“Aboard Stuart my main job is to supervise all incoming and outgoing signals including satellite voice and hi-speed data, HF voice and hi-speed data, and UHF/VHF. We also use flags and flashing light for visual signaling — old but useful!
“I’m also the local area network administrator, so I am responsible for the administration and maintenance of the ship’s computer network.
“I’ve also become a qualified ship’s diver so if any work needs doing on the hull I’m part of the team that does that.
“This is not my first overseas deployment, but it’s the first one where I will get a medal. My last trip was RIMPAC 2006 — a multi national ‘war game’ held of the coast of Hawaii. But I’ve also been to New Zealand, Thailand, China, Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Guam, Indonesia, Singapore, Christmas and Heard Island, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines — not in alphabetical order! — not to mention round Australia.
“I love to travel and meet new people and my job takes me all over the world. This is my first operational deployment and I’m looking forward to the experience of an operational environment. The last eight years have been training for this type of deployment and all my hard work is now paying off.
“After the Persian Gulf I’ll be leaving the Stuart to start a new Navy job at with the Australian Clearance Diving Team in Sydney — and going on a holiday to Canada, where I will catch up with my brother who is now living over there.”
Amy is one of some 1500 members of the Australian Defence Forces who are now on duty in the Middle East as part of Operation Catalyst, the Australian Government’s contribution to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq. Working with the Iraqi Government and coalition forces, Australian military personnel are continuing to work for a more secure environment and assist with national rehabilitation programs.
