Navy People: It's a great grounding for life
15 October 2010
Smithton’s Annah Whittaker, 22, grew up with her mum Vicki and step-dad Geoff on the family farm, Nu Ground. Now she’s taking some time out to see the world in the Royal Australian Navy.
“After Year 10 at Circular Head Christian School I worked at Doughboys Bakery until I was 18 then joined the Navy as soon as I could!” said Annah.
“There was no family tradition — I just wanted to travel, get some life experience, and do something interesting at the same time.”
After her basic training at HMAS Cerberus, the Navy’s big shore base near Melbourne, Annah specialised as a steward and her travelling began.
“First I was aboard HMAS Manoora for two years. We visited Indonesia, Singapore, Samoa, and New Zealand, and went around Australia a few times.
“Now I’m ashore at HMAS Albatross, a huge airbase just south of Wollongong, on the coast of New South Wales. It’s the headquarters of the Navy’s Fleet Air Arm.
“Promotion to Able Seaman has been pretty automatic as you build up your qualifications, but in January I’ll be promoted to Leading Seaman — it’s an exciting time as it’s the first promotion I’ve really had to work for.
“It also means I’ll be posted to HMAS Newcastle and get some more travelling.
“Being aboard ship is like being in a extended family — we are all jammed in together 24 hours a day, more time than any of us spend with our parents, husbands or wives, it’s so easy to form close bonds and find great friends while getting paid good money.
“I reckon any young person would be crazy if they don’t think of trying it, even for the minimum period,” said Annah. “It’s a great grounding for life.”
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