Navy People: Hailey is a force to be reckoned with
17 February 2010
West Australian born and bred, and now being based at Rockingham Hailey Merrick enjoys physical challenges of the Navy.
Raised in Osborne Park and with her family now in Ellenbrook in the Swan Valley, sports fanatic Hailey is an Able Seaman Boatswain’s Mate in HMAS Anzac. The frigate is normally based at HMAS Stirling but for the next few weeks Hailey will be on fleet exercises off the east coast and then on to south east Asia.
“I joined the Navy four years ago when I was twenty-two, so I already had a taste of working life and a bit of study behind me,” Hailey said. “Navy really has helped me find a job I feel I am good at.”
After two and a half years posted to HMAS Parramatta and then shore-based work in Port Services at Stirling, Hailey jumped at the chance to join Anzac on her current deployment.
And no wonder. Anzac is on a four month voyage which will take her to the eastern seaboard of Australia, visiting Sydney, Newcastle and Cairns, then across to New Zealand and finally Singapore, Malaysia and Cambodia. The trip begins with the Navy’s Fleet Concentration Period, an annual exercise involving ships from all around Australia, as well as New Zealand, together with aircraft from the Navy and RAAF Squadrons.
The exercise is continuing throughout February and March in dedicated offshore zones off the east coast.
“I love the travel and I love to face new challenges,” said Hailey.
As the navigator’s yeoman in Anzac, Hailey assists the navigator with updating charts and publications. She is also a fitness leader and helps the physical training instructor with organising on-board sports and training sessions.
“I’ve played Australian Football for the Navy for the past two years, as well as touch footy so that’s a great balance to the mental concentration required to be the navigator’s yeoman on board.”
There is a softer side to Able Seaman Merrick. When asked to nominate the highlight of her Navy career, she picked a trip to Russia while she was in Parramatta.
“The ship’s company donated to a local orphanage and we got to visit and hang out with the kids for a while. It was a moving experience to see how our small contribution made such a difference to their lives.”
For now, Hailey is looking forward most to the visit to New Zealand where she has some relatives. “Everyone on the ship enjoys visiting foreign ports and for some people it will be their first time out of Australia.”
